SWT/KWS Mount Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit - August 2019

SWT/KWS MT KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT AUGUST 2019

18.5

Introduction

14 Cases in August

4 Poaching Cases

8 Elephant Cases

August Report by Dr. Dominic Mijele During the month of August 2019, the Mt Kenya Wildlife Veterinary Unit attended to many wildlife cases that required urgent veterinary intervention in the Laikipia ecosystem and Mt. Kenya region. Some of the critical activities attended to included examination and euthanasia of an elephant with a fracture, post-mortem examination of three elephants, treatment of an elephant bull with a dislocation, treatment of an elephant with an arrow wound, treatment of an injured security dog from Solio Conservancy, de-snaring and treatment of a common zebra near Ol pejeta, stimulation of follicles growth and collection of oocytes from the Northern white rhino in Ol pejeta Wildlife Conservancy, rescue of an elephant stuck along the river in Naibunga Conservancy, post-mortem of an elephant electrocuted in Nanyuki, post-mortem of a female black rhino in Aberdares National Park and capture and collaring of reticulated giraffes in Loisaba Conservancy and Samburu National reserve Acknowledgement Many thanks to the support from the 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 emergency cases in endangered wildlife species that require veterinary attention every day.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

Reason for Intervention

02-Aug-19

Elephant

Mpala Conservancy

Natural Causes

A necrotic, open compound fracture of radio-ulnar bone of the right hind leg.

Died

04-Aug-19

Elephant

Ol Donyiro, Laikipia

Post-mortem

Possibly died due to anthrax infection

Died

05-Aug-19

Elephant

Ol Donyiro, Laikipia

Natural Causes

Sustained a dislocation of the stiffle (knee) joint of the left hind leg

Successfully Treated

10-Aug-19

Elephant

11-Aug-19

Elephant

11-Aug-19

A deep arrow wound that penetrated and cracked the shoulder blade Gunshot wound suspected to have been shot due to conflict in the area Treated for a barbed wire fence wound sustained during tracking exercise Had a tight wire snare around the neck leaving a deep wound Follicle stimulation prior to ovum collection Post-mortem examination revealed a dystocia (difficult calving)

Successfully Treated Poaching Death Successfully Treated Successfully Treated

Suyian Conservancy Naibunga Conservancy

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Security Dog

Solio, Lakipia

Technical Case

12-Aug-19

Zebra

Lakipia

Snared

15-Aug-19

Rhino White

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Technical Case

17-Aug-19

Elephant

Imenti Forest

Post-mortem

20-Aug-19

Elephant

22-Aug-19

Rhino White

24-Aug-19

Elephant

26-Aug-19

Rhino Black

Naibunga Conservancy Ol Pejeta Conservancy Nanyuki, Laikipia Abedare National Park

28-Aug-19

Giraffe

Northern Kenya

Arrow

Outcome

Task Successful Died

Rescue

Elephant stuck in a sandy riverbed

Died

Technical Case

Ovum collection for in-vitro fertilisation

Task Successful

Human Wildlife Conflict

Electrocuted in a small forest by power cables Postmortem revealed bullet wound that pierced through the left shoulder Fir tracking devices to 12 giraffes in Northern Kenya

Bullet Wound Collared

HWC Death Poaching Death Task Successful

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

. Case

1 – 2nd August 2019

Elephant

Natural Causes

Mpala Conservancy

This was a case of an adult male elephant in Mpala Wildlife Conservancy which had a necrotic, open compound fracture of radio-ulnar bone of the right hind leg. The fracture was heavily infected and had several maggots, pus and lots of necrotic debris. The elephant was in intense pain and required immediate attention. It was not able to move and could not access water and feeds.

The cause of the fracture was suspected to have been from when the elephant became stuck in rocky terrain and forced itself out resulting in the breaking of the leg.

Immobilisation and examination The elephant was darted using 18mgs of Etorphine Hcl in a 3ml Dan-inject dart. It was adequately immobilized after about 5 minutes and went down on lateral recumbency.

Prognosis and Management The infected open and compound fracture could not heal; a decision was made to humanely euthanize the elephant to relieve it from continuous pain and suffering. The tusks were recovered for safe custody.

Case 2 – 4th August 2019 Elephant

Post-mortem

Ol Donyiro, Laikipia

An adult bull elephant was found dead in Ol donyiro area, the carcass was already 3 days old and partly scavenged by predators.

Examination All the internal organs including the liver, lungs and intestines were already decomposed.

The body condition was good an indication that it was an abrupt death.

Both the tusks were intact and were retrieved and stored at KWS Isiolo station.

There was no traumatic injury to any of the body parts, even though blood smear samples tested negative for anthrax infection due to decomposition.

Cause of Death it was suspected to have died of anthrax infection.

Case 3 – 5th August 2019 Elephant

Natural Causes

Ol Donyiro, Laikipia

An adult male elephant in Ol donyiro area had sustained a dislocation of the stiffle (knee) joint of the left hind leg. The elephant could be seen dragging the affected leg as it walked with a lot of pain.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The injured elephant was immobilized by darting from a helicopter using 17mgs of Etorphine Hcl in a 3ml Dan-inject dart. It was darted in the left thigh muscle and was immobilized after about 9 minutes, going down on lateral recumbency. # The affected left leg was palpated and flexed to ascertain the cause of limping, it was swollen and inflamed, but it had no wound or any external injury on the affected leg. The elephant was then treated with adequate dose of Vitamin B12 and Calcium followed by Dexamethasone injection and multivitamin administered intramuscularly to reduce pain and enhance the recovery process.

Prognosis After treatment, the elephant was revived from anaesthesia using 48mgs of Diprenorphine Hcl combined with 50mgs of Naltrexone administered intravenously through the superficial ear-vein. Prognosis was good after medication but the recovery will take time due to heavy weight of the elephant.

Case 4 – 10th August 2019 Elephant

Arrow

Suyian Conservancy

This was a case of an adult female elephant sighted with a very deep and infected wound on the shoulder.

The wound was heavily swollen with blood tinged pus oozing out. It had a young calf of about 1 year old, the rest of her family had moved and left it alone with its calf since it could not keep pace with the herd.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The injured elephant was darted and adequately immobilized after about 6 minutes, going down on lateral recumbency exposing the injured side of the abdomen. The deep penetrating wound to the left side of the shoulder had lots of pus and necrotic debris; the arrow had cracked the scapular bone (shoulder blade). It was suspected to be an arrow wound that struck the elephant from side. The wound was properly cleaned with lots of water, and all the pus and exudates squeezed out before it was probed using forceps to ensure no foreign material was left inside. It was then debrided using Hydrogen peroxide then cleaned and flushed with Iodine. Chlortetracycline pessaries were also inserted into the wound for slow release treatment then Opticlox and green clay applied to plug the wound and improve chances of healing followed by oxytetracycline spray. Other treatments were intramuscular injection of Betamox to manage the heavy infection around the wound and Dlunixine meglumine to control the pain and inflammation.

Prognosis Prognosis was good after treatment.

Case 5 – 11th August 2019 Elephant

Human-wildlife Conflict

Naibunga Conservancy

This was an adult male elephant that was found dead in Koija area of Naibunga Wildlife Conservancy, the carcass was already decomposed and partly scavenged by predators. All the internal organs including the liver, lungs and intestines were already decomposed. Both the tusks were intact and were retrieved and stored at KWS Oldonyiro station.

Cause of Death It had a gun-shot wound through the left shoulder that penetrated through the lungs and heart, it was suspected to have been shot due to human-elephant conflict in the area.

Case 6 – 11th August 2019 Security Dog

Technical Case

KWS Laikipia Station, Solio

This was one of the two KWS wildlife security dogs based at Solio conservancy, it had sustained a deep extensive wound on the pectoral muscles on the ventral side of the shoulder. The wound was caused by a barbed wire fence when the dog was undergoing training at Solio conservancy. The wound was still fresh and bleeding that required urgent suturing and treatment to save the life of the security dog.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The wound was cleaned using tincture of Iodine and shaved clean using a sharp scalpel blade and infiltrated with 2% lignocaine (local anaesthesia). It was then sutured by a simple interrupted suture pattern using 2.0 cat-gut suture with a skin-cutting needle.

The wound was then treated with topical application of Opticlox eye ointment and Oxytetracycline spray. It was further treated using BetamoxÂŽ i.m and dexamethasone i.m.

Reversal and Prognosis The dog was revived from the anaesthesia using 20mgs of Atipamezole intramuscular injection and rose up feeling relieved. Prognosis was quite good after suturing the wound and administering medications. The dog has since recovered quite well.

Case 7 – 12th August 2019 Zebra

Natural Causes

2-2 Area, Laikipia

A sub-adult female zebra was reported to have a wire snare around the neck in 2-2 area close to Ol pejeta Conservancy. The wire was long, hanging over the neck and cutting through the neck muscles.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The snared zebra was found in an open field with many other zebras but they were quite agitated and quickly ran away when they were approached for darting. The team was able to track it by a vehicle and after a long time it was eventually successfully darted from a vehicle.

The wire snare had caused a deep cut and severe swelling around the neck circumference and the zebra was in severe pain as the wire continued to cut through the neck any time the animal moved. The wire was immediately cut off using a wire cutter. The neck wound was septic and was cleaned with lots of water, cauterized and debrided using 10% Hydrogen peroxide and thereafter covered with tincture of Iodine, Opticlox ointment and Oxytetracycline spray. Amoxycillin (Betamox) and Dexamethasone anti-inflammatory were administered intramuscularly to enhance the wound healing process.

Prognosis Prognosis was quite good after the wire was removed and the wound adequately treated.

Case 8 – 11th August 2019 White Rhino

Technical Case

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Northern White rhinos are a highly endangered wildlife species which are currently facing extinction if action is not taken. There are only two females (Najin and Fatuh) left surviving in Ol pejeta Wildlife Conservancy and are already aging and not able to get pregnant naturally. They therefore require assisted reproduction in which an ovum is collected from the females using artificial means and in-vitro fertilization is done using stored semen. The embryo is then implanted into a surrogate mother, most likely a Southern white rhino species who will then give birth to a Northern white rhino calf.

Examination and treatment The process of ovum collection from Najin and Fatuh was planned to take place in Ol pejeta and in order to make this successful, there was need for follicle stimulation prior to ovum collection.

The veterinary team administered 3mls of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) intramuscularly through the soft muscles (Gracillis muscles) close to the vulva. This injection was done on standing animals without anaesthesia (just by massaging and injecting) and it was repeated 3 times, after every three days 3 times before the ovum collection date.

The aim was to stimulate the follicles to produce more oocytes and improve chances of oocyte collection on the day of the oocyte collection procedure.

Case 9 – 17th August 2019 Elephant

Natural Causes

Imenti Forest

An adult female elephant was reported to be recumbent and unable to rise up for unknown reasons. The veterinary team was informed to come and assist, but unfortunately before the veterinary team arrived, the elephant struggled and died.

Examination and treatment Post-mortem examination revealed a dystocia (difficult calving), the foetus was coming out with a breach posterior presentation (foetus presenting itself with posterior presentation with both the hind legs folded) and could not be delivered in that presentation.

The mother struggled for many hours trying to push the calf out unsuccessfully until it became exhausted and died. The male foetus was retrieved from the pelvic cavity and confirmed to have been the cause of death.

Case 10 – 20th August 2019 Elephant

Rescue

Naibunga Conservancy

This was a case of a sub-adult female elephant found stuck in a sandy river bed in Naibunga conservancy, it was sighted by the Community Scouts. The vet team responded quite fast to rescue it from the dam.

Rescue Attempt Through a combined effort of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and KWS Veterinary Teams and Ranger Teams from Naibunga Conservancy and Northern rangeland Trust (NRT), the elephant was pulled out of the mud gently using strong straps anchored onto the tusks and pulled by a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Unfortunately, it was not able to rise up after several attempts, it was administered with 50% Dextrose i.v but was still not able to rise. Several attempts to help it rise up failed and finally a decision was made to euthanize it and recover the tusks.

It was suspected that it developed a spinal cord injury and had hind leg paralysis so it was not able to support itself and stand up anymore.

Case 11 – 22nd August 2019 White Rhino

Technical Case

Olpejeta Conservancy

Northern White rhinos are highly endangered wildlife species which are currently facing extinction if action is not taken. There are only two females (Najin and Fatuh) left surviving in Olpejeta Wildlife conservancy and are already aging and not able to get pregnant naturally. They therefore require assisted reproduction in which an ovum is collected from the females using artificial means and in-vitro fertilization Immobilisation, examination and treatment The two female Northern white rhinos were anaesthetised using a combination of Azaperone, Butorphanol, Medetomidine, Ketamine, and Midazolam. The anaesthesia was monitored closely using a pulse oxymeter, capnometer and recording of respiratory rate, pulse rate, heart rate, body temperature, capillary refill time and more drugs were administered depending on the rate of the above physiological parameters.

Oxygen was also supplemented throughout the oocyte collection process that took an average of one and half hours in each animal.

The oocytes were collected using a one-meter long probe inserted through the rectum connected to an ultrasound machine screen used to observe the follicles and pick the oocyte. The process was quite successful and each rhino produced at least 5 oocytes which will be used for in-vitro fertilisation and later embryo transfer to a surrogate mother and calf delivery.

Case 12 – 24th August 2019 Elephant

Human-wildlife Conflict

Mpala Conservancy

This was an adult female elephant that was electrocuted in a small forest near Nanyuki airstrip. It was found dead with no injuries and electric cables lying on it.

A team from Kenya Power came and disconnected the cables, before the tusks were recovered and taken to KWS safe custody at Laikipia station.

Cause of Death The cause of death was confirmed to be accidental electrocution.

Case 13 – 26th August 2019 Black Rhino

Bullet Wound

Mpala Conservancy

This was a sub-adult female black rhino that was found dead in Salient area of Aberdares National Park. Both the horns and other body parts were missing.

Cause of Death Post-mortem examination revealed a bullet wound that pierced through the left shoulder into the heart, aorta, lungs and disappeared in the abdominal cavity. The rhino died of internal haemorrhage caused by extensive injuries to the heart, lungs and aorta organs.

Tissue and other forensic samples were collected for further forensic investigations.

Case 14 – 28th August 2019 Giraffe

Collaring

Northern Kenya Areas

The Mt. Kenya and Meru Veterinary Units also supported and participated in chemical immobilization and capture of reticulated giraffes in Loisaba, Mpala, Westgate, Shaba and Samburu National reserves for fitting of GPS satellite tracking devices.

Collaring Exercise The giraffe collaring process is a collaborative research work between KWS and Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) aimed at monitoring giraffe movements and mapping of giraffe conservation corridors across the Laikipia and Samburu ecosystems.

The teams were able to successfully immobilize the giraffes from a vehicle and fit tracking devices on 12 giraffes (5 in Loisaba, 2 in Mpala, 3 in Samburu NR, 1 in Shaba and 1 in Westgate). The other Northern areas were collared using helicopter darting process.