SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
AUGUST 2024
9 Cases in August 4 Poaching Cases
August Report by Dr. Michael Njoroge
2 Elephant Cases
During August, the Mara Vet Unit attended to 9 cases involving 4 lions, 2 elephant, 2 zebra and a giraffe. Both elephants were victims of poaching with one speared and another arrowed, the 2 zebras were also poaching victims as both suffered snare injuries. Luckily all four were given a given a good prognosis for recovery. The four lions were all treated successfully for fight wounds whilst the giraffe unfortunately had to be euthanised due to a fractured left hind leg.
Acknowledgement
The Mara Mobile Veterinary team greatly appreciates Elizabeth Scarlett for funding the Unit through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The team also thanks Kenya Wildlife Service for providing technical support and all the conservation partners who contributed to the success of veterinary interventions through timely reporting of veterinary cases and monitoring of treated animals.
Case Details
SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
August 2024
Case 1 – 2nd August 2024
Lion Natural Causes Mara North Conservancy
Vet team attended to an injured lion in Mara North conservancy. The lion had serious right hind limb injuries caused by a territorial fight.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The lion was approached with a vehicle and successfully darted with 300mgs Ketamine and 4mgs Medetomidine. He made no effort to disappear after to darting. He was completely sedated in ten minutes assuming sternal recumbence then blindfolded and moved to the shade of the vehicle on left recumbence. The dart was retrieved, and the dart wound was sprayed with Tetracycline aerosol spray to repel the flies.
The wound was cleaned using water and Hydrogen peroxide then disinfected with Iodine, refreshening it to a point of bleeding. 15,000mg of Amoxicillin was infiltrated into the sutured wound followed by Tetracycline wound spray. Systemically it was injected with 15,000mgs Amoxicillin, 30mgs Dexamethasone into different muscle sites. For internal and external parasites, he was injected with 40mgs Ivermectin under the skin.
Reversal and prognosis
The anaesthetic was reversed one hour post immobilization with 20mgs Atipamezole. He started showing signs of palpebral reflex and ear twitching after half an hour. He started walking away one hour post revival and he was left in company of the pride with a good prognosis He should recover fully in a short time.
Zebra Snared
Olkinyei Conservancy
Vet team attended to adult female zebra with a snare on the right hind limb limb in Olkinyei conservancy. The snare was deeply embedded. It was reported by the Olkinyei rangers while on patrol.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The dart was prepared with 70mgs Azaperone and 6mgs Etorphine. While in the vehicle the animal was timed patiently for the right moment to shoot the dart gun. Then the animal was darted and after 3-4 minutes he went down on his side and blindfolded.
The snare was cut and pulled out. Immediately reddish tint exudates came out of the wound suggestive of an infection. The resultant wound was disinfected with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. It was finally sprayed with Tetracycline topical spray. Systemically the zebra was injected with 30,000mgs Tetracycline into two muscle sites and 40mgs Dexamethasone into the muscle.
Prognosis
The zebra was revived with 200mg of Naltrexone administered through the jugular vein. The animal stood on four limbs and ran to the bush Prognosis is good due to early intervention
Lion
Natural Causes
Masai Mara NR
The Mara vet team attended to an injured lion in Maasai Mara-Simba area. The lion had serious right and left flank injuries caused by a territorial fight and buffalo injuries.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The lion was approached with a vehicle and darted in the pelvic muscle with 300mgs Ketamine and 4mgs Medetomidine. The lion disappeared after darting but luckily it was found lying in the bushy thicket.
The large cut area of the right flank of the abdomen was firstly shaved then sutured with chromic cat gut. The other wounds were cleaned with water and Hydrogen peroxide then disinfected using Iodine, refreshening it to a point of bleeding. 15,000mg of Amoxicillin was infiltrated into the sutured wound followed by Tetracycline wound spray. Systemically it was injected with 15,000mgs Amoxicillin and 30mgs Dexamethasone into different muscle sites. For internal and external parasites, he was injected with 40mgs Ivermectin under the skin.
Prognosis
The anaesthetic was reversed after the lion was positioned away from the trenches one hour post immobilization by injecting 20mgs Atipamezole Intra muscularly. Prognosis is good.
Lion
Natural Causes
Masai Mara NR
Mara vet unit attended to a lion injured in a territorial fight in Mara paradise plains (Maasai Mara). The lion had penetrating fight injuries on both flanks, spinal region and both hind limbs.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
A dart comprising of 300mgs Ketamine and 4mgs Medetomidinewas prepared, then the lion was approached with a vehicle and darted successfully in the pelvic muscle.
The wounds were cleaned with water and Hydrogen peroxide then disinfected with Iodine. 15,000mg of Amoxicillin was infiltrated into the sutured wound followed by Tetracycline wound spray Systemically it was injected with 15,000mgs Amoxicillin and 30mgs Dexamethasone into different muscle sites. For internal and external parasites she was injected with 40mgs Ivermectin under the skin.
Prognosis
This was done one hour post immobilization by injecting 20mgs Atipamezole Intra muscularly
Prognosis is good due to prompt intervention.
Natural Causes
The Mara vet team attended to a lion that was involve in a territorial fight. The lion had deep penetrating wound along the spine.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The Unit retreated to prepare a dart comprising of 300mgs Ketamine and 4mgs Medetomidine then the lion was approached with a vehicle and darted successfully in the pelvic muscle.
The wounds were cleaned and disinfected with water, Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine 15,000mg of Amoxicillin was infiltrated into the sutured wound followed by Tetracycline wound spray. Systemically it was injected with 15,000mgs Amoxicillin and 30mgs Dexamethasone into different muscle sites. For internal and external parasites, the lion was injected with 40mgs Ivermectin under the skin
Prognosis
The anaesthetic was reversed one hour post immobilization by injecting 20mgs Atipamezole Intra muscularly. Prognosis is good but the animal will be closely monitored.
Masai Mara NR
Case 6 – 21st August 2024
Elephant Speared
Mara North Conservancy
Mara vet attended to an injured adult male elephant in Mara North. The elephant had a spear injury on the left hind limb. It was open and had pus.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The Unit retreated to prepare a dart comprising of 300mgs Ketamine and 4mgs Medetomidine then the lion was approached with a vehicle and darted successfully in the pelvic muscle.
The wounds were cleaned and disinfected with water, Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine. 15,000mg of Amoxicillin was infiltrated into the sutured wound followed by Tetracycline wound spray Systemically it was injected with 15,000mgs Amoxicillin and 30mgs Dexamethasone into different muscle sites. For internal and external parasites, the lion was injected with 40mgs Ivermectin under the skin
Prognosis
The anaesthetic was reversed one hour post immobilization by injecting 20mgs Atipamezole Intra muscularly. Prognosis is good but the animal will be closely monitored.
Case 7 – 22nd August 2024
Zebra Snared
Siana Conservancy
Mara vet attended to a male zebra with a deep cutting snare on the neck in Sianna conservancy -Maasai Mara.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The dart gun was prepared with 70mgs Azaperone and 6mgs Etorphine. While in the vehicle the unit waited patiently for the right moment to dart the zebra after which it took 3-4 minutes for him to go down. Once down, in lateral recumbency, the animal was blindfolded.
The snare around the neck was cut and removed. The resultant wound excreted reddish tint exudates suggestive of an infection, so the fresh wound was disinfected with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. It was finally sprayed with Tetracycline topical spray. Systemically it was injected with 30,000mgs Tetracycline into two muscle sites and 40mgs Dexamethasone into the muscle.
Prognosis
Reversal of the anaesthetic was achieved with 200mg of Naltrexone administered through the jugular vein. The animal stood on four limbs and ran to the bush. Prognosis is good.
Case
Elephant Arrow
The elephant had a deep penetrating arrow wound on the front right limb.
Lemek Conservancy
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant with 17mgs Etorphine from a helicopter due to the nature of the terrain After ten minutes, the elephant stopped moving and kept swaying from side to side. An attempt was made to physically bring the elephant to lateral recumbency by physically pushing the elephant to one side. The efforts seemed futile but after a few trials, he went down on sternal recumbency. Keeping in mind that the position is quite risky for elephants on immobilization, attempts were done to bring the bull to lateral recumbency. The efforts were unsuccessful due to his huge size and massive weight.
The wounds were cleaned with water, then cauterized with Hydrogen peroxide and lavaged with Iodine. Tetracycline spray and green clay was used as topical treatment. Antibiotic pessaries were inserted into the heavily infected deep wounds to deter any chances of reinfection. Systemically he was given 30,000mgs Amoxicillin and 50mgs Dexamethasone was administered intramuscularly.
Prognosis
Good expected to recover well thus a good prognosis was given.
Giraffe Natural Causes
Mara Vet attended to a female juvenile giraffe in Nashulai conservancy
Examination and management
The giraffe was suffering from a closed fracture on the left hind limb.
To alleviate suffering and pain the giraffe was euthanized.
Nashulai Conservancy
