SWT/KWS MOBILE VETERINARY UNITS
TSAVO, MARA, MERU, AMBO MT KENYA, RIFT VALLEY
October – December 2022 Report
Introduction
137 Cases
37 Poaching Cases
47 Elephant Cases
8 Predator Cases
12 HWC Cases
67% Success
October – December 2022 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 137 wildlife cases involving 658 animals.
There were 47 elephant, 8 predator, 16 rhino, 43 plains game, 18 giraffe, 1 buffalo and 2 security dogs cases as well as a research survey on 469 zebra/wildebeest/buffalo/hippo/elephant which present with severe emaciation and pale and dried mucous membranes which was attributed to drought related complications.
Out of the poaching cases, there were 24 snaring cases, 6 spear, 5 arrow and 2 bullet wounds. The majority of the snare cases were plains game with 13 zebra, 1 eland and 1 waterbuck treated for snare related injuries as well as 4 giraffe. Thankfully all were treated successfully except one zebra which had to be euthanised as the injury to the leg was too severe. 3 elephants, a serval cat and a leopard were also successfully treated for snare injuries. Of the 12 other poaching cases, there was only 1 death, an elephant with a severe spear injury. An elephant with a bullet wound and one with an arrow wound were given a guarded prognosis.
Unfortunately due to the prolonged drought, there was an increase in post-mortems and natural cases. 24 of these cases involved elephants who were the most severely affected. There were also 5 elephant calf rescues caused by drought as the mothers could either not support the calf or had succumbed.
Of the cases there was a 67% success rate and only 3% death rate due to poaching or human-wildlife conflict. Unfortunately, there was a 17% death rate due to natural causes, again attributed to the ongoing drought.
Case Details
Elephant Predators Rhino Plains Game Giraffe Buffalo Other Grand Total Poaching 14 2 15 6 37 HWC 2 1 4 5 12 Natural Causes 14 3 6 21 5 1 50 Postmortem 10 1 4 1 16 Rescue 7 2 9 Collared 1 1 2 Relocation 2 2 1 1 6 Research/ Survey 1 1 Technical Cases 2 1 1 4 Grand Total 47 8 16 43 18 1 4 137
October - December 2022 Other Buffalo
Giraffe Plains Game Rhinos Predators Elephant
October - December 2022
Giraffe Plains Game Predators Elephant
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Poaching HWC Natural Causes Postmortem Rescue Collared Relocation Research/
Technical
Survey
Cases
137 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Vet Units
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Poaching HWC
Arrow Bullet Wound Snared Spear Arrow Bullet Wound Fencing Human Items Manhole Panga Spear
49 Poaching and HWC Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Vet Units
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Vet Units
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Vet Units
13 10 26 13 13 17 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 5 4 6 7 1 3 1 2 1 1 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Tsavo Mara Mt Kenya Meru Amboseli Rift Valley
October
Successful Cases Reunited with Mother Prognosis Poor Poaching Death HWC Death Died Taken to Orphanage Successful Cases 67% Reunited with Mother 1% Prognosis Poor 6% Poaching Death 1% HWC Death 2% Died 17% Taken to Orphanage 6%
- December 2022
October -
2022
December
SWT/KWS Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
Tsavo – Mara – Meru –Amboseli – Mt Kenya – Rift Valley
October – December 2022
SWT/KWS TSAVO MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW
October – December 2022
26 Cases 7 Poaching Cases 18 Elephant Cases
The Tsavo Conservation Area (TCA) has experienced one of the worst droughts in the recent past. In October, the prevailing drought resulted in a high number of wildlife losses, and the rescue of elephant calves was almost a daily occurrence as they were abandoned since they could not travel long distances while others were left behind after their mothers succumbed to drought related complications. The TCA had good rains from November through to December providing adequate pasture and water for wildlife. Cases of recumbent elephants were encountered towards the end of November and at the beginning of December. The change of weather and forage during this transition period is thought to have triggered this syndrome.
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Poaching Natural Causes Postmortem
Rescue
26 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Tsavo Vet Unit
October - December 2022
Plains Game Rhinos Elephant
SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations October – December 2022 Successful Cases 50% Reunited with Mother 4% Prognosis Poor 15% Died 19% Taken to Orphanage 12%
of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Tsavo Vet Unit October - December 2022
Outcomes
October 2022
To see the full report for Tsavo Vet Unit for the month of October 2022 click here
November 2022
To see the full report for Tsavo Vet Unit for the month of November 2022 click here
December 2022
To see the full report for Tsavo Vet Unit for the month of December 2022 click here
SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW
October – December 2022
11 Cases 5 Poaching Cases
3 Elephant Cases
October was the driest month this year. Savannahs and many seasonal streams dried up, and the flow of major rivers within the ecosystem dramatically reduced. Due to scarcity of resources, the health of wildlife, particularly herbivores declined rapidly. Predators on the other hand seem thrive as their prey base is very broad due to the presence of migratory wildebeest. November marked the arrival of the short rains within the Ecosystem just like most parts of Kenya. Although the rains were not very heavy when they began, it is expected that they will alleviate the forage and water scarcity. Cases of human-wildlife conflict are expected to subside as resources become abundant and wild animals withdraw from human dominated areas.
11 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Mara Vet Unit
October - December 2022
Giraffe
Plains Game
Rhinos
Predators Elephant
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Poaching HWC Natural Causes Technical Cases
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Mara Vet Unit
October - December 2022
December
Successful Cases 91% Taken to Orphanage 9%
SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations October –
2022
October 2022
To see the full report for Mara Vet Unit for the month of October 2022 click here
November 2022
To see the full report for Mara Vet Unit for the month of November 2022 click here
December 2022
The
leave for the month of December 2022
Mara Vet Unit on
SWT/KWS MERU MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW
October – December 2022
21 Cases 3 Poaching Cases 8 Elephant Cases
October was characterized by increased environmental temperatures and with each passing day came a substantial decline in the available forage and water for wildlife. November marked the beginning of the long rains; river water levels rose significantly, and forage for wildlife increased across the region. Most of the Ecosystem continued to receive rain in December. The trees were in full bloom, and the number of reported cases drastically decreased Significant cases involved the rescue of an orphaned white rhino calf in the Meru Rhino Sanctuary; the translocation of 4 white rhinos and the rescue of a heavily pregnant giraffe and her offspring trapped in a fenced enclosure for almost 6 days without access to water.
21 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Meru Vet Unit
October - December 2022
Other Giraffe Plains Game
Rhinos
Predators
Elephant
. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Poaching HWC Natural Causes Postmortem Rescue Technical Cases
SWT/KWS Meru Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations October – December 2022 Successful Cases 62% Prognosis Poor 5% Died 28% Taken to Orphanage 5%
of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Meru Vet Unit October - December 2022
Outcomes
October 2022
To see the full report for Meru Vet Unit for the month of October 2022 click here
November 2022
To see the full report for Meru Vet Unit for the month of November 2022 click here
December 2022
To see the full report for Meru Vet Unit for the month of December 2022 click here
SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW
October – December 2022
13 Cases 13 Poaching Cases
8 Elephant Case
The Amboseli ecosystem experienced dry and hot conditions in October The wetland vegetation was almost depleted by the high population of animals feeding in the area, and vulnerable animals continued to die from drought-related complications. Many animals remained in the park, but they moved in and outside the park resulting in farm invasions and conflict with communities The ecosystem received rains at the end of November resulting in some vegetation regrowth and flash floods in some parts of the park due to surface runoff from the Kilimanjaro slopes. Rains received in November were unevenly distributed and there was barely any in December. Herbivores survived on what was left in the swamps since forage was scarce.
26 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Amboseli Vet Unit
October - December 2022
Other Giraffe Plains Game
Predators
Elephant
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Poaching HWC Natural Causes Postmortem Rescue Collared Research/ Survey Technical Cases
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Amboseli Vet Unit October - December 2022
October – December 2022 Successful Cases 50% Prognosis Poor 4% Poaching Death 4% HWC Death 11% Died 27% Taken to Orphanage 4%
SWT/KWSAmboseli Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
October 2022
To see the full report for Amboseli Vet Unit for the month of October 2022 click here
November 2022
To see the full report for Amboseli Vet Unit for the month of November 2022 click here
December 2022
To see the full report for Amboseli Vet Unit for the month of December 2022 click here
SWT/KWS MT KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW
October – December 2022
33 Cases 5 Elephant Cases 5 Poaching Cases
During October – December 2022, the Mt. Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 33 wildlife cases in the Laikipia ecosystem and the Mt. Kenya region. Significant cases include, the translocation of 14 white rhinos from the Oljogi Pyramid to Oljogi ranch to decongest the Pyramid area thereby reducing territorial fights; the translocation of 4 white rhinos from Meru National Park to Partikilat Conservancy, the capture and translocation of 4 southern white rhinos at Ol Pejeta Conservancy as part of the surrogacy program for assisted reproduction of northern white rhino and the rescue of a leopard caught in a snare within community farms in Timau. The leopard was successfully treated and later relocated to Loisaba Conservancy.
33
October - December 2022
Plains Game Rhinos
Predators Elephant
0 5 10 15 20 25 Poaching Natural Causes Postmortem Rescue Collared Relocation
Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Mount Kenya Vet Unit
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Mount Kenya Vet Unit
October - December 2022
SWT/KWS Mt Kenya Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
October – December 2022
Successful Cases 79% Prognosis Poor 3% Died 12% Taken to Orphanage 6%
October 2022
To see the full report for Mt Kenya Vet Unit for the month of October 2022 click here
November 2022
To see the full report for Mt Kenya Vet Unit for the month of November 2022 click here
December 2022
To see the full report for Mt Kenya Vet Unit for the month of December 2022 click here
SWT/KWS RIFT VALLEY MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OVERVIEW
October – December 2022
20 Cases 9 Poaching Cases 13 Plains Game Cases
Some rainfall was received during the reporting period in the areas north and south of Lake Naivasha as well as the Central Rift Conservation Area. During November, the Unit was on leave but nonetheless Dr. Titus Kaitho and other KWS Veterinarians were involved in trimming the horn of a problematic white rhino bull in Lake Nakuru National Park 9 of the 20 cases were snare injuries, involving 7 zebras, 1 giraffe and 1 eland. All were treated successfully except one zebra whose leg injury was so severe it was euthanised to prevent further suffering. A zebra was treated after it became entangled in fencing and another for a panga wound because of human-wildlife conflict. 5 giraffes and 10 elands were translocated from Soysambu Conservancy to Tindress Conservancy to increase genetic diversity.
20 Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Rift Valley Vet Unit
October - December 2022
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Poaching HWC Natural Causes Postmortem Relocation Technical Cases
Other Buffalo Giraffe Plains Game Rhinos
Outcomes of Cases Attended to by the SWT/KWS Rift Valley Vet Unit
October - December 2022
SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
Successful Cases 85% Prognosis Poor 5% Poaching Death 5% Died 5%
October - December 2022
October 2022
To see the full report for Rift Valley Vet Unit for the month of October 2022 click here
November 2022
To see the full report for Rift Valley Vet Unit for the month of Nov 2022 click here
December 2022
To see the full report for Rift Valley Vet Unit for the month of December 2022 click here
