SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Report for January 2023

SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT

JANUARY 2023

15 Cases in January

January Report by Dr. Kariuki Edward

1 Rhino Case 10 Elephant Cases

In January, the Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to cases in the Amboseli and Tsavo Conservation Areas. Most cases were principally associated with human-wildlife conflict which has been exacerbated by the drought. The Amboseli ecosystem was dry and moist in January. Rains received in the 3rd week of November 2022, and for a few non-continuous days in December were unevenly distributed and barely resulted in sufficient vegetation regeneration. Vegetation was mostly present in areas receiving flash floods associated with rains on the slopes of the adjacent Mt. Kilimanjaro. As a result, elephants and other wildlife moved out of the park to areas that experienced rain and had significant vegetation. This led to intense interaction and competition for forage and water resources giving rise to conflict between people and wildlife. On the other hand, Tsavo was green and had substantial vegetation. Only a few cases were attended to in the Tsavo Conservation Area. The Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 15 cases in total in January. These comprised 1 rhino case, 10 elephant cases, 2 zebra cases, 1 giraffe case, and 1 colobus monkey case.

Acknowledgement

We thank the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for funding the Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit. We also wish to thank staff and rangers from Kitenden, Kuku, KWS Nguruman, BLF Eselenkei, Lion Guardians and Amboseli Elephant Research for their assistance during veterinary interventions. Additionally, anyone who may not have been mentioned but supported the monitoring of distressed wildlife is greatly appreciated.

Case Details

January 2023

Elephant Human – Wildlife Conflict - Spear Kimana Sanctuary

Big Life Foundation rangers reported seeing a lame elephant bull while they were on patrol. The elephant had moved to Kimana Santuary from Kuku Group Ranch where the bull was suspected to have been speared while foraging in the community area.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was darted from a vehicle with 20 mg Etorphine. It had a deep penetrating wound on the right forelimb. The wound was irrigated with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine then 100 ml Amoxicillin and Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly. The wound was also sprayed with Oxytetracycline before anaesthesia was reversed with Naltrexone. Upon resuming consciousness, the elephant rose and moved to a nearby grassland to join an elephant herd

Prognosis

The elephant bull has a good prognosis.

Elephant Spear Amaka Ranch

While on patrol in the Taita Ranches, KWS rangers observed a lame elephant bull and notified the Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was darted with 20 mg Etorphine. Upon physical examination, a deep, penetrating spear wound was observed on the left forelimb at the elbow joint. The limb was visibly swollen due to the inflammatory reaction caused by the wound. The wound was debrided with Hydrogen peroxide and irrigated with Iodine. 100 ml Amoxicillin and Dexamethasone were administered to counter secondary bacterial infections and reduce inflammation. Oxytetracycline spray was then sprayed onto the wound before the elephant was revived with Naltrexone.

Prognosis

The elephant has a good prognosis.

Zebra Snared Chyulu Hills National Park

While on patrol in Chyulu Hills National Park, KWS rangers spotted a snared zebra stallion among a herd of kongoni antelopes. The Amboseli Veterinary Unit was informed and attended to the case the following day.

Immobilisation

Attempts to dart the snared zebra proved futile due to the difficult terrain and shyness of the animal. The cable snare around the zebra’s neck had caused a wound indicating that the snare had been on the zebra’s neck for some time. Given the failed attempts to dart the snared zebra, rangers were advised to monitor the regularity of the animal’s visits to the nearby waterpoint to facilitate darting during the water drinking periods.

Prognosis

The zebra has a poor prognosis.

Unfortunately, there are no pictures for this case.

Case 4 – 11th January 2023

Black Rhino Natural Causes

IPZ – Tsavo West National Park

Benja, an adult male black rhino, was reported to be emaciated and bleeding from the face. The rhino had been treated on 19th October 2022 for a filarial worm infection which was reported to not have healed. Rangers monitoring the rhino had also observed that female rhinos around Benja had been taken over by another male rhino.

Examination

Benja was found in a pool of water, he immediately dashed into a nearby bush on hearing the approaching helicopter. He had a body condition score of 3 out of 5, and light-skinned scar tissue could be seen on the left side of his jaw. No bleeding was observed, but minor pricking wounds developed on the scar tissue as Benja moved through the thicket The loss in body condition was attributed to the wound around the jaw which made it difficult for him to feed particularly given the recent drought that resulted in very dry forage. Additionally, given that Benja was the dominant bull, he expended a significant amount of energy in guarding his domain. Benja’s weight loss was therefore recognized to be a physiological result of predictable and known causes of stress. Closer examination of the previously treated jaw wound revealed considerable wound healing. Therefore, Benja was not darted since it would induce more stress The ranger team monitoring Benja was advised to keep a record of his body condition score and movement to facilitate assessment of his recovery.

Elephant Spear Amboseli National Park

Amboseli Elephant Research Scientists reported seeing an injured sub-adult male elephant at Longinye swamp in Amboseli National Park. The injured elephant had puss oozing from the right hindlimb.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was darted with 18 mg Etorphine. Upon physical examination, a deep penetrating wound was observed on the right hindlimb. The vet suspected that the elephant was most likely speared at a nearby watering point in the community area. Amoxicillin and 15 mg Dexamethasone were administered to assist in wound healing. The wound was irrigated with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine then sprayed with Oxytetracycline. The elephant was revived with Naltrexone and joined other elephants in its family group upon regaining consciousness

Prognosis

The elephant has a good prognosis

Elephant Spear Amboseli National Park

A tour driver reported a lame elephant bull with its right front limb impaled by a spear. It was suspected that the elephant had moved from the community area and into the park after being injured.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was immobilized with 18 mg Etorphine. The elephant had a spear impaling its right front limb, the spear had entered the lateral side of the limb and exited at the medial surface of the limb tearing some ligaments in the leg. 100 ml Amoxicillin and 15 mg Dexamethasone were administered to assist in wound healing. The spear was carefully removed then the wound was irrigated with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine. Oxytetracycline spray was also applied before the elephant was revived with Naltrexone. The elephant rose and walked away post reversal.

Prognosis

The elephant bull has a good prognosis.

Elephant Human Wildlife Conflict – Relocation Longinye Swamp to Tsavo East N.P.

Between December 2022 and January 2023, an elephant was reported to have injured a lady, killed a man and a cow in the community area. The elephant was viewed as a threat to the community, it was therefore translocated with its family (comprising a sub-adult male and a calf) from Longinye Swamp in the Amboseli Ecosystem to the Ithumba area in Tsavo East National Park.

Immobilisation and relocation

The elephants were darted from a helicopter, the elephant cow was darted first with 18 mg Etorphine. The calves followed based on age; the sub-adult bull was immobilized with 12 mg Etorphine while the calf was darted with 3 mg Etorphine The elephants were then loaded onto translocation crates and ferried to Ithumba, Tsavo East National Park by road. All the elephants were safely released in the park.

Colobus Human Wildlife Conflict Loitokitok

The Amboseli Veterinary Unit was informed that a colobus monkey had been electrocuted near the Kenya Forest Service office in Loitokitok. The team rushed to scene, but sadly the monkey was found dead when they arrived.

Examination and findings

3 colobus monkeys have been electrocuted and killed at a newly installed uninsulated electricity transmission line going through the Kenya Forest Service office and a nearby forest in Loitokitok. The forest hosts a troop of about 10 monkeys that are oblivious of the danger of being electrocuted as they transverse the forest. The area was surveyed, and the dangerous electricity transmission lines were identified.

Conclusion

KWS management should engage Kenya Power and Lighting Company to replace or re-design the electricity transmission lines going through the forest to protect wildlife.

Elephant Snared Rukinga Ranch

Rangers at Rukinga Ranch reported this lame elephant bull with a snare around its left forelimb

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was darted from a helicopter and immobilized with 18 mg Etorphine. It had a cable snare that had inflicted a deep wound on the medial and lateral surfaces of the left forelimb. The cable snare was embedded into the elephant’s skin, and according to vet’s assessment, the elephant had carried the cable snare for more than 3 months. 100 ml Amoxicillin and 15 mg Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly. The cable snare was cut off then the wound it had caused was irrigated with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine. The wound was also packed with green clay to aid in healing and sprayed with Oxytetracycline. Thereafter, the elephant was revived with Naltrexone, it rose a few minutes later and headed to a nearby thicket

Prognosis

The elephant bull has a good prognosis

Elephant Spear Eselenkei Group Ranch

Big Life Foundation (BLF) rangers reported a lame elephant bull in Eselenkei Group

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

Ranch

The elephant was located with assistance from the rangers and darted with 20 mg Etorphine. Upon physical examination, a shallow penetrating wound was observed on the left forelimb. The wound was on the medial side of the limb, and it was not infected. The Vet suspected that the wound was spear-inflicted 100 ml Amoxicillin and 15 mg Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly. The wound was irrigated with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine then sprayed with Oxytetracycline before anaesthesia was reversed with Naltrexone. The elephant rose and proceeded to a nearby grassland to join other elephants.

Prognosis

The elephant bull has a good prognosis.

Case 11 – 22nd January 2023

Elephant Spear Eselenkei Group Ranch

This elephant bull was also reported by BLF rangers, it had a penetrating wound on the face at the trunk region.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was immobilized with 20 mg Etorphine. The wound was debrided with Hydrogen peroxide to remove puss and irrigated with Iodine as it was probed for a foreign body. No foreign body was found. 100 ml Amoxicillin and 15 mg Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly and Oxytetracycline sprayed onto the wound Immediately thereafter, the elephant was revived successfully with Naltrexone administered intravenously.

Prognosis

The elephant has a good prognosis.

Case 12 – 23rd January 2023

Zebra Snared Kilaguni Lodge – Tsavo West N.P.

KWS rangers at Serena Kilaguni Lodge reported a zebra stallion that could barely walk due to a cable snare around its neck and forelimb.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The zebra was darted with 4 mg Etorphine and 70 mg Azaperone. The first dart failed, but the second dart was successful in immobilizing the animal The zebra had a deep wound on the right forelimb, but none on the neck. The snare was removed then the wound was debrided with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine and sprayed with Oxytetracycline. 30 ml Amoxicillin and 15 mg Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly before the zebra was revived with Naltrexone and Diprenorphine. The stallion rose postreversal and moved towards a zebra herd nearby.

Prognosis

The zebra stallion has a good prognosis.

Elephant Spear Emurua - Kajiado

An elephant cow was reported dead on the evening of 24th January 2023 at Emurua. The area has bushy vegetation and is preferred by elephants, the prevailing drought has resulted in elevated cases of humanwildlife conflict in the area due to competition for water and forage.

Significant post-mortem findings

The carcass was found relatively flesh, bloated and lying in right lateral recumbency The carcass demonstrated ongoing autolysis and bacterial activity on internal soft tissue. Both tusks were present and skin intact on the left lateral body surface.

On turning carcass over to the left lateral lying position, a sharp cut was observed on the right lateral body surface. On further examination, the 3-inch diameter cut revealed a deep penetrating wound. No scavenging (hyena or vulture) activity was observed on the carcasses, a possible indicator and confirmation of a day-old carrion. The elephant is estimated to have died on the 24th , early morning or late afternoon, based on physical observations.

On opening the carcass, clear and blood-tinged fluid flowed out in vast amounts from the abdomen/ peritoneal cavity. The penetrating wound on the right side was followed for a foreign body but none was found. The wound run into a punctured the caecum and mesenteric blood vessels. The traumatic injury to the internal organs and associated or subsidiary blood vessels resulted in severe bleeding and blood draining into the peritoneal cavity. The internal environment demonstrated significant bleeding that was sufficient to cause shock and death. Other internal organs were normal, but a dark colour change was observed in the liver and lungs. The uterus was gravid and a foetus about 3 months to birth was observed.

Cause of death

Severe bleeding due to a probable spear injury.

Elephant Human Wildlife Conflict -Spear Kimana Group Ranch

Kitenden Conservancy management informed the Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit of this lame elephant bull that was reportedly speared in Tanzania. After the elephant crossed the Kenya – Tanzania border, both Kitenden Conservancy and Big Life Foundation rangers kept track of the bull for treatment. A team comprising members from BLF, KWS, Elephant Research and Elephant Camp facilitated the intervention.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was immobilized with 20 mg Etorphine. It had a penetrating wound on the left forelimb. The wound was on the medial side of the limb, and it was not infected. 100 ml Amoxicillin and 15 mg Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly The wound was irrigated with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine then sprayed with Oxytetracycline before the elephant was revived with Naltrexone. The elephant rose post-reversal and joined other elephants that were nearby.

Prognosis

The elephant bull has a good prognosis

Giraffe Snared Amboseli National Park

Mr Eric Wenga reported this adult female giraffe with a wire snare around its neck The Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit located the giraffe and successfully removed the snare.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The giraffe was successfully darted from a vehicle and immobilized with 14 mg Etorphine and 50 mg Azaperone. It had a wire snare wire around the neck. Fortunately, the snare had not caused any injury. The snare was removed, and antibiotics administered to cover for secondary bacterial infections. Anaesthesia was successfully reversed immediately thereafter

Prognosis

The giraffe has a good prognosis.