SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit - September 2019

SWT/KWS MASAI MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT SEPTEMBER 2019

Introduction

9 Cases in September

4 Poaching Cases

4 Elephant Cases

September Report by Dr. Campaign Limo The month was characterised by decreased precipitation with most days remaining sunny and windy. However, some sporadic showers were experienced in several parts of the Masai Mara towards the end of the month. There is still enough fodder and water for herbivores to utilize. Two important elephant cases were that of an adult female elephant which died of serious spear injuries and another big bull treated for arrow wounds; it is unclear if these were related to poaching or human-elephant conflict. A mature bull giraffe was also de-snared in one of the Mara Conservancies.

The following cases were handled during the period; Acknowledgement The Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit would like to appreciate support offered to them by various stakeholders, some who reported and participated in actual management of the cases. Thanks to Minara Foundation through SWT for their continued facilitation. Thanks to KWS for their technical support and advice to the unit.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

08-Sep-19

Lion

Mara Triangle

Natural Causes

Sustained serious injuries on her chest and left hindleg by a buffalo

Successfully Treated

11-Sep-19

Elephant

Mara North Conservancy

Natural Causes

Examination of the calf revealed a slightly swollen left carpus

Successfully Treated

13-Sep-19

Other

Masai Mara NR

Human Wildlife Conflict

Warthog that had a plastic band round the leg after rummaging in the Camps rubbish

Successfully Treated

18-Sep-19

Elephant

Masai Mara NR

Spear

Post-mortem of an elephant treated for severe spear wounds a month before. The spear had pierced and punctured her trunk

Poaching Death

18-Sep-19

Elephant

Masai Mara NR

Postmortem

The elephant had no visible external injuries on any part of her body

Died

19-Sep-19

Giraffe

Naboisho Conservancy

Snared

This big giraffe bull was seen with a tight snare on his right hind leg

Successfully Treated

20-Sep-19

Elephant

Kajiado

Arrow

An old spear wound on his right thigh and a new arrow wound to the right shoulder

Successfully Treated

28-Sep-19

Zebra

Mara Triangle

Snared

A plain wire snare firmly attached to his right hind leg below the hock

Successfully Treated

29-Sep-19

Lion

Masai Mara NR

Natural Causes

His right hind leg appeared weak with signs of atrophy associated with aging

Prognosis Poor

SWT/KWS Masai Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations September 2019

. Case

1 – 8th September 2019

Lion

Natural Causes

Mara Triangle, Masai Mara NR

This lioness, approximately four years old and pregnant, was injured by buffaloes during a hunt. She sustained serious injuries to her chest and left hindleg. The Vet Unit traced her to a small thicket where she was lying down. She was in pain and the Vet Unit decided to immobilize her for treatment.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Restraint was achieved with a combination of 4.8mgs Medetomidine hydrochloride and 200mgs Ketamine delivered with a dart-gun from a vehicle. The lioness was fully anaesthetised after twelve minutes and she was placed in a comfortable position for examination which revealed deep injuries caused by buffalo horns.

Her ventral chest and left hind leg thigh muscles were torn and were becoming septic. This lioness had started showing signs of dyspnea with dried blood on her nostrils and auscultation revealed harsh sounds associated with a degree of lung congestion. This was a sign of haemothorax from the chest injuries sustained.

The wounds were cleaned and debrided with dilute hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with clean water and disinfected with tincture of iodine.Cloxacillin antibiotic ointment was applied and long acting amoxicillin antibiotics given parenterally. She was confirmed to be pregnant and carrying viable cubs.

Prognosis She woke up fifteen minutes after the anaesthetic was reversed and retreated to the thicket. Prognosis is good and the Mara Triangle Rangers were tasked to monitor her and report progress and the latest report is that she has since improved and joined her pride.

Case 2 – 11th September 2019 Elephant

Natural Causes

Mara North Conservancy

This elephant calf was seen walking with difficulty by Mara North Conservancy rangers on patrol. From their observation, he seemed to be injured on his left front leg. The Mobile Vet Unit found the calf near a Lugga with his mother and approximately five-year-old sister. They were browsing on acacia trees with the reported calf showing obvious difficulty on motion. He could not bear maximum weight on his left front leg.

The team decided to immobilize him for further examination and treatment.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The calf was darted from a vehicle with 2mgs Etorphine hydrochloride. The mother was very protective of the calf and the veterinary team had to immobilize her as well so the Vet Unit could approach. The mother was immobilised with 15mgs Etorphine which took effect after seven minutes.

Closer examination of the calf revealed a slightly swollen left carpus from a suspected sprain. The joint was massaged gently before Dexamethasone sodium anti-inflammatories were administered. The calf was also given a dose of Amoxicillin antibiotics.

Prognosis Both the mother and the calf’s anaesthetic was reversed with 42mgs and 12mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride respectively, administered through a prominent ear vein. They woke up almost simultaneously and joined the waiting older calf who was a member of the family.

. Case

3 – 13th September 2019

Warthog

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Musiara, Masai Mara National Reserve

This warthog, who is frequently seen around main Governors camp, had a plastic band round her left hind leg after stepping on it while rummaging in the camp refuse. The Vet Unit found her relaxing by one of the tents within Governors camp with her three grownup piglets. The plastic band tourniquet was firmly attached to her left hind leg at. She had difficulty walking because of the pain on the affected limb.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Restraint was achieved chemically with 5mgs Etorphine and 10mgs Azaperone. She was not shy so she could be darted from foot and it took four minutes for the drugs to take full effect.

The plastic band was cut loose and removed. The resultant pressure wound was cleaned with water and disinfected with tincture of Iodine. Oxytetracycline spray was then applied topically. She was then given Amoxicillin antibiotics to prevent sepsis.

The treatment was carried out quickly to minimise potential complications as palpation revealed she was pregnant.

Prognosis The anaesthetic was reversed by administration of 18mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride through the left femoral vein. She woke up in three minutes greatly relieved and joined her piglets. Prognosis is good.

Case 4 – 18th September 2019 Elephant

Spear – Post-mortem

Masai Mara NR

The highly scavenged carcass of this female elephant was seen on a dry riverbed by County Government Security Team while on patrol. Both tusks were intact though most of the soft tissues had been consumed by scavengers. They called the Mobile Veterinary Unit to carry out assessment and possibly establish cause of death.

General Examination The carcass of this elephant was found on a dry riverbed with both tusks intact, almost all the internal organs had been scavenged. The carcass was estimated to be four days old.

Closer examination revealed this was the elephant that was treated for severe spear wounds a month before.

The spear had pierced and punctured her trunk resulting in difficulty in feeding and breathing. Her right shoulder joint also had a deep wound affecting her mobility. Assessment revealed she died as a result of starvation and dehydration as she was unable to use her trunk efficiently to feed and drink water. She died at the dry riverbed trying to look for water.

The tusks were collected by the County Security Team for accounting and safe custody.

Cause of Death Complications due to the spear injuries.

Case 5 – 18th September 2019 Elephant

Post-mortem

Masai Mara National Reserve

This elephant was found dead at the periphery of the Masai Mara National Reserve by Rangers on patrol.

Both tusks were present and retrieved for safe custody. No elephant herd was seen nearby.

General Examination The carcass was lying on the right side and estimated time of death was less than twelve hours. She had no visible external injuries and her body condition had a degree of emaciation evidenced by slight prominence of the spine. She was in the final stages of lactation with slightly engorged teats yielding milk on expression.

On opening the carcass, the following findings were noted; • • • • • • • •

The muscle cover was poor with gelatinous fat degeneration evident There was generalised subcutaneous petechiae There was an increase of peritoneal fluid with normal colour and consistency.

The liver was severely congested with normal texture.

Small amount of ingesta within the digestive system relative to the size of the elephant Anterior rectum had two fully formed faecal balls with the rest of the parts empty The large intestinal mucosae appeared abnormally thickened Spleen appeared slightly enlarged

• •

The heart was grossly enlarged, and the left heart muscles were thickened The lungs were oedematous with a lot of fluid found occupying the sacs. Both lungs appeared drowned with fluid. Trachea and the airways were frothy.

All other organs appeared grossly normal

•

Cause of Death The post-mortem findings show this elephant had problems with her lungs. She had reduced feeding as evidenced by the amount of food in her digestive system. The presence of fluid in her lungs and froth on the upper airways shows she suffered and succumbed to pneumonia.

Case 6 – 19th September 2019 Giraffe

Snared

Naboisho Conservancy

This big giraffe bull was seen with a tight snare on his right hind leg by Naboisho Conservancy Rangers on patrol. They notified the Mobile Veterinary Unit for intervention. This giraffe was traced to an open area in the Conservancy browsing with herd of ten other giraffes. He had difficulty walking as his right hind leg had a tight snare round his distal metatarsus.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The giraffe was darted from a vehicle with 12mgs Etorphine and 60mgs Azaperone. He galloped aimlessly until the drugs took full effect after ten minutes, then he was effectively restrained by ropes and pulled to the ground.

After making sure he was stable, the wire was cut loose and removed. The snare caused a deep wound which appeared slightly septic. All the dead tissue was removed with Hydrogen peroxide and then the wound was rinsed with clean water, disinfected with tincture of Iodine and sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray. The giraffe was also given Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis The anesthetic was reversed with 36mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride intravenously through the jugular vein. He had to be assisted get up due to the terrain, then he joined the other giraffes. Prognosis is good.

Case 7 – 20th September 2019 Elephant

Arrow

Mosiro, Kajiado

This big bull was seen with an injury on his right thigh and front left leg by KWS Rangers based in Mosiro.

They called the mobile veterinary unit for help. This elephant was found with an equally big male bull a few meters from a bigger herd. Because of terrain challenges assessment was done from a helicopter. He had an old abscess on his right hind leg at the thigh area and an injury to his right shoulder.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was immobilised from the helicopter with 17mgs Etorphine. The drugs took full effect after ten minutes and was pushed to lie on his left side as he became fully anesthetised.

Examination revealed an old spear wound to his right thigh which had accumulated pus and a swelling with a small opening on his right shoulder. The pus was drained from the thigh abscess and necrotic tissue removed with Hydrogen Peroxide then rinsed with clean water and disinfected with iodine. Green clay was then packed into the wound to prevent further sepsis. Probing of the shoulder wound yielded an arrowhead which appeared to have been there for about two weeks. The barbed arrowhead was retrieved and the wound managed like the previous one. The elephant was also given Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis The anesethetic was reversed and got up within three minutes and moved off in the direction the other big bull had gone. Prognosis is good.

Case 8 – 28th September 2019 Zebra

Snared

Kawaii, Mara Triangle

This stallion was seen dragging a long wire snare by Community Conservation Rangers who informed the Mara Triangle Management who in turn contacted the Mobile Veterinary Unit for help. This zebra was found grazing with other zebras and the wire appeared to hinder his movements as he kept lifting the snared limb and making occasional kicks to try and shake it off.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The zebra was darted from a vehicle with a combination of 6mgs Etorphine and 50mgs Azaperone. The zebra was fully anaesthetized after seven minutes.

Examination revealed a plain wire snare firmly attached to his right hind leg below the hock and appeared to have been in place for a few days.

The snare was removed by undoing the knot. The abrasion wounds left by the snare were cleaned with water and disinfected with tincture of Iodine before topical application of Oxytetracycline wound spray. The zebra was also given 4500mgs Amoxicillin antibiotics and 1000mgs Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis The anesthetic was reversed with 18mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride given through jugular vein. He got up after two minutes and joined the herds nearby.Prognosis is good.

Case 9 – 29th September 2019 Lion

Natural Causes

Masai Mara National Reserve

This famous lion christened ‘Scar Face’ was seen emaciated and limping while walking by tour guides and visitors on their game drives. They called the Mobile Veterinary Unit for action. ‘Scar face’ has been treated on several occasions before and is believed to be over fifteen years, a remarkable achievement for a male lion in the wild.

Examination He was found feeding on a wildebeest kill in the company of another lioness sitting a few meters from him.

Though well fed, his right hind leg appeared weak with signs of atrophy. His body condition appeared to be deteriorating with decreased muscle cover associated with aging. Nothing much could be done for ‘Scar face’ as these are physiological conditions associated with old age.

Prognosis ‘Scar face’ is getting old and is in the sunset days of his life. Due to various challenges including his weak hind leg, his ability to hunt is compromised. Luckily, he has a pride to help provide food for him and this will keep him going for some time in the wild.

No pictures available for this case.

Report by Dr. Campaign Limo