Mara Veterinary Report for May 2019

SWT/KWS MASAI MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT May 2019

Introduction

9 Cases in May

3 Lion Cases

89% Success

May Report by Dr. Campaign Limo

The period under consideration had a few days of precipitation with the remainder of the days being dry and windy. The intermittent showers brought relief to wildlife with water collecting in small pools and natural pans and re-establishment of fodder for the grazers. The Mara Unit attended 4 spear cases; two lions possibly speared due to human-wildlife conflict and two elephant cases, possibly due to poaching attempts. Other cases included a zebra which had an arrow injury after straying into community lands, and several cases caused by natural causes in rhino, cheetah, lion and giraffe.

Acknowledgement Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit would like to thank all those who assisted in one way or another towards saving various wildlife species during the month. Help in terms of facilitation to the unit by Minara foundation through SWT is highly appreciated. Thanks too to KWS management for their technical support to the unit.

Case Details Date

Species

Area Found

04-May-19

Lion

Masai Mara NR

HumanWildlife Conflict

The injury was about 2inches in depth and 8inches long caused by a spear

Successfully Treated

12-May-19

Rhino White

OlChoro Oiroua

Natural Causes

Dragging of his left limbs and head pressing, consistent with nerve problems/brain lesions

Successfully Treated

17-May-19

Giraffe

Masai Mara NR

Natural Causes

His hind quarter had an abrasion around the hock joint which already healed

Task Successful

Zebra

Oloisukut Conservancy

HumanWildlife Conflict

An arrow lodged on her right hock with the shaft intact possibly due to conflict

Successfully Treated

18-May-19

Lion

Masai Mara NR

HumanWildlife Conflict

A sharp object with a depth of about four inches and eight inches long.

Successfully Treated

20-May-19

Elephant

Lemek Conservancy

Spear

Relatively fresh spear wound on his right carpus

Successfully Treated

28-May-19

Lion

OlChoro Oiroua

Natural Causes

Wound on his right shoulder suspected to have been caused by a buffalo

Successfully Treated

28-May-19

Elephant

Olarro Conservancy

Spear

An old wound on the cranial aspect of his right foreleg just below the elbow

Poaching Death

29-May-19

Cheetah

Mara Triangle

Natural Causes

This cheetah may have acquired these injuries while trying to kill a warthog

Successfully Treated

17-May-19

Reason for Intervention

Outcome

SWT/KWS Masai Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations May 2019

Case 1 – 4th May 2019 Lion

Human-Wildlife Conflict (Spear)

Masai Mara National Reserve

This lioness was seen injured and reported for our attention by Masai Mara National Reserve rangers and Governor’s camp tour guides who spotted her while on duty. She was located with a pride near a shrubby Lugga but soon isolated herself from the rest by coming out a few meters into the open. She had a relatively fresh wound along her spine at the lumbosacral area. Although it was drying up, it appeared deep and likely caused by a sharp object.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Restraint was achieved chemically by use of a combination of 6mgs Medetomidine and 240mgs Ketamine hydrochloride delivered through a 3ml dan-inject dart from a vehicle. She got fully anaesthetized after ten minutes assuming sternal recumbency.

She was placed in a more comfortable position with examination revealing a less than 24 hours old deep injury caused by a sharp object. The injury was about 2 inches in depth and 8 inches long. Luckily there was no damage to the spine. The area was shaved and cleaned with the wound edges being refreshed and disinfected.

Deeper tissues were sutured with absorbable suture using simple interrupted pattern with the skin being apposed with slow absorbable vicryl suture. Tincture of iodine was used for disinfection of the wound with cloxacillin antibiotic ointment being infused. Oxytetracycline topical spray was then applied before green clay being packed. Other treatments include parenteral administration of amoxicillin antibiotic and ivermectin parasiticide.

Prognosis She was up within 5 minutes of anaesthetic reversal and moved towards where the other pride members were.

The lion was successfully revived and prognosis for full recovery is good.

Case 2 – 12th May 2019 White Rhino

Natural Causes

Ol Choro Oiroua

This male rhino is one among two rhinos currently being kept by the conservancy having been born there eleven years ago. They are kept in a semi captive environment whereby they are taken to graze in the morning and guided back to a boma in the evening. He is reported to have suddenly fallen down two months ago, rolled over for a few meters before waking up to graze normally. Those monitoring him thought he slipped. He again collapsed on the evening preceding the day of treatment and exhibited signs of seizures but woke up after few minutes and took time before resuming to graze. The mobile veterinary team were called the next day to check on him.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment He was found with the female rhino, who is older than him, in the boma. Though his body condition appeared normal, he seemed to lose balance often when on the move with signs of weakness on his left side depicted by mild dragging of his left fore and hind limbs. He also displayed signs of head pressing. These signs were considered consistent with nervous problems with possible brain lesions. It was impossible to pinpoint the exact type of lesion under field conditions.

He was given supportive treatment without any anaesthesia; parenteral administration of Dexamethasone sodium to help reduce any possible swelling in the brain and as an anti-inflammatory. He also received Quinapyramine sulphate against trypanosomosis, Amoxicillin antibiotics for possible bacterial infections, Ivermectin parasiticide against potential migratory helminth larvae and Butasal muscle and nerve stimulants.

He has since stabilized but close examination was advised with possible scanning for better diagnosis.

Prognosis Guarded to good.

If this was transient brain oedema from concussion, then this will improve and eventually heal with time. It is worse if it is a growth which progressively impinges on vital areas of the brain. Latest reports say, he has since improved and doing well but the teams have been advised to keep on monitoring his progress and report any reoccurrence of the signs.

Case 3 – 17th May 2019 Giraffe

Natural Causes

Ngama, Masai Mara NR

This giraffe was seen by Mara Triangle rangers together with community scouts with an injury on her left hind leg around the hock. They called the mobile veterinary unit for assessment and way forward.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment This giraffe was seen browsing few meters from the rest of the herd and moving carefully with a slight limp.

His hind quarter had an abrasion around the hock joint which appeared clean and dry. The injury appeared superficial with no likely risk of sepsis.

Prognosis The team decided not to interfere as he appeared to be coping well with the injury. He was left to continue browsing with the scouts being advised to monitor and report the progress.

Case 4 – 17th May 2019 Zebra

Human-Wildlife Conflict (arrow)

Oloisukut Conservancy

This zebra was seen with an arrow in her right hock by KWS rangers on their normal patrol. They called the Mobile Veterinary Unit for help. She was found grazing with other zebras in an open area within the conservancy. She walked with a limp and she appeared to be in pain.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment Restraint was achieved chemically by use of a combination of 5mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 50mgs Azaperone tartarate delivered through a 1.5mls dan-inject dart from a vehicle. She moved around with the other zebras before being overwhelmed by the anaesthetics after seven minutes.

Examination revealed an arrow lodged in her right hock with the shaft intact. This arrow could have been there for two days and suspected to be as a result of conflict after straying into surrounding community farms. The arrow was gently removed with the resultant wound being debrided with Hydrogen peroxide and gauze swab, then disinfected with tincture of iodine. Cloxacillin antibiotic ointment was infused before Oxytetracycline wound spray being applied topically. Other treatments given include intramuscular injection of Amoxicillin antibiotics and Dexamethasone sodium anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis The lion was successfully revived and prognosis for full recovery is good.

Case 5 – 18th May 2019 Lion

Human-Wildlife Conflict (spear)

Masai Mara National Reserve

This lioness was seen with an injury by Masai Mara National Reserve rangers with Governor’s camp tour guides while on their daily patrols and guiding. She was with a pride of eight lions including young cubs.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment The pride was traced to a small bushy island surrounded by two luggas where they had been feeding on a warthog. When approached, they came out of the bush and the injured lioness separated from the rest. She had a large open wound on her left hind leg that was gaping, and the team felt it required repair.

The lioness was darted and put on the back of a vehicle and relocated to a shady area a few meters away where assessment and treatment was done. Examination revealed a relatively fresh wound less than 24 hours old caused by a sharp object that was four inches in depth and eight inches long. The area surrounding the wound was shaved and the wound cleaned. The edges and wound surface were refreshed to remove any dead tissue then rinsed with water and dried with sterile gauze. Surgical spirit and tincture of iodine were used for disinfection before deeper layers were closed with polyglactin suture which is a slow and absorbable.

The dead space below the skin was reduced then the skin was closed using the same suture given that it takes time for it to lose strength and be absorbed. Cloxacillin antibiotic ointment was infused into each layer while being closed. Oxytetracycline spray and green clay were applied topically. She was then given 3000mgs Amoxicillin antibiotics and 80mgs ivermectin parasiticide given intramuscularly and subcutaneously.

Prognosis The anaesthetic was reversed and she woke up after 8 minutes and went into the bushes. Prognosis is good.

Case 6 – 20th May 2019 Elephant

Spear

Lemek Conservancy

This young bull was seen limping on his front right leg by Lemek conservancy rangers and the Mara Elephant Project teams while on their daily patrols. He was in a family of about ten elephants. They called the mobile veterinary unit for assessment and way forward.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment This young bull was traced to a small bush near a Lugga within the Conservancy. He remained behind as the rest of the family came out into the open. He soon emerged limping trying to catch up with the rest. His body condition appeared good.

He was immobilized with 14mgs Etorphine hydrochloride delivered through a dan-inject dart from a vehicle.

It took eight minutes for the drugs to take full effect with him assuming right lateral recumbency. Examination revealed a relatively fresh spear wound on his right carpus. Fortunately, the joint was not affected.

The wound was debrided with the Hydrogen peroxide and gauze swabs. After rinsing with clean water tincture of iodine was applied for disinfection before green clay was applied. He was then given parenteral injection of 30,000mgs Amoxicillin antibiotic and 5,000mgs Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis He woke up from anaesthesia after four minutes to join the rest of the family members waiting nearby.

Prognosis is good

Case 7 – 28th May 2019 Lion

Natural Causes

Ol choro Oiroua Conservancy

This maned male was seen in the morning by the Conservancy rangers with an injury while on their normal routine patrols. He had a fresh wound under his right shoulder suspected to have been caused by a buffalo.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment This big lion was found under a shade relaxing with a pride of ten lions with cubs. When agitated to move, he did so with a lot of pain. The wound which was under his right shoulder was partially hidden.

Restraint was achieved chemically with use of a combination of 6mgs Medetomidine hydrochloride and 260mgs Ketamine. After moving for a while, he settled in a shady area and was overwhelmed by the anaesthetics after eleven minutes. He was put in a comfortable position with a blindfold. Examination revealed a fresh deep wound under his right shoulder likely caused by a buffalo gore which required repair.

After shaving and disinfecting the area around the wound, clean water and sterile gauze swabs were used to clean the wound before deep tissues were sutured with vicryl absorbable suture using simple interrupted pattern. All bleeders were ligated. Skin was apposed using simple interrupted pattern with vicryl suture.

Cloxacillin antibiotic ointment was infused into the wound and all suture lines to prevent infection.

Oxytetracycline wound spray was applied topically with tincture of iodine being introduce into the closed wound through a syringe for disinfection. Other treatments included intramuscular administration of 3000mgs Amoxicillin antibiotic and 15mgs Dexamethasone sodium anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis He woke up ten minutes after the anaesthetic was reversed and stayed under the bush. Prognosis is good.

Case 8 – 28th May 2019 Elephant

Spear

Olarro Conservancy

This big bull was lethargic with a wound on the left front leg, which was swollen. He was spotted by rangers from Olarro conservancy, KWS and MEP teams on their normal patrols.

They said this was a new entrant in the Conservancy and he had stayed in one place leaning on a tree most of the time since they spotted him in the morning. They called the mobile veterinary unit for assessment.

They did not see him browse or attempt to drink from any water point.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment He was found alone next to a big tree with the entire front left leg severely swollen. He was reluctant to move but showed a lot of discomfort on making a step. His body condition reflected an animal who had not fed for a while with a sunken abdomen. There was an old wound to the cranial aspect of his right foreleg just below the elbow. His neck appeared swollen ventrally.

After brief discussion the team decided to immobilize this elephant for closer examination and determine the way forward.

Restraint was achieved chemically with the use of 14 mgs Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely through a1.5ml dan-inject dart from a vehicle. He was fully anaesthetized eight minutes post darting after struggling to move for a short distance. He assumed right lateral recumbency. Examination revealed a severely swollen left foreleg with a septic wound which appeared more than ten days old. Severe tissue necrosis with sloughing of muscle tissues was evident when the wound was probed. All the necrotic tissues were debrided with Hydrogen peroxide and disinfected with tincture of iodine after being rinsed with clean water. Green clay was then packed into the wound.

Further examination revealed a swollen neck with severe brisket oedema. Aspiration of the brisket swelling revealed cloudy fluid. There were signs of severe sepsis with possible multiple organ failure with this elephant struggling to breath though his trunk was patent and despite being placed in a comfortable anatomical position.

He received 30,000mgs Amoxicillin antibiotics given intramuscularly and 200mgs Dexamethasone sodium anti-inflammatory given intravenously.

The ventral neck swelling, and severe brisket oedema were indications of a grave prognosis for this elephant as these signs showed compromised circulatory and respiratory functions. These signs showed the sepsis had affected the lungs and possibly the heart compromising their functions.

Reversal The anaesthetic was reversed by administration of 42mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride and 100mgs Naltrexone given intravenously through an ear vein. He struggled to get to his feet twice before being assisted with ropes. With the ropes he eventually got up and made a few steps. He then stayed put without moving for some time with signs of dyspnoea before eventually collapsing. He died a few minutes later.

Assessment revealed damage to the heart and lungs from severe sepsis. There was evidence of subcutaneous oedema with multiple organ failure. The initial wound was possibly caused by a spear.

Tusks were recovered by KWS personnel on the ground for safe custody and accounting.

Case 9 – 29th May 2019 Cheetah

Natural Causes

Mara Triangle Conservancy

This female cheetah was seen by Mara Triangle Conservancy rangers with an injury behind her left shoulder making her limp while moving. Another injury was seen on her right flank.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment She was found resting near a Lugga with tall grass. When agitated to move, she did so slowly and with a limp.

She was restrained chemically with the use of a combination of 1.6mgs Medetomidine and 130mgs Ketamine hydrochloride done from a vehicle. The cheetah took eleven minutes to be fully anaesthetized and moved a few meters from the darting location.

After putting a blind fold in place, her injuries were examined and revealed a deep tear wound under her left shoulder most likely caused by warthog tusks. The wound on the right flank was superficial and likely acquired at the same time. This cheetah may have acquired these injuries while trying to kill a warthog.

The deeper wound under her left shoulder was cleaned and disinfected with tincture of iodine before being closed. The deep tissues and skin tissues were all apposed with vicryl slow absorbable suture. Cloxacillin antibiotic ointment was infused as the wound was being closed. The superficial wound was cleaned with water before being disinfected with tincture of iodine. All wounds were topically sprayed with Oxytetracycline wound spray. Abdominal palpation revealed this cheetah was gravid. Other treatments include parenteral administration of Amoxicillin antibiotic and Dexamethasone sodium anti-inflammatories.

Prognosis She woke within two minutes of reversal, stabilized herself before steadily moving away. Prognosis is good.