SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Report for May and June 2024
SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
MAY - JUNE 2024
6 Cases in May & June
May and June Report by Dr. Kariuki Edward
3 Poaching Cases
2 Elephant Cases
The Southern Conservation Area experienced warm and hot weather throughout May and June 2024. In The Unit attended to 4 cases in May and 2 in June. The vet team took a break during the month of June and hence few cases were attended.
The May Veterinary cases attended to involved four species in four interventions. These included the treatment of a giraffe and a zebra for a snare and arrow wound respectively, the collaring of a lion known to prey on livestock, and a postmortem examination of a hyena which was killed after attacking 3 people Rabies disease was associated with the hyena killed in Ilkilunyet, Chyulu Hills. In June the Unit attended to 2 elephants, one for natural causes and the other for an arrow wound.
Acknowledgement
We thank Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for material support and Mobile Unit funding. KWS Staff and rangers at Amboseli, Voi, BLF, scientists at Amboseli Elephant Trust and others not mentioned but supported the monitoring of distressed wildlife in areas of interest are highly acknowledged and appreciated.
Case Details
to the lion's threat to livestock keepers and vice versa, the Unit collared the lioness for better monitoring of her pride
May - June 2024
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Lion
Collaring
Imbirikani Group Ranch
AMVU team received a report of a lioness notoriously known for livestock predation. The lioness had a record of having killed 38 animals in the local community of Orbili. The lion was a mother to 3 cubs and reasonably her predation ventures appeared as a threat to the local community. Due to the lion's threat to livestock, people and vice versa, the AMVU team was tasked to collar the lioness for better monitoring of her pride.
Immobilisation and collaring
The lion was darted from a vehicle using a cocktail of 300mg Ketamine and 6mg Metomidine. The lioness attained full immobilisation in about 12 minutes.
The lioness had no anomalies, so a new GPS collar for long-term monitoring was fitted and antibiotics administered.
Prognosis
The anaesthetic was reversed, and the lioness given a clean bill of health. She will continue to be monitored via the GPS Collar.
KWS PAMU rangers at Kiboko reported a dead hyena to AMVU. The hyena had been involved in biting 3 people who were in hospital by the time the vet team visited the area of the incident. The hyena was killed by the local community after the attacked family raised the alarm.
Postmortem Findings
A postmortem was done which supported the history that it had been killed by the local community. Samples were also taken.
The head was severed and taken to the lab for rabies examination. Unfortunately, the hyena tested positive after laboratory analysis.
Cause of Death
Trauma due to the attack was the primary cause of death. .
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Case 3 – 24th May 2024
Giraffe Snared
Chyulu Hills
BLF rangers reported to AMVU a giraffe that was sighted carrying a snare in Chyulu on 23 May 2024. The team travelled and removed the tyre snare on 24th May 2024.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The giraffe was darted from a vehicle and attained successful immobilization using a combination of 13mg of Etorphine HCl and 50 mg of Azaperone.
The giraffe was found mobile, and active during the treatment exercise. Once immobilized a tyre found around the neck was cut and removed. The wound was treated using Betamax and local antibiotic therapy. Hydrogen peroxide was used to debride the dead tissue while Iodine was irrigated to control bacterial infection.
Prognosis
The anaesthetic was reversed, and the giraffe given a good prognosis as the tyre snare and not caused any injury.
A report of a young zebra carrying an arrow was reported to AMVU on 27 May 2024. The team travelled and treated the zebra on 28 May 2024.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The zebra was darted from a vehicle and attained successful immobilization using a combination of 4mg of Etorphine HCl and 50mg of Azaperone.
Forceps were used to examine for foreign remains of the arrow. Fortunately, none were found and the arrow wound was treated using Betamox and a local Hydrogen peroxide was used to debride the dead tissue while Iodine was irrigated to control bacterial infection.
Prognosis
The zebra was given a good prognosis and rejoined its herd shortly after treatment. .
Zebra Arrow
Tsavo East National Park
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Case 5 – 5th June 2024
Elephant
Natural Causes
SWT's desnaring team reported an injured elephant bull to AMVU. The vet team travelled to the site using an aircraft and attended to the wounded elephant bull in the early afternoon of 5th June 2024 using a helicopter.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant presented with a bleeding abdominal wound. A helicopter helped in darting the elephant and controlling it from moving into the bush. The elephant attained successful immobilization in 10 minutes using 20mg of Etorphine HCl.
The bull had a wound on the right abdominal area. The wound oozed blood due to the bruising injuries. The blood-filled wound was irrigated with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine solution. Amoxicillin injection and Oxytetracycline spray were applied to cover for bacterial infection. The bull was revived using naltrexone and favourably woke up after the drug administration
Prognosis
The elephant has a good prognosis.
Tsavo West National Park
Case
Elephant Arrow
Tsavo West National Park
KWS rangers on park patrol reported an injured elephant to AMVU. The bull presented with a swelling and oozing pus. The vet team moved to the site using an aircraft and a helicopter to immobilize and treat the bull
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant was easily darted and attained successful immobilization using 20mg of Etorphine HCl.
The bull had no foreign body in the wound but a lot of pus. The pus-filled wound was lanced and drained mechanically. Hydrogen peroxide was used for dead tissue debridement and Iodine for bacteria control.
Amoxicillin injection and Oxytetracycline spray were also applied to cover for bacterial infection. Flunixin injection was administered to cover for pain and inflammatory reactions. The bull was revived using naltrexone and favourably woke up after the drug administration.
