SWT/KWS MOBILE VETERINARY UNITS TSAVO, MARA, MERU, AMBO MT KENYA, RIFT VALLEY April – June 2023 Report
Introduction
176 Cases
68 Poaching Cases
63 Elephant Cases
24 Predator Cases
27 HWC Cases
67% Success
April – June 2023 Report for Tsavo, Mara, Meru, Amboseli, Mt Kenya and Rift Valley Units. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), in conjunction with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) operate six Mobile Veterinary Units. Within the quarter, the Units attended to a total of 176 wildlife cases involving 197 animals. There were 63 elephant, 24 predator, 8 rhino, 49 plains game, 19 giraffes, 3 buffalo cases as well as 3 security dogs cases, treatment and translocation of a python found in a school and management of a hippo with two spear wounds that unfortunately had to be euthanised. Out of the poaching cases, there were 35 snaring cases, 19 spear, 12 arrow and 2 bullet wounds. 26 elephants, 26 plains game, 8 giraffes, 2 buffalo, 3 rhinos and 1 wild dog were treated for poaching related injuries. Sadly 3 elephant, 2 rhino, 3 zebra, 1 buffalo and 1 hippo succumbed to their injuries. 3 elephants were also given a poor prognosis. Human-wildlife conflict cases continue to be prominent involving a various species for a variety of reasons. A waterbuck was relocated after it knocked down a hotel worker and a buffalo strayed into a farm threatening the workers. 11 elephants had to be relocated due to proximity to communities or persistent fence breaking. Sadly one of the elephants died due to anaesthesia complications. Two lions were relocated due to livestock predation and one leopard was taken into captivity after it attacked two people. It could not survive naturally in the wild as it had an amputation due to a snare wound. A further 9 lions were poisoned in retatliation to livestock predation as well as 1 vulture and 1 elephant. 5 of the lions were successfully treated, all the others succumbed to the poison. Of the cases there was a 67% success rate and 14% death rate due to poaching or human-wildlife conflict.
Case Details Poaching HWC Natural Causes Postmortem Technical Cases Rescue Relocation Collared Grand Total
Elephant
Predators
26 9 20 5
1 11 11
Rhinos Plains Game Giraffe 3 2 1 1
Buffalo
Other
Grand Total 68 27 65 9 2 3 1 1 176
26 1 20 2
8 4 7
2 1
2 1 5 1 1
49
19
3
10
3 1 63
1 24
8
197 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Vet Units April - June 2023 80
. 70
60 Other
50
Buffalo Giraffe 40
Plains Game Rhinos
30
Predators Elephant
20
10
0 Poaching
HWC
Natural Causes
Postmortem
Rescue
Collared
Relocation
Technical Cases
114 Poaching and HWC Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Vet Units April - June 2023 40 35 30 25 Other
20
Buffalo
Giraffe
15
Plains Game 10
Rhinos Predators
5
Elephant
Poaching
HWC
Poison
Manhole
Livestock Predation
Human Malice
Fencing
Panga
Spear
Animal Attack
Relocation
Bullet Wound
Arrow
Spear
Snared
0
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Vet Units April - June 2023
Prognosis Poor 8%
Poaching Death 5%
HWC Death 9%
Successful Cases 67%
Died 8%
Taken to Orphanage 3%
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Vet Units April - June 2023
Rift Valley
33
Amboseli
15
Meru
1
12
Mt Kenya
11
2
5
6
6
22
Tsavo
10
1
1
1 2 1
3
5
1 2 1
31
0
3
3
18
Mara
1
4
20
30
1
9
40
2
2
50
Prognosis Poor Death HWC Death Died Taken to Orphanage SWT/KWS MobilePoaching Vet Unit Treatment Locations
Successful Cases
60
Tsavo – Mara – Meru – Amboseli – Mt Kenya – Rift Valley April – June 2023
SWT/KWS TSAVO MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW April – June 2023
42 Cases
17 Poaching Cases
23 Elephant Cases
The Tsavo Conservation Area generally received moderate to good precipitation in April and some in May which provided enough water and forage for wildlife throughout the quarter. The rains stopped during June, but the area had received enough to keep water pans fairly full of adequate vegetation. The Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 42 cases during the quarter including 6 snare, 6 spear, 4 arrow, and 1 bullet wound. Some of the cases attended to in May were in the Amboseli Conservation Area. Some significant cases included the rescue of an elephant calf after it was confirmed to have been abandoned by its mother and 22 other elephant cases. Two rogue elephant bulls had to be relocated after causing significant conflict and danger within community areas. A black rhino in Ngulia Sanctuary was successfully treated for filarial worms and an injured rock python found by children within there school was treated and safely relocated.
42 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Tsavo Vet Unit April - June 2023 20 18 16 14
Other Buffalo
12
Giraffe 10
Plains Game Rhinos
8
Predators 6
Elephant
4 2 0 Poaching
HWC
Natural Causes
Rescue
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Tsavo Vet Unit April - June 2023 Prognosis Poor 8% Poaching Death 2%
HWC Death 19%
Successful Cases 63% Died 4%
Taken to Orphanage 4%
SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April – June 2023
April 2023
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May 2023
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June 2023
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SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW April – June 2023
35 Cases
21 Poaching Cases
14 Elephant Cases
The Mara Vet Unit Attended to 35 cases this quarter. The majority of these cases were as a result of poaching, including 7 speared elephants, 3 arrowed elephants, 2 snared rhinos, 1 snared wildebeest, and 3 snared zebras. Additionally, 3 giraffe and 1 hippo were also treated for spear or arrow wounds. Most of the animals were given a good prognosis after treatment, but the hippo, 1 elephant and 2 rhinos succumbed to their injures. Other cases involved a lion which was trapped inside an electric fence and had to be relocated and a rogue elephant that was causing issues in the community and was relocated, but sadly died due to anaesthesia complications. The Unit also rescued one elephant calf who is doing well at the nursery. 35 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Mara Vet Unit April - June 2023 25
20 Other Giraffe
15
Plains Game Rhinos Predators
10
Elephant
5
0 Poaching
HWC
Natural Causes
Postmortem
Rescue
Technical Cases
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Mara Vet Unit April - June 2023
Prognosis Poor 8% Poaching Death 14%
Successful Cases 66%
Died 6%
HWC Death 3%
Taken to Orphanage 3%
SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April – June 2023
April 2023
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May 2023
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June 2023
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SWT/KWS MERU MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW April – June 2023
17 Cases
5 Poaching Cases
5 Elephant Cases
The Meru Conservation Area received substantial rainfall throughout April resulting in an increase in forage and water for wildlife. Intermittent rain showers were experienced during May and with forage abundant and ample water supply there was a myriad of wildlife and numerous baby elephant and eland calves. Significant cases within this period include treatment of two male lions in Meru National Park and Solio Ranch for fight wounds and treating an elephant bull with spear and arrow wounds in Meru National Park with a follow up treatment a month later. In Mwea National Reserve, the veterinary team treated 2 Rothschild female giraffes (a sub-adult and an adult) for injuries caused by wire snare and one for natural causes. Three zebras were also treated, one for a failed predation attempt and two for snare injuries.
17 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Meru Vet Unit April - June 2023 12
. 10
8 Other Giraffe 6
Plains Game Predators Elephant
4
2
0 Poaching
HWC
Natural Causes
Technical Cases
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Meru Vet Unit April - June 2023
Prognosis Poor 6% Poaching Death 6%
Successful Cases 70% Died 18%
SWT/KWS Meru Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April – June 2023
April 2023
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May 2023
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June 2023
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SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW April – June 2023
21 Cases
3 Poaching Cases
13 Elephant Cases
The Southern Conservation Area received rains in April and forage was plenty for wildlife through May. Elephants and other wildlife moved outside the park given the availability of forage. The Area experienced dry weather conditions in June. There was plenty of forage within the park, but wildlife preferred foraging outside the park. Most of the veterinary cases attended to over this period were predominantly attributed to human-wildlife conflict. The planned translocation of 2 elephant bulls were eventually collared and released for further monitoring. One lion was relocated, whilst two others were speared and another 8 lions were poisoned, none of which survived. All of these cases were due to livestock predation. 21 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Amboseli Vet Unit April - June 2023 9 8 7 6 Giraffe 5
Plains Game Predators
4
Elephant 3 2 1 0 Poaching
HWC
Natural Causes
Postmortem
Rescue
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Amboseli Vet Unit April - June 2023 Poaching Death 4% HWC Death 18%
Died 21% Successful Cases 53%
Taken to Orphanage 4%
SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April – June 2023
April 2023
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May 2023
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June 2023
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SWT/KWS MT KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW April – June 2023
21 Cases
8 Elephant Cases
6 Poaching Cases
During this quarter, the Mt. Kenya Mobile Wildlife Veterinary Unit attended to 21 reported wildlife cases which is a significant reduction from the previous quarter. Significant cases included treatment of an elephant for a spear
one and another for a bullet wound as well as for natural causes and relocation of 7 elephants due to human wildlife conflict. One elephant calf was found struggling to survive from natural causes and it was decided to relocate it to the Nairobi Nursery to recover as it coudn’t survive in the wild. The Unit continue to assist Ol Pejeta Conservancy with their insemination project and relocated 2 selected females to Bomas. .
21 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Vet Unit April - June 2023 12
10
8 Other Plains Game 6
Rhinos
Predators Elephant
4
2
0 Poaching
HWC
Natural Causes
Relocation
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Meru Vet Unit April - June 2023
Prognosis Poor 22%
Successful Cases 63%
HWC Death 7%
Poaching Death 4%
Taken to Orphanage 4%
SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April – June 2023
April 2023
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May 2023
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June 2023
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SWT/KWS RIFT VALLEY MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW April – June 2023
40 Cases
16 Poaching Cases
25 Plains Game Cases
The Lake Naivasha area and the Central Rift Conservation Area in general have received seasonal rain throughout most the quarter. The Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit performed clinical interventions and carried out routine security patrols in the Lake Naivasha area and Mt. Elgon National Park. The Unit attended to 40 cases, 16 of which were related to poaching and 7 due to human wildlife conflict. The most common cause of treatment continues to be snare injuries, as bushmeat poaching for zebra, buffalo, giraffe and other grazers is prevalent in this area. The Unit assisted in translocating a leopard that attacked two people, a buffalo that was posing a threat to communities, attempted to rescue a giraffe from a pit and treated 3 giraffes that were injured by people.
40 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Rift Valley Vet Unit April - June 2023 18 16 14 12 Other 10
Buffalo Giraffe
8
Plains Game Predators
6 4 2 0 Poaching
HWC
Natural Causes
Postmortem
Collared
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Rift Valley Vet Unit April - June 2023
Successful Cases 81%
Prognosis Poor 5%
Died 7%
Poaching Death 3% HWC Death 2%
Taken to Orphanage 2%
SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April - June 2023
April 2023
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May 2023
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June 2023
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