SWT/KWS AMBOSELI MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT SEPTEMBER 2023
Introduction
9 Cases in September
6 Poaching Cases
2 Elephant Cases
September Report by Dr. Kariuki Edward The Southern Conservation Area experienced slightly warm weather in September 2023. The Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 9 cases in total over the reporting period. Most of the cases attended to were attributed to poaching or possible human – wildlife conflict. The team attended to a diversity of species including 2 elephants, 1 lion, 1 leopard, 1 black rhino, 2 Masai giraffes, 1 buffalo, and 1 common zebra. 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, Satao and Amboseli Elephant Research who participated in the veterinary interventions. Additionally, the team thanks everyone else who reported and assisted in monitoring distressed wildlife in areas interest.
Case Details Date
Species
Area Found
Reason for Intervention
Outcome
01-Sep-23
Buffalo
Mwatate, Tsavo
Snared
Sub-adult male buffalo with a wire snare around the neck
Successfully treated
02-Sep-23
Giraffe
Rombo Group Ranch
Spear
Adult male Masai giraffe with a spear lodged in its belly
Successfully treated
05-Sep 23
Rhino
Tsavo West NP
Rescue
1 week old black rhino calf found abandoned in Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary
Successfully treated
06-Sep 23
Zebra
Taita Hills Sanctuary
Snared
Adult common zebra stallion with a wire snare around the neck
Successfully treated
06-Sep 23
Giraffe
Rombo, Amboseli
Snared
Adult male Masai giraffe with a cable wire snare around its chest
Successfully Treated
07-Sep-23
Elephant
Tsavo East N.P.
Natural Causes
Male elephant calf with multiple deep wounds on the neck and hind limbs
Successfully treated
07-Sep-23
Elephant
Satao Elerai
Spear
Adult elephant bull with a deep penetrating wound on the right forelimb
Successfully treated
09-Sep-23
Leopard
Taita Hills Sanctuary
Snared
Adult male leopard with a deep wound on the right forelimb caused by a wire snare
Successfully treated
11-Sep-23
Lion
Olgulului Group Ranch
Natural Causes
Lame adult male lion with a deep wound on the tail
Successfully treated
SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations Amboseli 2023
Case 1 – 01st September 2023 Buffalo
Snared
Mwatate, Tsavo
The Sisal Sanctuary manager in Mwatate informed the Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit about a snared subadult male buffalo. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The buffalo was darted from a vehicle with 4 mg Etorphine and 70 mg Azaperone. The animal responded positively and attained full immobilization in about 10 minutes. The buffalo had a wire snare around its neck which was deeply embedded into the thick neck muscle. The buffalo had good body condition, but it had difficulties breathing. The wire snare was cut loose with wire cutters and removed. The wound it caused was cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide and disinfected with Iodine. Amoxicillin and Dexamethasone injections were administered before anaesthesia was reversed. Prognosis The young buffalo has a good prognosis.
Case 2 – 02nd September 2023 Giraffe
Spear
Rombo Group Ranch
Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT) rangers in Rombo sighted a male Masai giraffe with a spear lodged in its belly.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The giraffe was darted from a vehicle with a combination of 14mg Etorphine and 30mg Azaperone. It was followed on foot and eventually roped down when the drugs took effect 12 minutes post-darting. Fortunately, the spear fell off the animal during traction for restraint. The giraffe was physically restrained when it was on the ground and anaesthesia immediately reversed with Naltrexone. 60 ml Amoxicillin was also administered to provide coverage for systemic bacterial infection. Hydrogen peroxide and iodine were irrigated into the wound to debride dead tissue and control local bacterial infection respectively. Oxytetracycline spray was applied to cover for secondary infections and to mark the animal for further monitoring. Prognosis The giraffe was then released, it stood immediately and walked away. With a good prognosis.
Case 3 – 05th September 2023 Rhino
Rescue
Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary
The Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit (AMVU) was informed about an abandoned black rhino calf at Ngulia Sanctuary in Tsavo West National Park. Examination and treatment The black rhino calf was approximately 1 week old as observed from the remains of the umbilical cord. The calf demonstrated good body condition, and it had a healthy appetite for milk. The calf was rescued by a SWT team and taken to the Kaluku stockades for care and rehabilitation. Veterinary care and preventative treatment were administered at the stockades by the AMVU. The calf was introduced to an artificial milk. Dexamethasone, Catasol and Amoxicillin were administered to cover for bacterial infection and secondary inflammatory reactions. Prognosis The black rhino calf has a good prognosis.
Case 4 – 06th September 2023 Zebra
Snared
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
The Amboseli Mobile Veterinary Unit received a report about a lame adult common zebra seen at the waterhole at Salt Lick Lodge in Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The zebra was darted from a vehicle with 4 mg Etorphine HCl and 70 mg Azaperone. The animal had a wire snare around its neck. 30 ml Amoxicillin was administered. The snare was removed then the wound was debrided with Hydrogen peroxide and irrigated with Iodine to cover for bacterial infections. The zebra was revived with Naltrexone. It woke up and few minutes later and walked away. Prognosis The zebra has a good prognosis.
Case 5 – 06th September 2023 Giraffe
Snared
Rombo
MWCT rangers in Rombo sighted an adult male Masai giraffe with a cable wire snare around its chest. The giraffe was in a herd of 4 giraffes known to forage around farmlands in the Rombo area. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The giraffe was darted from a vehicle with 14 mg Etorphine HCl and 30 mg Azaperone. It had a cable wire snare around the chest slightly behind the forelimb. The wire was cut loose with wire cutters and removed. Fortunately, the snare had not inflicted any visible injuries on the animal. The giraffe was revived with Naltrexone. It stood up and walked away towards a nearby herd. Prognosis The giraffe has a good prognosis.
Case 6 – 07th September 2023 Elephant
Natural Causes
Tsavo East National Park
The Senior Warden Tsavo East National Park reported an injured male elephant calf that was seen in the park.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The calf’s mother was darted from a vehicle and immobilized with 20 mg Etorphine to facilitate treatment of the calf. Once the mother was fully immobilized, the calf was physically restrained. The elephant calf had multiple deep penetrating wounds on the neck and hind limbs. According to the vet’s assessment, the wounds were most likely inflicted by a lion. The pus-filled wounds were drained and irrigated with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine solution. Long-acting Amoxicillin antibiotics were administered intramuscularly to cover for systemic bacterial infections while Oxytetracycline spray was applied locally. Prognosis The calf’s mother was revived with Naltrexone. She woke up a few minutes later, reunited with her calf and they both walked away together. The calf has a good prognosis.
Case 7 – 07th September 2023 Elephant
Spear
Satao Elerai Conservancy
A tour driver at Satao Lodge reported seeing a lame elephant bull at the lodge’s waterhole. The elephant bull was not with the main herd, and it was reluctant to move. The same bull had been treated earlier for a spear wound, but it seemed that the bull was responding slowly to treatment. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was darted from a vehicle with 20 mg Etorphine HCl. It had a deep penetrating wound on the right forelimb. An incision was made into the wound to facilitate drainage and cleaning of the pus-filled wound. 100 ml Amoxicillin was administered to cover for systemic bacterial infections. The wound was debrided with Hydrogen peroxide and disinfected with Iodine. Oxytetracycline spray was then applied on the wound to cover for bacterial infection in the wounded area. The elephant was revived with Naltrexone. The bull woke up shortly thereafter and walked away. Prognosis The elephant bull has a good prognosis.
Case 8 – 09th September 2023 Leopard
Snared
Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
The manager at Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary reported an injured adult male leopard. The leopard had been treated by the team on another occasion. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The leopard was darted from a vehicle with 100 mg Ketamine HCl and 4 mg Medetomidine. The animal had a deep wound caused by a wire snare on the right forelimb around the wrist. The snare was cut loose with wire cutters and removed. The pus-filled wound was opened to facilitate drainage. 20 ml Amoxicillin was administered to cover for bacterial infections. Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine were then irrigated into the wound to assist in healing. Oxytetracycline spray was administered for local bacterial cover on the wounded area before anaesthesia was reversed with Antisedan®. The leopard woke up and moved deeper into the forested area within the Sanctuary. Prognosis The leopard has a good prognosis.
Case 9 – 11th September 2023 Lion
Natural Causes
Olgulului Group Ranch
The manager of Olgulului Group Ranch reported a lame adult male lion and assisted the vet team with rangers to track and monitor the cat.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The injured lion was darted from a vehicle with 300 mg Ketamine HCl and 6 mg Medetomidine. The lion had a deep wound on the tail. The lion was treated with 30 ml Amoxicillin administered intramuscularly to cover for bacterial infections. The lion’s wounds were then debrided with Hydrogen peroxide and disinfected with Iodine. Oxytetracycline spray was applied locally to cover the wounded areas for bacterial infection. The lion was revived with Antisedan®. It woke up a few minutes later and walked away. Prognosis The lion has a good prognosis.