SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT JULY 2023
Introduction
8 Cases in July
7 Poaching Cases
5 Elephant Cases
July Report by Dr. Michael Njoroge In July 2023, the Mara Mobile Vet Unit attended to 8 cases in total. These comprised 5 elephant cases, 1 lion case and 2 zebra cases. 6 cases were associated with human-wildlife conflict and involved animals with spear or arrow injuries. Fortunately, all injured animals were successfully treated. The Mara Mobile Veterinary team also rescued a 6–8-month-old male elephant calf found abandoned in Kirok area, and de-snared an adult common zebra stallion with a wire snare around its neck. Acknowledgement The Mara Mobile Veterinary team greatly appreciates Elizabeth Scarlett for funding the Unit through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The team also thanks Kenya Wildlife Service for providing technical support and all the conservation partners who contributed to the success of veterinary interventions through timely reporting of veterinary cases and monitoring of treated animals.
Case Details Date
Species
Area Found
Reason for Intervention
Outcome
14-Jul 23
Zebra
Mara Rio Conservancy
Snared
Adult male common zebra with a wire snare around its neck
Task successful
18-Jul 23
Elephant
Musiara Mara NR
Spear
Adult male elephant, approx. 25 years old, with a spear wound on the brisket
Successfully treated
19-Jul 23
Zebra
Mara North Conservancy
Arrow
Female zebra foal with an arrow lodged in its thoracic region
Successfully treated
23-Jul 23
Elephant
Naibosho Conservancy
Spear
Adult female elephant with a pus-filled abscess on the pelvic region
Successfully treated
23-Jul 23
Elephant
Mara North Conservancy
Arrow
25-year-old elephant bull with arrowheads lodged in the right forelimb
Successfully treated
24-Jul 23
Lion
Mara Triangle
Spear
Sub-adult male lion with a deep spear wound on the left forelimb
Successfully treated
28-Jul 23
Elephant
Kirok, Mara NR
Rescue
6–8-month-old male elephant calf found abandoned in Kirok area
Taken to Orphanage
29-Jul 23
Elephant
Olkinyei Conservancy
Arrow
Adult male elephant with an arrowhead embedded in the proximal part of the trunk
Successfully treated
SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations July 2023
Case 1 – 14th July 2023 Zebra
Snared
Mara Rio Conservancy
Rangers on patrol spotted an adult common zebra stallion with a wire snare around the neck. The animal kept shaking its head in a futile attempt to shrug off the snare and couldn’t focus on grazing.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The snared zebra was found in a small herd of 5 animals. It was darted from a vehicle with 5 mgs Etorphine and 70 mgs Azaperone. The zebra was startled when the dart landed and walked away briskly. The drugs took full effect 5 minutes later with the zebra still standing. The animal was brought down manually, placed in lateral recumbency and blindfolded. The plain wire snare around the neck was removed. No significant injuries were seen on the nuchal ligament and the entire neck. The zebra had slightly lost body condition due to the discomfort. Anaesthesia was reversed with Naltrexone administered via the jugular vein. The animal sprung up energetically 2 minutes post – reversal and ran away. Prognosis The zebra did not suffer any significant injuries, it therefore has a good prognosis.
Case 2 – 18th July 2023 Elephant
Spear
Musiara (Governor’s), Masai Mara NR
Mara Elephant Project rangers reported an adult male elephant with bloody exudates oozing from an injury on the brisket. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant bull, approx. 25 years old, was found near an area with thick bush grazing alone. It was herded to more open ground with a vehicle. The bull was darted on the hind quarters with 17 mgs Etorphine. The drug took effect 10 minutes post-darting with the animal assuming lateral recumbency. The ear was used as a blindfold and its body was doused with water to cool the animal down. The wound was then cleaned with water, debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, and disinfected with Iodine. Antibiotic pessaries were inserted into the wound before it was covered with green clay and sprayed with Tetracycline. Systemically, 30,000 mg Amoxicillin and 50 mgs Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was revived with 170 mgs Naltrexone administered both intravenously and intramuscularly. Recovery was smooth, but it took a bit of time for the elephant to stand. This was because the tusks had deeply dug into the soft ground. The elephant was however able to stand on all fours before the team went to physically assist. Prognosis The elephant bull has a good prognosis.
Case 3 – 19th July 2023 Zebra
Arrow
Mara North Conservancy
Mara North rangers reported a female common zebra foal with an arrow lodged in its thoracic region.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The zebra foal was darted from a vehicle with 2 mgs Etorphine and 30 mgs Azaperone. The animal assumed lateral recumbency when the drugs took effect 5 minutes later. The foal was repositioned for treatment and blindfolded. Upon closer examination, the arrowhead was found lodged in the animal’s intercostal muscles. The arrow was carefully removed, then the wound was disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine. Tetracycline spray was thereafter applied on the wound as a fly repellent. Anaesthesia was reversed with 30 mg Naltrexone administered via the jugular vein. Sedative reversal was achieved 2 minutes later. The animal sprung up energetically and ran away. Prognosis The zebra foal was not significantly injured and is expected to recover fully. The foal has a good prognosis.
Case 4 – 23rd July 2023 Elephant
Spear
Naibosho Conservancy
Naboisho Conservancy rangers reported an elephant matriarch with whitish exudates oozing from a large swelling on the pelvic region. There were 2 calves accompanying her. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The injured elephant was found in a rocky area with thick bush therefore a helicopter was called in to facilitate darting. The elephant was herded into an open area and successfully darted after a few trials from a helicopter platform with 17 mgs Etorphine. The elephant assumed lateral recumbency approx. 10 minutes later. The left ear was used as a blindfold, and its body was doused with water to aid in thermoregulation. The swelling was aspirated, and pus drained before the wound was cleaned with water and disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodide. Anti-biotic pessaries were inserted into the wound then it was covered with green clay. The wound was also sprayed with Tetracycline spray to repel flies. Systemically, 30,000 mgs Amoxicillin and 50 mgs Dexamethasone were administered into different muscle sites. The elephant was revived with 170 mgs Naltrexone. The matriarch achieved sternal recumbency 5 minutes post-revival. She stood shortly thereafter and walked towards the nearby bush. Prognosis The matriarch has a good prognosis.
Case 5 – 23rd July 2023 Elephant
Arrow
Mara North Conservancy
Rangers on patrol in Mara North Conservancy reported an adult elephant bull that was severely limping due to 2 arrows lodged in the forelimb at the elbow joint level. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant bull, approx. 25 years old, was found on a hill with thick bush. It was pushed to more suitable ground for darting by the Mara Elephant Project helicopter and successfully darted on the hind quarters with 17 mgs Etorphine. Full immobilization was archived after 10 minutes with the bull assuming lateral recumbency. The left ear was used as a blindfold, and its body was doused with water. The animal had penetrating arrow wounds on the proximal part of the left forelimb. The arrowheads were carefully removed then the wounds were cleaned with water, disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine before being sprayed with Tetracycline. 30,000 mg Amoxicillin and 50 mgs Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly. Revival was achieved with 170 mgs Naltrexone. Recovery was smooth and 3 minutes postreversal, the bull was on sternal recumbency. The elephant bull stood shortly thereafter and walked back to the bush. Prognosis The elephant bull has a good prognosis.
Case 6 – 24th July 2023 Lion
Spear
Mara Triangle
The County ranger, Mara Triangle reported an injured sub-adult male lion. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The cub was found in a pride of over 10 lions. The injured animal was darted from a vehicle with 300 mgs Ketamine and 4 mgs Medetomidine. The cub was startled when the dart landed and run off. Two large lionesses followed the cub closely before the drugs took effect 10 minutes post-darting. The lionesses were ushered away into the nearby bush to facilitate treatment, but they remained about 100 meters away throughout the treatment period. The cub achieved full immobilization in sternal recumbency. The animal was blindfolded, moved to open ground, and placed on left lateral recumbency. The dart was retrieved, and the dart wound was sprayed with Tetracycline aerosol to repel flies. The cub was found to have a deep expansive spear wound on the cranial lateral aspect of the left forelimb. The longitudinal wound edges were shaved the wound was then cleaned with water and refreshed to the point of bleeding before being disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine. Muscle were suture using chromic catgut in a simple continuous pattern while the skin was sutured with vicryl sutures in a simple interrupted suture pattern. 15,000 mg Amoxicillin was infiltrated into the sutured wound then the wound was covered with Tetracycline wound spray. Systemically, 20,000 mgs Amoxicillin and 30 mgs Dexamethasone were administered into different muscle sites. 40 mgs Ivermectin was also injected under the skin to control internal and external parasites. Anaesthesia was reversed 1 hour post immobilization with 20 mgs Atipamezole administered intramuscularly. The cub showed signs of palpebral reflex and ear twitching after 30 minutes and achieved sternal recumbency 45 minutes post revival. The cub stood 1 hour post revival and was rejoined its pride. Prognosis The lion cub has a good prognosis and is expected to recover fully.
Case 7 – 28th July 2023 Elephant
Rescue
Kirok Area, Masai Mara NR
This 6–8-month-old elephant calf was first reported abandoned on 13/7/2023. Shortly after the calf was found, it joined a group of over 20 elephants. The rescue was postponed, and the herd was monitored to find out whether the calf’s mother was in the herd. Unfortunately, it was later reported that the calf had been abandoned calf in a fenced area in Kirok. The veterinary team responded and found the situation as reported. Rescue With no hope of re-uniting the calf with its mother, and considering the calf’s deteriorating body condition, the veterinary team in liaison with Maasai Mara management sought authorization to rescue the calf. Once the rescue was authorized, the calf was physically restrained and transported to the Olare Lemotoroki air strip from where it was flown to the SWT Nairobi nursery. The elephant calf was in fair body condition. 40 mg Azaperone was administered to calm the calf down during transit.
Case 8 – 29th July 2023 Elephant
Arrow
Ol Kinyei Conservancy
A young elephant bull with whitish exudates oozing from the proximal part of the trunk was seen by Mara Elephant Project rangers while they were on patrol in Olkinyei Conservancy. Upon closer observation, an arrowhead was seen lodged in the animal’s trunk. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant bull, approx. 20 years old, was found grazing alone in an open area. The animal was darted from a vehicle with 17 mgs Etorphine on the hind quarter. The bull tried to flee into the nearby bush, but it was skilfully kept away from reaching the area with a vehicle. The elephant assumed left lateral recumbency when the drugs took full effect 10 minutes later. The right ear was used as a blindfold and the animal’s body was doused with water to aid in thermoregulation. The arrowhead lodged in the proximal part of the elephant’s trunk was carefully removed. The penetrating wound was then cleaned with water and disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine. Oxytetracycline aerosol was thereafter applied on the wound to repel flies. Systemically, 30,000 mgs Amoxicillin and 50 mgs Dexamethasone were administered. The elephant bull was successfully revived post-treatment. Prognosis The elephant bull is expected to recover fully, it has a good prognosis.