SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit Report - July 2019

SWT/KWS TSAVO MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT JULY 2019

Introduction

10 Cases in July

4 Poaching Cases

4 Elephant Cases

July Report by Dr. Campaign Poghorn During July 2019, the Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit attended 10 cases involving, elephants, buffalo, a gerenuk, a hyena and a lion. Two post-mortems were conducted on buffalo carcasses that were confirmed to have anthrax as well as two post-mortems on elephant carcasses that died from arrow and spear wounds. There were also two human-wildlife conflict cases involving a hippo that was killed when it wandered into Manyani Prison and an elephant with a slash wound to the trunk. One elephant and one hyena were also treated for snare wounds; the elephant was taken to the Nairobi Nursery and the hyena was sadly euthanised as the injury was to severe.

Acknowledgement We thank the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for material support and Mobile Unit funding, KWS for logistical support and security. Biglife foundation, and SWT rangers for reporting and monitoring of distressed wild animals. The SWT Pilots and Craig from Biglife are thanked for their assistance in the aerial surveillance of the elephants after darting.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

09-Jul-19

Elephant

Tsavo West NP

Spear

Post-mortem revealed 36 deep penetrating wounds

Poaching Death

11-Jul-19

Other

Tsavo West NP

Human Wildlife Conflict

A hippo had strayed into Manyani prison and attacked a prisoner

HWC Death

12-Jul-19

Elephant

Tsavo East NP

Arrow

Arrow was located in the abdomen and had punctured the colon

Poaching Death

14-Jul-19

Buffalo

Tsavo West NP

Postmortem

Confirmed Anthrax infection

Died

16-Jul-19

Gerenuk

Rukinga Ranch, Taita

Natural Causes

A female Gerenuk was seen running into trees due to bilateral blindness

Died

17-Jul-19

Hyena

Taita Ranch,Taita

Snared

Hyena struggling to free himself from a strangulating snare in vain

Poaching Death

27-Jul-19

Buffalo

Tsavo East NP

Postmortem

Confirmed Anthrax infection

Died

28-Jul-19

Elephant

Galana Conservancy

Snared

The calf had a serious deep cutting snare wound to the right front leg

Taken to Orphanage

30-Jul-19

Elephant

Rukinga Ranch, Taita

Human Wildlife Conflict

A deep slash wound to the trunk inflicted by a person due to HWC

Prognosis Poor

30-Jul-19

Lion

Kuku Group Ranch

Collared

Collaring of lions with satellite collars for monitoring and conflict mitigation.

Task Successful

SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations July 2019

Case 1 – 9th July 2019 Elephant

Spear

Ziwani, Tsavo West National Park

The report was made by the company commander F coy based at Tsavo West National Park that an Elephant carcass has been spotted near Ziwani area of the Park after rangers on foot patrol found it. He requested for autopsy to be undertaken to ascertain the cause of death. The vet unit rushed to the area by road.

Examination and post-mortem The carcass was lying on the left flank near a dam with both tusks hacked out (one by alleged poachers and one by KWS staff). A sharp object was used to remove the front of the face and the one tusk.The perineal area was partly scavenged by wild carnivores. The carcass was at mid-level of putrefaction.

The skin of the upper back was removed revealing a total of 36 deep penetrating wounds to the upper thoracic area. There was massive bleeding and muscle tissue laceration going down to the lungs.

Cause of Death The cause of injury is multiple deep penetrating wounds caused by a spear. The weapon used must have been launched from a raised ground/platform and usually modified with added weight to inflict maximum damage and then further spearing done when the elephant was recumbent.

Case 2 – 11th July 2019 Hippopotamus

Human-wildlife Conflict

Manyani, Tsavo West National Park

A report was received from KWS Community Warden about a hippo that had strayed into Manyani prison and attacked a prisoner in the institution. Assistance for it to be translocated back to the Tsavo River was made by the warden.

Observations The Vet team together with the community warden rushed to the prison only to find the hippo had already been killed by the prison wardens. The hippo is thought to have come from Tsavo River which is about 8 Kms away.

The current dry spell within the Tsavo ecosystem is forcing animals to travel further in search of good forage which is causing an increase in human-wildlife conflict.

The carcass was collected and disposed of in the park.

Case 3 – 12th July 2019 Elephant

Arrow

Satao, Tsavo East National Park

A report was made by the Company Commander E coy based at Tsavo East National Park that a fresh elephant carcass was spotted near Satao camp within Tsavo East National Park. He requested for an autopsy to be undertaken to ascertain the cause of death. The vet unit drove to the area to do the autopsy.

Examination and post-mortem The fresh carcass was lying on the right flank under a tree with both tusks removed by KWS rangers. Upon examination there was no injury to the left body wall. The carcass was flipped over to expose the right body flank and upon external examination a penetrating wound with accompanied haemorrhage was observed to the lumbo-sacral area.

The skin on the right abdominal wall was carefully removed exposing the subcutaneous tissues and the penetrating wound followed. The abdominal muscles were cut where the wound entered the peritoneal cavity. The arrowhead was finally located in the abdominal area having punctured the great colon and causing serious peritonitis. An arrowhead was retrieved from the abdominal cavity.

Cause of Death The cause of death is from an arrow and subsequent peritonitis.

Case 4 – 14th July 2019 Buffalo

Post-mortem

Komboyo Tsavo West National Park

The Senior Warden of Tsavo West National Park reported a fresh buffalo carcass near the Park headquarters.

After sending photos of the carcass to the vet, he was advised not to touch it. The Vet team rushed to the area to find the freshly dead carcass nearby Examination Reports received from the Resident Research Scientist indicated that the buffalo was seen the previous day looking healthy at the Komboyo water hole. General examination was undertaken around the carcass visually and oozing of blood from the nose and mouth was observed. There was also rapid bloating and general autolysis of the carcass. The three signs of sudden death, oozing of blood from orifices and rapid autolysis is an indicator of Anthrax infection. Being a serious zoonotic disease, proper protective clothing was worn and blood slide samples collected from the carcass. The carcass was then buried deep in the ground and the area decontaminated with 10% formalin.

Cause of Death The slides were later processed at Voi Satellite Laboratory and stained with Giemsa and other slides stained with polychrome methylene blue. They were both examined under light microscope and rods forming chains with sharp edges were seen. This confirmed presence of Bacillus anthracis as the causative agent. No other wildlife deaths were reported in the area, an indication that it was an isolated case.

Case 5 – 16th July 2019 Gerenuk

Natural Causes

Rukinga Ranch, Tsavo

The report was made by Wildlife works rangers of a blind female gerenuk seen within the expansive Rukinga Ranch.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The antelope was running into trees due to bilateral blindness. The rangers were advised to capture and bring the gerenuk to Voi DSWT stockade for further investigation and treatment. The gerenuk was received and after physical examination a clinical diagnosis of bilateral eye infection was made.

She was administered with long acting Amoxicillin and Ivermectin IM and SQ respectively. She was also given topical eye ointment. One eye recovered fully, and she was able to see but sadly the gerenuk succumbed two weeks later due to unknown problem. Blood samples were taken but awaiting submission to the lab for analysis.

Case 6 – 17th July 2019 Hyena

Snared

Taita Ranches

KWS Rangers manning the vast Taita Ranch reported a Hyena snared to a tree. The vet team rushed to the area and found the poor Hyena struggling to free himself from the strangulating snare.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Immobilization drugs containing 120 mgs Ketamine mixed with 1 MG Meditomidine was quickly prepared and filled in a 1.5 cc dart. The hyena was darted in the thigh and was fully immobilized after 5 minutes.

The snare was cut loose and after detailed examination of the animal it was found that the wire snare had cut deep into the pharynx. The injury cut through the lower neck into the pharynx; air and food particles were flowing out of the opening. The injury was deemed untreatable in a wild situation and the hyena was euthanized to end its suffering and for animal welfare concerns.

Case 7 – 27th July 2019 Buffalo

Post-mortem

Tsavo River, Tsavo East National Park

KWS Rangers patrolling the triangle area of Tsavo East National Park reporting a freshly dead buffalo carcass near Voi River not far from Nairobi- Mombasa highway. The Vet team rushed to the area to find the freshly dead carcass nearby.

Examination General examination revealed blood oozing from the nose and mouth. There was also rapid bloating and general autolysis of the carcass. There was some scavenger activity of the carcass. The three signs of sudden death, oozing of blood from orifices and rapid autolysis is an indicator of Anthrax infection. Being a serious zoonotic disease, proper protective clothing was worn and blood slide samples collected from the carcass.

The carcass was then buried deep in the ground which was decontaminated with 10% formalin. The slides were later processed at Voi Satellite Laboratory.

Cause of Death The slides were examined under a light microscope and bacterial rods forming chains with sharp edges were seen. This confirmed presence of Bacillus anthracis as the causative agent. This is the second Buffalo to test positive for Anthrax in Tsavo. No other wildlife deaths were reported in the area. Incidences of Anthrax outbreak are always seen in Tsavo during the dry season. Good news is the disease has never spread to larger populations and only kills one or two individuals.

Case 8 – 28th July 2019 Elephant

Snared

Galana Conservancy

The SWT pilots patrolling the Sala gate – Galana area reported a snared elephant calf near Galana River within Galana Conservancy. The Vet was airlifted to the area by SWT aircraft as it was getting late.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment KWS and SWT teams were on the ground waiting for the vet team to arrive. On arrival, the vet unit and ground teams mobilised and approached the calf on foot. The calf had a serious deep snare wound to the right front leg. The calf was physically restrained then immobilized using 3mgs of Etorphine Hcl given IV through the ear vein.

The snare was cut loose, and the wound washed clean using Hydrogen peroxide mixed with water and then doused with tincture of Iodine. Finally, it was sprayed with Oxytetracycline and covered with green clay.

Parenteral administration of long acting antibiotics and Dexamethasone was given.

The calf was unable to survive in the wild with such a serious injury that required repeat treatment, so the teams decided the best course of action was to rescue the calf. The banks of River Galana is mostly loose sand and vehicles were unable to access the area. A road grader was hired from the National Irrigation Board to assist in retrieving the calf. Once out of the river, the calf was transported by road to Voi SWT stockade and then transferred by plane to the Nairobi Nursery.

Case 9 – 28th July 2019 Elephant

Human-wildlife Conflict

Rukinga Ranches, Taita

The Wildlife Works team spotted an elephant bull with a fresh bleeding injury to the trunk and notified the Vet Unit. The Vet was airlifted by SWT aircraft to the area and joined the Wildlife Works Ground Team. The elephant was easily spotted as he foraged nearby in a herd of about 20 elephants.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Darting equipment was prepared containing 18 mgs of Etorphine and the elephant was darted in the rump from the SWT helicopter. The helicopter followed the elephant from a distance and he finally went down after 8 minutes. The trunk and the ear were positioned correctly to aid in breathing and plenty of water poured on the ears to cool down.

The elephant bull had a deep slash wound on the trunk most possibly inflicted by a person in a case of humanwildlife conflict. Three quarters of diameter of the trunk was severed. The wound was cleaned with tinture of Iodine and sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray then finally covered with green clay. The respiration, body temperature and heart rates were monitored throughout the treatment process. The elephant was administered with long acting antibiotics and Dexamethasone Hcl. Prognosis The anaesthesia was reversed by use of Diprenorphine Hcl at three times the Etorphine dose administered intravenously. The bull stood up and walked away slowly. Prognosis is guarded.

Case 10 – 30th July 2019 Lion

Collaring

Kuku Group Ranch

Kuku group ranch is a Community Conservation Area bordering Tsavo West National Park and an important dispersal area for many wildlife species from the park. Human-predator conflict is high in the mainly pastoralist community that keep livestock as their main economic activity.

There is an increase in livestock predation by carnivores in the ranch creating hostilities with the community.

Permission was sought by the community conservation body for collaring of lions with satellite collar for monitoring and conflict mitigation.

Immobilisation The lion and lioness were immobilized using 300 mgs of Ketamine and 4 mgs of Meditomidine Hcl after call back sounds were played at night. The lion went down after 10 minutes. The collar was fitted and fastened firmly.

Measurements and tissue samples were collected and then the lion was revived one and half hours later using 2.5 mgs Atipemazole Hcl and monitored until he moved away on his own. Further follow up reports indicate he is doing well and the satellite component is sending signals.

Other Activities The unit examined a total of 78 dik dik, 5 gerenuk, 2 lesser kudu, 1 impala and 1 rabbit carcass confiscated from bush meat poachers and produced expert reports for prosecution purposes. 37 pieces of Ivory brought in from Mombasa were also examined and an expert report produced for prosecution purposes.