SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT DECEMBER 2023
Introduction
4 Cases in December
2 Poaching Cases
1 Rhino Case
December Report by Dr. Kariuki Edward In December 2023, the Southern Conservation Area experienced rainy weather. The Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 4 cases involving 3 animals i.e. a rhino, a hyena, and a lion that was initially successfully treated for spear wounds on 19/12/2023 and subsequently speared to death a few days later. December was a tough month for the veterinary team since all the other cases attended to were postmortems. The autopsies the team carried out found evidence of human involvement in the death of all these animals. Acknowledgement The Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit greatly appreciates the support and funding it continues to receive from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The team also appreciates all the staff and rangers from Kenya Wildlife Service, Big Life Foundation, the management of Manyani Maximum Prison, and everyone else who supported the monitoring of distressed wildlife in areas of interest.
Case Details Date
Species Area Found
Reason for Intervention
Outcome
18-Dec 23
Rhino
Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary
Bullet wound
Adult female black rhino carcass with both horns missing.
Poaching Death
27-Dec 23
Hyena
Manyani Prison
Snared
Adult hyena with a snare around its neck and mouth.
Poaching Death
19-Dec-23
Lion
Imbirikani, Chyulu
HWC
Adult male lion with spear wounds due to HWC
Successfully treated
HWC
Autopsy on the carcass of an adult male lion treated on 19/12/2023. The lion was speared again, and the spear was found lodged in the lion’s back
HWC Death
28-Dec 23
Lion
Chyulu Hills
SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations December 2023
Case 1 – 18th December 2023 Rhino
Bullet wound
Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary
Tsavo West National Park management informed the Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit and the Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit about the discovery of a rhino carcass within Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary on the evening of 17/12/2023. They were requested to determine the cause of the rhino’s death and an examination of the carcass was done by both veterinary units on 18/12/2023. General post-mortem findings The female rhino carcass was on sternal recumbency with splayed hind limbs and a high degree of autolysis. She appeared to have been in good body condition before death. The carcass was fully autolysed, decomposed and heavily infested by maggots. There were no signs of struggle before death at the scene. The carcass appeared to have been interfered with and had indications of human involvement. Both horns were crudely hacked out and missing. Both ears were cut and removed. A chunk of flesh from the dorsal body surface had been excised leaving an opening measuring approximately 2 feet in length. Two penetrating wounds were observed on the right side of the head and another two on the left side of the body, one on the neck and the other at the thoracic region. The tail had been ripped off by scavengers and a piece was found on the ground. One on the zygomatic process of the temporal bone and the other one on the mandible. A third wound was observed on the ribs and a fourth was found on the neck. Significant post-mortem findings The carcass tissue was fully autolysed, decomposed and invaded by maggots. The carcass was estimated to be 5-7 days old. The carcass was gravid with a male calf aged approximately 9-12 months old. There was minimum scavenger activity on the carcass, likely by hyenas. The two penetrating wounds on the right side of the head were caused by a high-velocity projectile that caused significant damage to the lower mandible and the zygomatic process of the temporal bone. Both projectiles were recovered amidst maggots that had colonised the oral cavity. The penetrating wound on the left side of the neck had an oblique caudal-cranial course lodging underneath the subcutis. The projectile was retrieved. A projectile that partly fractured the 10th thoracic rib, accessed the pleural cavity, and punctured the heart causing massive bleeding was also recovered. The projectile was retrieved in the right aurico-ventricular junction. Cause of death The rhino died of excessive bleeding. Four projectiles were retrieved from the carcass; the fatal one was within the heart tissues which caused heart damage and excessive bleeding. The post-mortem findings pointed to human involvement in the death of the rhino.
Unfortunately, there are no pictures of this case.
Case 2 – 27th December 2023 Hyena
Snared
Manyani Maximum Prison
The Community warden in Voi reported a sick hyena in Manyani prison. The hyena was sighted within the staff residential quarters with a tight wire snare wire around the neck. Sadly, when the Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit arrived, the hyena was found dead. Post-mortem findings The hyena was severely emaciated and had a snare wire in the mouth and around the head. The hyena had a slit trachea possibly due to the long-standing snare wire around the neck and mouth. It is likely that the injuries were inflicted while the hyena tried to remove the foreign wire. Cause of death The hyena died from exhaustion due to lack of feeding. The wire snare prevented the hyena from feeding or swallowing food. It is also likely that the slit trachea could have complicated or otherwise compromised the health of the animal.
Case 3 & 4 – 19th and 28th December 2023 Lion
HWC - Spear
Oltiasika, Chyulu Hills
On 19/12/2023, the Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit treated an adult male lion for spear injuries in the Oroporokwai Area in Imbirikani Group Ranch. This treatment was successful. Thereafter, the lion was reported to have raided community livestock in Chyulu and was speared again. Unfortunately, on this occasion, the lion was speared to death and the Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit was called upon to examine the carcass. Post-mortem findings The lion had a spear lodged in its back. Upon opening the carcass, the spear was found to have penetrated the body through the lungs and caused excessive bleeding before death. A significant amount of blood was found pooled and clotted in the thoracic cavity. Thereafter the carcass was disposed of by burning. Cause of death The lion died from excessive bleeding.