SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2024
Introduction
12 Cases
3 Poaching Cases
September/October Report by Dr. Kariuki Edward
2 Elephant Cases
The Southern Conservation area experienced warm and hot weather in during this reporting period. Two cases were attended in September and 10 in October. Of these cases, there were 3 poaching related injuries and 2 human-wildlife conflict cases where a lion and several hyenas were killed following livestock predation. The rest of the cases were all deemed natural, except one zebra which was rescued by another organisation and during the rescue escaped with a nylon rope that needed to be removed.
Acknowledgement
We thank Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for material support and Mobile Unit funding. KWS Staff and BLF rangers at Imbirikani and others not mentioned but supported the monitoring of distressed wildlife in areas of interest are highly acknowledged and appreciated.
Case Details
18-Sep-24
Treated 26-Sep-24
Chyulu Hills
The zebra presented with a long-standing snare wire around the neck
A zebra that escaped with a nylon rope after being rescued from a shallow well Task Successful 8-Oct-24
Amboseli NP
Causes The young bull presented with right hind limb lameness and superficial face injuries Died 9-Oct-24 Lion Mbirikani HWC Killed by the local community after several lions invaded a boma and killed two cows HWC Death 10-Oct-24 Zebra Kimana Sanctuary Natural Causes The stallion had a closed fracture of the humerus bone and could rarely stand. Died 14-Oct-24 Cheetah Amboseli Environs Natural Causes The cheetah had a penetrating wound caused during a territorial fight Successfully Treated 24-Oct-24 Hyena Kimana Sanctuary Postmortem The carcass demonstrated good health and had vomited before death Died
29-Oct-24 Giraffe Kimana Sanctuary Arrow The giraffe was immobilized successfully but died during the arrow retrieval Poaching Death
29-Oct-24 Giraffe Kimana Sanctuary Natural Causes The giraffe had sprayed legs and could not raise on its feet Died
25-Oct-24 Hyena Kuku Group Ranch HWC
There were several dead hyenas following a case of sheep predation HWC Death
31-Oct-24 Giraffe Rombo Arrow The giraffe had a wound caused by attempted meat poaching Successfully Treated
September - October 2024
Case 1 – 18th September Elephant Natural Causes
Amboseli Environs
Biglife Foundation rangers reported an injured elephant bull to AMVU. The vet team travelled to the site using a vehicle and attended to a wounded elephant using a helicopter.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant presented with two injuries on the gluteal muscles of both right and left hind limbs. A helicopter helped dart the elephant and controlled it from drifting away into the nearby village and bush. The elephant attained successful immobilization after 12 minutes post darting using 20mg of Etorphine HCl.
The bull had two wounds on both hind limbs. The wounds were fresh but were oozing pus. The wound was treated using Hydrogen peroxide to debride the dead tissues while Iodine solution helped cover opportunistic secondary infections. Amoxicillin injection and Oxytetracycline topical spray were applied to cover for bacterial infection.
Prognosis
The bull was revived using Naltrexone and favourably woke up after the drug administration. Prognosis for full recovery is good.
Unfortunately, there are no pictures for this case.
Case 2 – 26th September
KWS rangers in Chyulu Hills National Park reported a zebra that had been observed carrying a snare wire. The team travelled to the site and immobilized him for treatment.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The zebra presented with a long-standing snare wire around the neck and down into the buccal cavity. The zebra was successfully immobilised in 12 minutes using 4mg of Etorphine HCl and 70mg of Azaperone.
The stallion had a deep wound caused by an old cable wire that could not break on its own. The snare was removed and the wound treated using Iodine solution that was topically applied to help in covering for opportunistic secondary infections and Amoxicillin injection and Oxytetracycline topical spray were applied to cover for bacterial infection.
Prognosis
Prognosis for full recovery is good.
Unfortunately, there are no pictures for this case.
Zebra
Other
Amboseli Environs
AMVU received a report of a zebra that escaped with a nylon rope after being rescued from a shallow well. A brave team from BLF wildlife scouts dared to retrieve a zebra that had dropped in a shallow well. The team used a nylon rope to retrieve the zebra but they were not able to untie the rope after the rescue. The zebra happened to be stronger than the team and because of the intense stress the zebra left with the rope. The BLF team requested assistance in immobilising the zebra to remove the rope.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The zebra was immobilised with Etorphine HCl (4mg) and 70mg Azaperone and the zebra went down in about 20 minutes
The rope was removed by unwinding the knot and pulling. The zebra was revived and successively joined the nearby herd.
Prognosis
Fair to good.
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Elephant Natural Causes
Amboseli National Park
KWS rangers on Patrol and Tour drivers reported an injured elephant bull to AMVU. The vet team travelled to the park using a vehicle and attended to the wounded elephant bull.
Immobilisation and examination
A lame elephant bull that presented with a fracture was found in Amboseli National Park. The young bull presented with right hind limb lameness and superficial face injuries. The bull constantly assumed a sitting position before he could make a step forward. The elephant was successfully immobilized in about 12 minutes using 20mg of Etorphine HCl.
The bull had a complete fracture of the femur.
Prognosis
The elephant was euthanized on welfare grounds and a necropsy undertaken. The femur was completely broken and the muscle destroyed.
Amboseli Environs
BLF rangers in Imbirikani reported a dead lion to AMVU. The lion was killed by the local community after several lions invaded a boma and killed two cows in Oporokwai area in Mbirikani Group Ranch.
Post-mortem examination
The carcass demonstrated good health before death but had one major penetrating wound on the right thoracic region.
A cut made through the wound helped in observing the internal organs. The lungs and the pulmonary artery were severed and is likely to have been the greatest factor to the lion death.
Cause of Death
Fatal spearing injury.
Zebra Natural Causes
Kimana Sanctuary
A lame zebra was reported to AMVU on 10 October 2024 by the BLF Ranger team on patrol in Kimana Group Ranch. The Vet team travelled to site and immobilized the stallion for treatment.
Immobilisation and examination
The zebra was successfully immobilized in about 20 minutes using 4mg of Etorphine HCl and 70mg Azaperone.
The stallion had a closed fracture of the humerus bone. The stallion exhibited adequate signs of pain and could rarely stand.
Prognosis
The stallion took long to get immobilized possibly due to antagonizing physiological reactions associated with pain. The zebra was euthanized on welfare grounds. .
Cheetah
Natural Causes
Amboseli Environs
A driver from Amboseli Balloon Safaris reported an injured cheetah to AMVU. The vet team used a vehicle to assist in the treatment of the injured cheetah.
Immobilisation and examination
The cheetah was found in a small bush and darted from a vehicle. The cat was successfully immobilized using a combination of 120mg of Ketamine HCl and Medetomidine.
The cheetah had a penetrating wound on the inguinal area. The wound resulted from a territorial fight with two other males. The wound was irrigated with Iodine solution. Amoxicillin injection and Oxytetracycline spray were applied to cover for bacterial infection.
Prognosis
The cheetah was revived using alpha2 antagonist and favourably woke up after drug administration. The prognosis is good.
Case 8 – 24th October 2024
Hyena
Post-mortem
Kimana Sanctuary
BLF rangers in Kimana sanctuary reported a dead Hyena to AMVU. The hyena was found in the sanctuary which is a protected area.
Post-mortem examination
The carcass demonstrated good health and had vomited before death. The vomitus next to the carcass was determined to be of a warthog piglet
Cause of Death
In conclusion, the carcass was decomposed and little pathology was meaniful but it was mostly a natural disease. .
Hyena
Human-wildlife conflict
Kuku Group Ranch
Amboseli MVU received a report of several dead hyenas following a case of sheep predation in Kuku Group Ranch.
Post-mortem examination
The carcass site had enough evidence that the hyenas struggled before death, including scratch marks on the ground and soiling of paws. All the hyena carcasses demonstrated good body condition before death. The carcasses were dismembered, decomposed, and scavenged, and none were whole. Only two carcasses had stomach contents, while three were only identified by the head remains. The autolytic process was sufficiently advanced, and most organs could not be identified or were missing. Faces were swollen, and the carcasses were bloated, where found whole.
The head remains had full dental formula and eyes protruded out of the eyeballs. Any present or partially intact internal organs were coloured and looked tainted.
Cause of Death
Suspected poisoning.
Giraffe Arrow
Kimana Group Ranch
The KWS management at Loitotok, BLF scouts and AMVU were called to attend to a giraffe that had two arrows on its body in Kimana Group Ranch.
Immobilisation and examination
A chemical combination of 14mg Etorphine and 30mg Azaperone was used to immobilize the giraffe
The giraffe was immobilized successfully but died during the arrow retrieval. The two arrows were constructed to be of a like that are used by poachers from across Tanzania. The arrows were short, sharp and poisoned.
Cause of death
It’s likely that the giraffe had taken more than enough of the poison and that led to a compromise in handling the immobilization drugs.
Giraffe Arrow
Kimana Group Ranch
The BLF rangers reported a giraffe that was found recumbent in Ologum area in Kimana Group Ranch. AMVU travelled to the site for the emergency rescue of the giraffe.
Immobilisation and examination
No chemical immobilization was done since the giraffe was recumbent and easy to handle by hand.
The giraffe had sprayed legs and could not raise on its feet. It also demonstrated signs of recent calving, but the calf could not be traced. The vet team attempted to give the giraffe water and assist it to its feet using roped but were unsuccessful.
Prognosis
The giraffe was treated but could not be raised and died after 12 hours of care.
Giraffe Arrow/spear
Rombo Group Ranch
The BLF rangers reported a lame giraffe that was found in Rombo Group Ranch.
Immobilisation and examination
A combination of 14mg Etorphine and 30mg Azaperone helped in the chemical restraint of the giraffe.
The giraffe was found lame and feeding under the acacia trees.
The giraffe was examined, and the wound was established to have been caused by activities following attempted meat poaching. Treatment was done and the giraffe released
Prognosis
Prognosis is guarded.
