SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Mobile Veterinary Report for November 2019

SWT/KWS MT KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT NOVEMBER 2019

Introduction

7 Cases in November

2 Lion Cases

57% Successful Cases

November Report by Dr. Domnic Mijele During the month of November 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 wildlife veterinary cases attended to include treatment of two mountain bongos in Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, examination of a sub-adult lioness with a fracture at the knee joint in Loisaba Wildlife Conservancy, rescue of three lion cubs from Ol Pejeta Conservancy, treatment of an bull elephant with a deep arrow wound in Mutara ranch, chemical immobilization and translocation of an adult male ostrich from Ol Pejeta Conservancy into an enclosed sanctuary to enhance breeding and relocation of a rogue buffalo from Tree Top lodge compound to Aberdares National park as highlighted in the report below; Acknowledgement Thanks to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), KWS and other partners for support that has enabled the Mt Kenya veterinary unit team to respond promptly and offer medication to all wildlife emergency cases that required veterinary intervention during the month. This has made it possible for the team to respond and save many wildlife emergent cases that required urgent veterinary attention without which they would not have survived.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

09-Nov-19

Bongo

Mount Kenya NR

Natural Causes

10-Nov-19

Lion

Loisaba Ranch

Natural Causes

12-Nov-19

Lion

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Rescue

26-Nov-19

Elephant

Mutara Ranch

Arrow

A deep penetrating wound on the left carpal joint; some carpal bones were broken

Prognosis Poor

27-Nov-19

Bongo

Mount Kenya NR

Natural Causes

Had poor body condition, rough hairs and alopecia

Successfully Treated

29-Nov-19

Ostrich

30-Nov-19

Buffalo

Reason for Intervention

Ol Pejeta Relocation Conservancy Abedare NP

Human Wildlife Conflict

A large abscess on the left side of the abdomen, the swelling enlarged every day A complete compound fracture at the knee joint of the right hind leg caused by a buffalo while the pride was hunting Three young lion cubs of 3 months old were rescued when the mother was killed by a buffalo while hunting

Operation to rescue some of the remaining ostriches and put them into a larger predator free enclosure An adult female buffalo stranded inside a lodge compound was at risk of attacking tourists and hotel staff

Outcome Successfully Treated Died Taken to Orphanage

Task Successful Task Successful

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

Case 1 – 9th November 2019 Bongo

Natural Causes

Mt Kenya Wildlife Conservancy

One of the male bongos had a large abscess on the left side of the abdomen, the swelling kept on enlarging every day and the animal was in pain and quite restless. This required urgent veterinary intervention.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The bongo was darted and became immobilized and recumbent after 8 minutes.

The abscess swelling was shaved clean using scalpel blade and disinfected using 70% Ethanol and surgical spirit. It was then incised open using a scalpel and all exudates and pus were squeezed out; it produced a large volume of flowing exudates. The lanced abscess was cleaned properly using forceps and gauze swabs, then cleaned using 10% Hydrogen peroxide Iodine. The wound was then treated using Opticlox ointment, Oxytetracycline spray and covered with green clay. It was then treated using Penicillin and Dexamethasone administered intramuscularly.

Prognosis The bongo rose up after 2 minutes and joined the rest of the animals in the enclosure. Prognosis was good after lancing and treatment of the abscess. The animal has since recovered soon after treatment.

Case 2 – 10th November 2019 Lion

Natural Causes

Loisaba Wildlife Conservancy

This was a sub-adult lioness that was found moribund and lying in the plains, unable to walk or hunt by its own, the lioness was in a lot of pain and could be seen walking on three legs in Loisaba Wildlife Conservancy.

It had a complete compound fracture at the knee joint of the right hind leg. The fracture was caused by a buffalo while the pride was hunting.

Immobilisation and examination The lioness was darted using 250mg of Ketamine combined with 2mgs of Medetomidine. The drugs took effect after 10 minutes and the lioness was fully anaesthetised.

The fractured leg was palpated and flexed by hand and confirmed to have a complete and multiple fracture at the distal end of the femur close to the femuro-patellar joint. The fractured bones were already exposed to the environment and were contaminated and quite infected. The lioness was quite emaciated and was not able to survive on its own.

Prognosis The animal was in a lot of pain and had no chances of recovery from the fracture, the veterinary team made a decision to euthanize the lioness to help alleviate pain and suffering. It was euthanized using Pentobarbitone Hcl (Euthatol) administered through the jugular vein and the animal died instantly without struggling.

Case 3 – 12th November 2019 Lion

Rescue

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Three young lion cubs of 3 months old were rescued from Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy when the mother was killed by a buffalo while hunting.

The cubs were held in Ol Pejeta for about a month before being released to KWS Animal Orphanage in Nairobi for further nurturing.

Rescue The cubs were captured by hand and loaded into a big cage and transported to Nairobi orphanage by road.

They were from the same mother and liked each other so they were transported together in the same container.

Case 4 – 26th November 2019 Elephant

Arrow

Mutara Ranch

An adult male elephant sighted within Mutara ranch in Laikipia County had a deep penetrating wound on the medial side of the left carpal joint. The elephant was quite weak and could be seen limping and remained isolated from the rest of the elephant herds.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The injured elephant was found in a fairly open area where it was darted from a vehicle. The elephant was adequately immobilized after about 10 minutes and went down on lateral recumbency. The elephant had a deep penetrating wound to the left carpal joint, the wound extended medio-laterally into the carpal joint, some carpal bones were broken and bone crackling sounds could be heard when probing with long forceps.

The wound was probed using long forceps to remove all the necrotic debri and to ensure no foreign material was left inside. The wound was then cleaned with water, Hydrogen peroxide and tincture of iodine. Opticlox ointment, green clay and Oxytetracycline soray was then applied. The elephant was also given Amoxicillin and Flunixin meglumine injection to support the wound healing process.

Prognosis Prognosis was guarded due to its inability to move and defend itself and the possibility of developing arthritis which has poor prognosis in elephants. The KWS security rangers and community scouts were informed to monitor the progress and report to the veterinary team in case it required repeat treatment.

Case 5 – 27th November 2019 Bongo

Natural Causes

Mt Kenya Wildlife Conservancy

One of the male bongos was reported to have poor body condition, rough hairs and patches of alopecia.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The bongo was in a larger enclosure where it was darted using 5mgs of Etorphine combined with 50mgs of Azaperone. It became immobilized and recumbent after about 8 minutes. It was then blindfolded and loaded onto a pick-up and transferred to another enclosure where it could be supplemented with feeds concentrates and water and monitor its progress.

Before treatment, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein in EDTA coated tubes and plain tubes, skin scrapings collected and preserved in 70% Ethanol and blood smears were also prepared these were taken to the lab for analysis to establish the cause of infection.

The animal was then treated using Procaine penicillin and Vitamin B12 administered intramuscularly and ivermectin subcutaneous injection. The skin was sprayed using Frontline to eradicate all ectoparasites.

Prognosis Prognosis was good after treatment; it will be closely monitored in case it requires further treatment.

Case 6 – 29th November 2019 Ostrich

Relocation

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

The management of Ol Pejeta Conservancy requested KWS to approve and help to rescue some of the remaining ostriches in the Conservancy and put them into a larger predator free enclosure to protect them from predation and enhance breeding to increase their population. The current ostrich population at Ol Pejeta is rapidly declining due to predation of chicks and eggs, without intervention the ostriches will soon disappear from the Conservancy. In September 2019, two female ostriches were successfully captured using a helicopter and relocated into the new sanctuary, darting was a challenge and the team could not capture a male on the same day due to long range darting and agitated birds. Arrangements were later made and the Nanyuki vet unit were called in to capture one male and enjoin with the two females for effective breeding to start.

Immobilisation and relocation The ostrich was darted from a vehicle using 7mgs Etorphine combined with 100mgs Ketamine Hcl. The first dart went into the subcutaneous and took so long to take effect, it was darted a second time then assisted by long ropes to fall down. It was drowsed with large amounts of water to control the body temperature, legs well secured with ropes and loaded onto a pick-up van and driven for 15 minutes to the new enclosure.

Reversal The ostrich was revived from anaesthesia and rose up after 2 minutes, it was helped to its feet and released to join the females immediately.

Case 7– 30th November 2019 Buffalo

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Abedares National Park

This was a case of an adult female buffalo that was confined within the Tree Top lodge compound. The lodge is within the Aberdares National Park and its fenced off by a tight electric fence. The buffalo was stranded inside the compound and was at risk of attacking tourists and hotel staff. The lodge and KWS management therefore requested the assistance of the veterinary team to immobilize the buffalo and translocate it out of the lodge compound. Several unsuccessful attempts had been made to chase it out through the gate.

The lodge is located in densely thick forest with thick undercover making darting during the day difficult so the capture operation was conducted at night when the buffalo came out in the open for grazing.

Immobilisation and relocation The buffalo was sighted at night near the lodge and darted using 7mgs Etorphine combined with 50mgs Azaperone. It became immobilized and recumbent after 10 minutes. It was then manually loaded on a canvass stretcher and gently pulled by a vehicle through the gate to outside the lodge. The gate was then closed and the buffalo revived and released back to the wild where it joined its herd.