SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit - July 2019

SWT/KWS MT KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT JULY 2019

Introduction

7 Cases in July

2 Poaching Cases

71% Success

July Report by Dr. Domnic Mijele During the month of July 2019, the Mt Kenya Wildlife Veterinary unit responded to many wildlife emergencies that required urgent veterinary intervention in the Laikipia ecosystem and Mt. Kenya region. Some of the critical veterinary activities attended to included treatment of an adult male black rhino with hind leg lameness in Solio Wildlife Conservancy, capture and de-snaring of an adult male eland in Aberdares Country Club Conservancy, examination and euthanasia of an elephant with a gunshot injury at Olpejeta Wildlife Conservancy and rescue of its 1 year old calf, deworming and treatment of mountain bongos at Mt. Kenya Game Ranch in two separate cases and capture and relocation of a sub-adult male bongo to a larger enclosure in Mt Kenya Game Ranch as highlighted in the report below; Acknowledgement Thanks to the support from our partner Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), KWS and other partners for supporting wildlife veterinary services in Laikipia and Mt. Kenya regions and other parts of the country. This has made it possible for the veterinary teams to respond and save many endangered wildlife species that require urgent veterinary attention on daily basis.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

21-Jul-19

Elephant

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Bullet Wound

Previously treated for a gunshot injury on the left front leg but it could not heal

Poaching Death

21-Jul-19

Elephant

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Rescue

Mother was euthanised due to a gunshot injury

Taken to Orphanage

23-Jul-19

Eland

Abedare NP

Snared

Loose wire snare was removed, no wound caused

Successfully Treated

23-Jul-19

Bongo

Mount Kenya

Natural Causes

Five mountain bongos treated for poor body condition and rough hair coats

Successfully Treated

26-Jul-19

Rhino Black

Solio Ranch

Natural Causes

Suspected to have been injured during a territorial fight with another male

Successfully Treated

31-Jul-19

Bongo

Mount Kenya

Technical Cases

Bongo had to be relocated due to territorial fights with another male

Task Successful

31-Jul-19

Bongo

Mount Kenya

Natural Causes

Semi-captive bongo had poor body condition and general weakness

Successfully Treated

SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations July 2019

Case 1 and 2 – 21st July 2019 Elephant

Bullet Wound/Rescue

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

This was a case of an adult female elephant in Olpejeta Wildlife Conservancy which had been earlier treated for a gunshot injury to the left front leg. Its condition had deteriorated and now it was completely unable to walk. It was not able to feed, and the affected left front leg was suspected to be fractured. It remained in the same location for days with its young, approximately 1-year old calf.

Immobilisation, examination and management It was darted using 16mgs of Etorphine Hcl and was adequately immobilized after about 5 minutes and went down on lateral recumbency. The left front leg had a small deep wound to the anterior side of the carpal joint caused by a gunshot that had fractured the carpal bones. Every time the elephant attempted to move it was in a lot of pain so was just supporting herself with the tusks. The fracture would not be able to recover due to the heavy weight of the elephant. Due to the extent of the injury, the elephant was humanely euthanized, tusks recovered, and post-mortem results revealed a multiple fracture of the carpal bones and a bullet head was recovered from the wound.

Calf Rescue The calf was physically restrained by hand and tranquilized with Azaperone (StressnilÂŽ) and flown to the Reteti elephant sanctuary.

Case 3 – 23rd July 2019 Eland

Snared

Aberdare’s Country Club

This was a case of an adult male eland sighted at Aberdares Country Club Sanctuary with a loose wire snare around the neck, the wire was long and was affecting the movement of the eland. The animal required chemical restraint and removal of the snare to set it free.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The eland was darted using 6mgs of Etorphine Hcl combined with 50mgs of Azaperone and became immobilized and recumbent after about 5 minutes.

The loose snare was cut off using a wire cutter. As it was loose, it had not caused any wound or injury to the animal.

Blood and tissue samples were then collected for disease surveillance.

Reversal and Prognosis After the operation, the eland was revived from the anaesthesia using 24mg of Diprenorphine combined with 50mgs of Naltrexone administered through the jugular vein. The eland rose up after 1-minute feeling relieved.

Case 4 – 23rd July 2019 Bongo

Technical Case

Mount Kenya Game Ranch

Mount Kenya Game Ranch asked for assistance regarding five mountain bongos that were in poor condition.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Five mountain bongos of various ages (2 sub-adults and 3 adults) with poor body condition and rough hair coats were restrained in a crush for examination and treatment. It was suspected that they were suffering from a bacterial infection combined with helminthosis due to the prevailing cold and rainy season.

The sick animals were physically restrained in a crush and treated using Benzyle penicillin, multivitamins and oral application of albendazole syrup which is a de-wormer. The skin was also sprayed using BayticolÂŽ pouron to eradicate all ectoparasites.

Blood and faecal samples were collected to be analysed for presence of gastrointestinal parasites.

Prognosis Prognosis was quite good after treatment and the animals have shown good improvements.

Case 5 – 26th July 2019 Black Rhino

Natural Causes

Solio Wildlife Conservancy

This was a case of an adult male black rhino that had severe lameness of the distal end of the right hind leg.

It had been limping and walking with a lot of difficulties. The affected leg was swollen and was suspected to have been injured during a territorial fight with another male.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The rhino was in a very bushy area, so a helicopter was used to herd it to an open area for darting and treatment. The animal was darted, and the drugs took full effect in six minutes. Once the rhino was down, 20 mgs of Butorphanol was administered through the ear vein to improve the plane of anaesthesia and respiration, and the eyes and ears were covered with a blind fold.

On examination, the rhino had a swollen right hind leg that was inflamed and painful. It was aspirated but there was no pus. There was no puncture wound, but there were lots of superficial cutaneous wounds to the skin. The rhino was treated with BetamoxÂŽ and Dexamethasone intramuscular injection. The cutaneous wounds were treated with Oxytetracycline spray and Ivermectin S.Q. Prognosis The anaesthesia was reversed, and the rhino rose up after 2 minutes and ran back to the bush feeling relieved. Prognosis was quite good after treatment and it will continue to be monitored.

Case 6 – 31st July 2019 Bongo

Natural Causes

Mount Kenya Game Ranch

One of the adult male bongos was reported to have signs of poor body condition and general weakness. The animal has been losing its body condition gradually with time. This required veterinary attention to treat the animal and collect samples for laboratory investigations.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The bongo was darted using 7mgs of Etorphine Hcl combined with 50mgs of Azaperone. It became immobilized and recumbent after about 5 minutes.

Before treatment, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein in EDTA coated tubes and plain tubes, and ticks were collected and preserved in 70% Ethanol. Blood smears were also prepared and submitted to the laboratory to establish the cause of infection.

The animal was then treated using Procaine penicillin, multivitamins administered intramuscularly and Ivermectin subcutaneous injection. The skin was sprayed using BayticolÂŽ pour-on to eradicate ectoparasites.

Prognosis After treatment the bongo was revived from anaesthesia and it got up after 1 minute. The prognosis was good as it has a good chance of recovery from the infection. The animal is being monitored daily and has shown signs of improvement.

Case 7 – 31st July 2019 Bongo

Technical Case

Mount Kenya Game Ranch

This was a case of a sub-adult male bongo that was kept in a thick forest enclosure where it was being attacked regularly by another dominant male. It was unable to feed or access water due to the constant harassment of the other male. The management of the Mt Kenya Game Ranch requested the Veterinary Unit to help relocate it to another enclosure to avoid unnecessary territorial competition.

Immobilisation and relocation The bongo was traced on foot through the thick forest which took several hours due to the terrain. It was then darted and became recumbent after about 5 minutes. The team physically carried the bongo out of the thick bush and loaded it onto a pick-up van padded with hay and drove it to another enclosure about 2 kilometers away. The anaesthesia was monitored throughout the process of transportation and the team poured water on the animal to ensure it was stable during the operation.

Soon after off-loading blood samples were collected from the jugular vein in EDTA coated tubes and plain tubes and ticks were collected and preserved in 70% Ethanol. Blood smears were also prepared which will be analysed for health assessment purposes.

The skin was also sprayed using BayticolÂŽ pour-on to eradicate all ectoparasites. The anaesthesia was reversed, and the animal got up to explore his new surroundings.