SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Report for April 2023

SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT

APRIL 2023

Introduction

10 Cases in April

April Report by Dr. Kariuki Edward

3 HWC Cases

8 Elephant Cases

The Southern Conservation Area received rains in April and forage was in plenty for wildlife. Elephants and other wildlife moved outside the park given the availability of forage. The Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to ten (10) cases in April comprising 8 elephants, a giraffe and a zebra. Half of the cases attended to in April were autopsies all involving elephants. The veterinary unit also attended to a masai giraffe that was recumbent and unable to stand. Sadly, the giraffe was put to rest given its poor prognosis. However, on a lighter note, the Unit also rescued a male elephant calf that was confirmed to be abandoned after an unfruitful search for its family.

Acknowledgement

We thank Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for material support and Mobile Unit funding. Staff and rangers at BLF Eselenkei and Amboseli Elephant Research are acknowledged for their support and company during the veterinary interventions. Anyone that may have not been mentioned but supported the monitoring of distressed wildlife in areas of interest is highly acknowledged and appreciated.

Case Details

April 2023

Elephant Post-mortem Njiri, Amboseli National Park

KWS rangers came across a dead elephant cow while on patrol, the elephant carcass was found close to the wetland immediately below the Oldare Springs.

Post-mortem findings

The carcass was lying on left lateral recumbency. The ventral part of the carcass was opened and predated. The skin was broken on the left lateral side and ripped off. The intestines had been removed, they were decomposed and partly protruded from the carcass. The ear pinna had a puss-filled wound on the underside. The wound was pasted with mud, and the intestines were removed and destroyed. No pathological lesions could be established on the removed and predated organs. However, the few organs and mucous membranes observed were icteric.

Cause of Death

The cause of death could not be conclusively determined, but the elephant most likely died from a natural disease

Elephant Rescue Lembuya, Eselenkei Group Ranch

Big Life Foundation (BLF) rangers reported an abandoned male elephant calf in Lembuya, Eselenkei Group Ranch in Kajiado South. The calf was confirmed to be abandoned after an unfruitful search for the family herd.

Rescue

The calf was found dehydrated and hungry. It was manually restrained and transported by vehicle to the KWS Airstrip where it was fed on milk and water before being airlifted by helicopter to the Nursery for further care and rehabilitation.

Elephant Post-mortem Porini Conservancy, Eselenkei

An elephant bull was reported dead in Porini Conservancy. The elephant carcass was found in a deeply forested area.

Post-mortem findings

The carcass was found lying on sternal recumbency. It had several perforations on the skin and demonstrated advanced decomposition and bacterial activity in all internal soft tissues. When the carcass was opened exudates and autolytic fluids flowed onto the ground and filled the area around the carcass. The tusks were absent since they had been safely retrieved the previous day. Internal organs were decomposed, and fluids flowed out in vast amounts from the carcass. The anal part was extensively bulged out, but it had no discharge.

Cause of death

The cause of death could not be established due to advanced decomposition.

Unfortunately, there are no pictures for this case.

Case 4 – 12th April 2023

Elephant Human Wildlife Conflict Olorika, Kuku Group Ranch

BLF rangers reported a lame elephant cow with a wound on its hindlimb around the toes and extending to the sole.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was approached by vehicle and darted with 20 mg Etorphine. Upon physical examination, the elephant was found to have a deep penetrating wound on the left hindlimb. 100 mg Amoxicillin was administered. The wound was cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide, disinfected with Iodine and sprayed with Oxytetracycline. The elephant was successfully revived with Naltrexone. It stood a short while later and walked away.

Prognosis

The elephant has a good prognosis.

Giraffe Natural Causes Nice Place, Kimana Group Ranch

The community warden at Loitoktok reported a recumbent adult male giraffe that was unable to stand.

Examination and treatment

The Veterinary Unit located the giraffe and assisted it to stand using ropes Unfortunately, the giraffe was unable to support its own weight. Given the animal’s grave prognosis, it was euthanized on welfare grounds.

Prognosis

The giraffe could not stand with assistance. Given its grave prognosis, it was put to rest to prevent further pain and suffering

Zebra Snared Amboseli National Park

KWS rangers reported a common zebra stallion with a snare around its neck. The zebra was seen near the No. 2 area within the park. The Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit located the animal with assistance from the KWS rangers and a scientist from the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI).

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The snared zebra was found near the road. It was successfully darted from a vehicle with 4 mg Etorphine and 70 mg Azaperone. The zebra had a nylon rope around its neck that had bound the animal’s neck for a long period. The rope had inflicted deep injuries resulting in a pyogenic wound. The snare was removed then Amoxicillin was administered. The wound was cleaned and debrided with Hydrogen peroxide then disinfected with Iodine before anaesthesia was reversed.

Prognosis

The zebra has a good prognosis.

Elephant Human-Wildlife Conflict Eselenkei/Motoroki

On 24th April 2023, the KWS Head of the Veterinary and Capture Services informed the Vet Unit about a dead elephant bull that was reported to have killed a boy on 21st April 2023. It was reported that the community was angered and retaliated by spearing the bull to death. The history provided lacked sufficient details therefore the Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit was tasked with performing an autopsy on the elephant carcass. The Unit was led to the elephant carcass by a team of KWS officers from Mashuru and Kajiado.

Post-mortem findings

The elephant carcass was found approximately 30 metres from Maasai homesteads. The area was relatively bushy and marked by vegetation comprising acacia and other wild shrubs. The carcass was incomplete, the rear muscle tissue and contents of the peritoneal cavity had been cut out and most were missing. The intestines were retrieved, and the contents were removed. About 8 puncture wounds were observed on the front, backline and shoulder. Two kinds of wounds were observed elliptical and round-edged wounds. 3 penetrating wounds on the shoulder were most likely inflicted by a sharp-edged object. The wounds had well-defined separation of both the skin and muscle tissue underneath. Only one wound had a round-edged shape. Several other sharp-edged wounds were located on the underside of the neck and along the spine on the dorsal part of the body. Part of the wounds had fluids oozing out while others were dry and on the skin.

The penetrating wounds were followed, most were superficial and barely past the skin. About 5 wounds penetrated the thoracic cavity and the pericardial sac was punctured. The pericardial fluid was bloody, and the heart was wounded but not punctured. The jugular vein was severed, and blood dripped out on the skin. The abdomen was opened, and most organs had been removed from the carcass and were missing. The intestines and stomach were severed and part of the ingesta was found floating in the peritoneal cavity. Some of the ingesta flowed out onto the ground.

Cause of death

Haemorrhage. Blood loss resulting from internal injuries causing internal organ perfusion and death.

Unfortunately, there are no pictures for this case.

Elephant Post-mortem Mbololo Location

The Community Warden, Tsavo East National Park reported an elephant bull carcass found in Mbololo location. The remains of the elephant carcass were complete and were in a community area.

Post-mortem examination

The carcass was intact apart from the tusks that had been removed by KWS security personnel. A small amount of fluid was oozing from a penetrating wound on the lateral part of the hind limb. No other significant wounds were observed.

The penetrating wound was followed, but it was found to be superficial. Based on the edges of the wound, the wound was most likely inflicted by a sharp-edged object. The intestines were twisted and congested. A series of cysts were found, but they were most likely not related to the death of the elephant.

Cause of death

Shock following ischemia and intestinal torsion

Unfortunately, there are no pictures for this case.

Elephant Spear Motikanchu, Kuku Group Ranch

Big Life Headquarters at Imbirikani reported a dead elephant bull that had been treated twice for suspected spear injuries and given a poor prognosis.

Post-mortem findings

The carcass was found fresh, intact and complete in an open area in Motikachu, Kuku Group Ranch. Two of the previously treated wounds were healed, but one wound on the stifle joint was oozing pus. The wound was cut and opened for examination. The skin, and tissue around the stifle joint socket were inflamed and oedematous. The joint was full of pus, it looked bluish on the femoral condyles and the patella. Articular areas were fragile and inflamed. Synovial fluid was viscous and mixed with pus. Connective tissue lining the joint looked eroded and pitted on the femoral condyle. The bowel part of the tibia and fibula were inflamed and bluish. The intestines were full of air and had mucoid substances but were empty without feed remains.

Cause of death

Unspecific complications resulting from septic arthritis of the stifle joint. It is likely that old age and immunity depression partly contributed to the elephant’s death. This helps explain why the male had a low response to the joint injury and treatment.

Elephant Natural Causes Aruba, Tsavo East National Park

The Senior Warden, Tsavo East National Park reported a lame elephant bull with a wound on the toe of the right forelimb.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was found away from the main herd. It was successfully immobilized with 20 mg Etorphine. A wound was observed above the toes of the right forelimb. 100 mg Amoxicillin was administered then the wound was cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide, disinfected with Iodine, and sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray. The elephant was revived with Naltrexone, it stood a short while later and walked away.

Prognosis

The elephant bull has a good prognosis