SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit - September 2019

SWT/KWS MT KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT SEPTEMBER 2019

Introduction

6 Cases in September

83% Success

22 Rhinos Ear-notched

September Report by Dr. Domnic Mijele During the month of September 2019, the Mt Kenya Wildlife Veterinary unit attended to several wildlife emergency cases that required urgent veterinary intervention in the Laikipia ecosystem and Mt. Kenya region as well as a black rhino ear-notching exercise at Ol pejeta Conservancy.

Some of the emergency veterinary activities attended to include the rescue of an orphaned common zebra foal from Naibunga Wildlife Conservancy, treatment of a sub-adult male black rhino in Meru National Park, treatment of an adult female elephant with an arrow wound at Ol Malo Conservancy, treatment of a male mountain bongo with an abscess on the mandible and treatment of a sub-adult female mountain bongo with an abscess on the neck region at Mt. Kenya Wildlife Conservancy as highlighted in the report below; Acknowledgement We acknowledge and appreciate the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), KWS and other partners for coordination and support that has enabled the Mt Kenya Veterinary Unit Team to respond promptly to all wildlife emergency cases that require veterinary intervention during the month. This has made it possible to respond and save many emergency cases in endangered wildlife species that require urgent veterinary attention every day.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

Reason for Intervention

12-Sep-19

Zebra

Naibunga Conservancy

Rescue

The foal was found alone in the field, it was already weak, dehydrated and hypoglycaemic

Taken to Orphanage

13-Sep-19

Rhino Black

Meru National Park

Natural Causes

A two-year-old male black rhino that was attacked by lions and hyenas

Died

14-Sep-19

Elephant

Ol Malo Conservancy

Arrow

17-Sep-19

Rhino Black

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Technical Cases

22-Sep-19

Bongo

Mt Kenya

Natural Causes

An adult male mountain bongo had an abscess swelling on the right mandible

Successfully Treated

22-Sep-19

Bongo

Mt Kenya

Natural Causes

A sub-adult female mountain bongo had a large abscess on the neck

Successfully Treated

A very deep and infected wound on the left front leg suspected to have been caused by an arrowhead Ear-notching of rhinos is quite important in rhino monitoring as it enables individual identification for purposes of enhancing monitoring

Outcome

Successfully Treated Task Successful

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

. Case

1 – 12th September 2019

Zebra

Rescue

Naibunga Wildlife Conservancy

A juvenile female common zebra was born weak and later abandoned by its mother soon after birth, it was less than one day old by the time it was sighted by wildlife scouts at Naibunga Conservancy. The veterinary team was called in to rescue the foal.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The foal was found alone in the field, it was already weak, dehydrated and hypoglycaemic. It was quickly given dextrose 50% i.v and water orally. Later it was given NAN milk (0 – 3months preparation). It gained strength and it was kept in a warm place overnight within KWS Laikipia station then the next day it was delivered to Reteti sanctuary for tender care.

Prognosis Prognosis for full recovery is good.

. Case

2 – 13th September 2019

Black Rhino

Natural Causes

Meru National Park

This was a two-year-old male black rhino that was attacked by lions and hyenas in Meru National park. It was quite weak, emaciated and dehydrated with several lacerative and filarial wounds over the back and abdominal regions. The rhino was sighted while it was already off-feed and not taking water. It had been left to survive alone after the mother gave birth to another calf. This made him quite vulnerable to predators and unable to fend for itself.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The rhino was darted from a helicopter and was fully anesthetized after about 10 minutes.

On examination, the rhino had several lacerative wounds caused by the claws of a predator most likely a lion attack. The wounds were already infected and swollen due to acute inflammation. The wounds were treated with Oxytetracycline spray and then parenteral Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories were given.

Prognosis The anaesthetic was reversed, and the rhino got up after 2 minutes, but it was still weak and reluctant to move. Security personnel were advised to monitor the animal and it was recommended to be taken to a rhino boma for care but unfortunately it succumbed due to prolonged dehydration and hypoglycaemia.

Case 3 – 14th September 2019 Elephant

Arrow

Ol Malo Conservancy

This adult female elephant had a very deep and infected wound on the left front leg suspected to have been caused by an arrowhead. The wound was swollen and exuding blood tinged pus. It was in a large herd of elephants near Ol malo dam and could barely move due to pain from the injured leg.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The injured elephant was darted but went down on sternal recumbency and had to be pushed onto its side to expose the injured leg for treatment. The elephant had a deep penetrating wound on the left side of the front leg about 10cm deep with lots of blood tinged pus and necrotic tissue. The wound penetrated to the humerus bone and it was suspected that an arrow had struck the elephant and fell off. The wound was cleaned with water, and lots of pus and exudates squeezed out by hand then it was probed using sterile gauze swabs attached to long forceps to remove all the necrotic tissue and to ensure no foreign material was left inside. It was then cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide and tincture of Iodine. Chlortetracycline pessaries were inserted into the wound for slow release treatment, then Opticlox ointment and green clay were packed into the wound, followed by Oxytetracycline spray. The elephant was also given Procaine penicillin to manage the heavy infection around the wound and Flunixine meglumine to control the pain and inflammation.

Prognosis Prognosis was good after treatment.

Case 4 – 17th – 26th September 2019 Black Rhino

Technical; Ear Notching

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Ear notching and microchip insertion exercise in Black rhinos (Diceros bicornis michaeli). Ear-notching of rhinos enables individual identification of rhinos for purposes of enhancing monitoring in the wild.

Ear-notching of rhinos is a very useful management tool for rhino conservation as the security rangers can use the unique ear-notch patterns to accurately identify specific individuals and report their status on regular basis. The Mt Kenya Veterinary Unit was part of the personnel involved in this exercise that included veterinarians, capture team, helicopter and fixed wing pilots, rhino program staff, researchers, KWS security personnel and Ol pejeta teams.

A total of 22 Black rhinos were successfully captured by chemical immobilization and ear notched.

Immobilisation and Ear-notching exercise Once the anaesthesia was stable the rhino was then ear-notched successfully using sterile surgical blades attached to a surgical blade holder and haemorrhage controlled using haemostats and gauze swabs.

Biological samples including blood, tissue, ticks were collected and preserved appropriately for laboratory investigations and research.

Soon after ear-notching and samples collection the rhino was then revived from anaesthesia and released back to the wild.

Case 5 – 22nd September 2019 Bongo

Natural Causes

Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy

An adult male mountain bongo had an abscess on the right mandible that was quite painful and needed to be lanced. The animal was in pain and quite restless so required very urgent veterinary intervention.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The bongo was isolated in one of the enclosures where it was darted with 7mgs of Etorphine Hcl combined with 50mgs of Azaperone tartrate. It became immobilized and recumbent after about 6 minutes. The swollen mandible region was shaved clean using a scalpel blade and disinfected using 70% Ethanol and surgical spirit.

It was then cut open using a surgical blade and pressed until all the whitish exudates and pus came out.

The wound was cleaned properly using forceps and gauze swabs, then cleaned using 10% Hydrogen peroxide and tincture of Iodine. The wound was then treated using Opticlox ointment and Oxytetracycline spray. The animal was further treated with Procaine penicillin and Dexamethasone administered intramuscularly.

Multivitamin injection was also administered intramuscularly. Whole blood samples were collected from the jugular vein into EDTA coated tubes and more blood was collected into plain tubes for serum preparation.

Prognosis The bongo rose up after 2 minutes and joined the rest of the herd in the enclosure. Prognosis was good.

Case 5 – 22nd September 2019 Bongo

Natural Causes

Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy

A sub-adult female mountain bongo had a large abscess swelling on the left side of the neck that was quite painful and required veterinary intervention.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The animal was physically restrained by hand and the swollen neck region was shaved clean using a scalpel blade and disinfected using 70% ethanol and surgical spirit. The swelling was then cut open using a surgical blade and all the whitish exudates and pus pressed out.

The wound was then cleaned properly using forceps and gauze swabs, then cleaned using 10% Hydrogen peroxide and tincture of Iodine then treated using Opticlox ointment and Oxytetracycline spray. The animal was further treated using Betamox and Dexamethasone administered intramuscularly.

Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously and Frontline sprayed on the affected areas.

Prognosis Prognosis was quite good after treatment of the abscess.