SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT

JUNE 2023

Introduction

June

5 Cases in June

Report by Dr. Kariuki Edward

3 HWC Cases

1 Elephant Case

The Southern Conservation Area experienced dry weather conditions in June 2023. There was plenty of forage within the park, but wildlife preferred foraging outside the park. Most of the veterinary cases attended to over this period were predominantly attributed to human-wildlife conflict. The Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 5 cases in total. The veterinary team performed an autopsy on an adult elephant that had a treatment history before death; treated 8 lions (1 adult female and 7 sub-adults) poisoned in retaliation for killing livestock and later performed a post-mortem on a female sub-adult lion that succumbed to the poison during treatment; the team also performed another autopsy on another lion suspected to have been speared in a separate incident. All the lions attended to were victims of retaliatory human attacks after they preyed on livestock. Lastly, the Veterinary Unit also attended to a Maasai giraffe with a cut on the Achilles tendon suffered during a suspected poaching attempt.

Acknowledgement

The Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit greatly appreciates the support and funding it has received from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Staff and rangers that participated in the interventions undertaken over the month are acknowledged for their support and company. Anyone that may not have been mentioned but supported the monitoring of distressed wildlife in areas of interest is highly acknowledged and appreciated

Case Details

June 2023

Lion Human-Wildlife Conflict Osewan

On 02nd June 2023, the Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit was informed about a pride of 8 lions (1 adult female and 7 sub-adults) in Mairua, Kajiado that were suspected to have been poisoned. The team reached out to the AD - Kajiado for assistance in accessing the area. A team comprising KWS officers from Headquarters, Amboseli and Kajiado was formed and assisted the vet team in treating the sick lions.

Examination and treatment

The lion pride was reported to have attacked livestock on 30th May 2023 which angered the community leading to the retaliatory poisoning of the eight lions. A lioness in the pride had been collared which helped in tracking the animals. The lions were found lying on the ground when the vet arrived. All lions had faint breathing and were found unconscious. Signs of attempted vomiting and diarrhoea were evident around the sick lions. 5 lions were successfully treated with an antidote (Atropine sulphate). The lions responded positively to treatment which facilitated deep breathing in the unconscious lions

Prognosis

7 lions were successfully treated and have a good prognosis. Sadly, one of the sub-adult lions died during treatment; the young female lion did not respond to treatment and was thought to have consumed a relatively larger share of the poison

Lion HWC Post-mortem Osewan

One of the sub-adult lions that was among the 8 lions treated for suspected poisoning under Case 1 died while receiving treatment. The Veterinary Unit performed a post-mortem on the sub-adult female lion carcass to establish the cause of death.

Post-mortem findings

The carcass belonged to a sub-adult female as aged by characteristic body spots. The animal had good body condition and exhibited depressed breathing before death.

A longitudinal cut was made on the abdomen then the organs were exteriorized for examination of internal viscera. The stomach was opened, and the contents comprising brown and white skin were retrieved. The brown skin was most likely from a calf as identified morphologically. The undigested skin and internal walls of the stomach exhibited a black colouration which is unnatural. The liver looked swollen with rounded edges and deep petechiations.

Cause of death

Suspected poisoning.

The stomach contents and liver were collected for onward submission to the Government Chemist for full toxicological analysis. The carcass was fully disposed of by burning.

Unfortunately, there are no pictures for this case.

Elephant Post-mortem Amboseli National Park

Rangers on patrol reported finding an adult female elephant carcass near Kibo hotel The elephant had a history of treatment before death.

Post-mortem findings

The carcass was found lying on left lateral recumbency. The carcass was intact despite having a few predation marks on the ventrum. The right hind limb was cut and opened at the stifle joint. The joint was filled with pus and the patella was damaged. The damage helped explain why the elephant could barely walk.

Pathological lesions established were mainly in the stifle joint. Other observations of the gastro-intestinal tract revealed exhaustion as associated with lack of feeding and joint pain.

Cause of death

The elephant died from exhaustion due to a natural joint disease.

Giraffe Poaching Nasaru Conservancy

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust office at Kaluku reported a lame male Maasai giraffe that could not walk normally. A SWT-KWS de-snaring team located the giraffe and assisted in treatment.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The giraffe’s lameness was caused by a cut on the Achilles tendon. The tendon was partially cut and not fully torn. The giraffe was most likely targeted for bushmeat, but luckily escaped with injuries. It is not uncommon for bushmeat poachers to target the tendons since it renders the giraffe immobile when severed.

The giraffe was successfully chemically immobilized and roped down when the drugs took effect. Anaesthesia was immediately reversed then the animal was physically restrained by pinning the head and neck down. The wound was cleaned with water, disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine then Tetracycline wound spray was topically applied to repel flies. Long-acting antibiotics and anti-inflammatories were administered then the giraffe was released.

Prognosis

The giraffe has a fair prognosis.