SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
JUNE 2024
Cases in June
June Report by Dr. Michael Njoroge
The Mara Vet Team resumed duty with the intention of fostering health and welfare to the animals.
The Vet Unit attended to a total of 4 cases involving 1 lion and 3 elephants. This included following up on the lion named Lorkulup two weeks after he had been bitten by a poisonous snake. Treatment was performed to address infections that may have set in after the initial treatment. The Unit also attended to one elephant with fight wounds, who sadly had to be euthanised as his injuries were too severe, and the successful treatment of two elephants (including one juvenile) with arrow injuries. The young elephant was successfully reunited with the mother following treatment.
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
June 2024
Case 1 – 6th June 2024
Lion
Natural Causes
Mara Triangle
Mara vet attended to Lion Lorkulup in the Mara conservancy. The lion had received treatment for a suspected snake bite two weeks prior. A second treatment was done to cover infections that may have set in after the initial treatment.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The lion was approached with a vehicle and darted with 300mgs Ketamine and 4mgs Medetomidine in the pelvic muscle. He made no effort to disappear after darting and was completely sedated in ten minutes assuming sternal recumbence. He was blindfolded and moved to the vehicle’s shade on left recumbence. The dart was retrieved and the wound was sprayed with tetracycline aerosol spray to repel the flies.
A swollen upper lip and mildly infected lower lip with sloughed off tissue was observed. The wounds were cleaned with water, hydrogen peroxide and Iodine, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories administered. The lion was also observed to be in good body condition and monitoring will continue.
Revival and prognosis
The anaesthetic was reversed one hour post immobilization by injecting 20mgs Atipamezole Intra-muscularly and he was fully revived after one hour. He was left in company of the pride. He has a good prognosis but will continue to be monitored.
Case
Elephant Natural Causes
Mara Triangle
A report was made to Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit by rangers on duty about discovery of an elephant that was lying on the left lateral recumbency since morning and was unable to rise on his feet within Mararianda
Examination, treatment and management
Upon arrival we found the animal on the left lateral recumbency with no visible signs of physical harm from the head region to the abdomen. Therefore, we administered 40mls of Catasol, 50mgs of Dexamethasone and one vial of Adrenaline I.V. With the aid of our landcruiser, the elephant rose on his feet briefly after several attempts before falling down again on his left lateral recumbency. To alleviate the animal from suffering and pain euthanasia was done. A post-mortem examination of the carcass was done immediately.
He appeared to have been in good body condition prior to death with no signs of struggle at the scene. During the autopsy on the head region we discovered an abnormal, wide, deep and penetrative opening in the buccal cavity. The opening was probably from a big sharp object like a tusk from another elephant. In the abdominal region we found very little stomach contents an indication the animal wasn’t feeding well.
Cause of Death
The post-mortem findings indicate that the elephant’s failure to stand was caused by sharp force trauma into the buccal cavity that cause a lot of pain and the animal was unable to feed
Case 3 – 12th June 2024
Elephant Arrow Naboisho Conservancy
Mara vet attended to an injured elephant in Naboisho. The elephant had an approx 45 cm deep penetrating arrow wound on the left hip. The wound was infected with plenty of pus.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The animal was darted successfully with 14mgs of Etorphine, it made some efforts to run away but It was immobilized in seven minutes. A rope was used to help the elephant to the ground in the right direction.
The wounds were cleaned with water, then cauterized with Hydrogen peroxide and lavaged with povidone Iodine. Tetracycline spray and green clay was used as topical treatment. Antibiotic pessaries were inserted into the heavily infected deep wounds to deter any chances of reinfection. Systemically the elephant was given 30,000mg of Amoxicillin and 50mgs Dexamethasone was administered intramuscularly.
Revival and prognosis
It was revived using 170mgs Naltrexone into the ear vein and third of the drug intramuscularly on the forelimb Prognosis is good.
Naboisho Conservancy
Mara vet attended to a juvenile elephant in Naboisho conservancy with an arrow injury. The wound was infected with pus and about 20 cm deep.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The animal was darted successfully with 3mgs of Etorphine, it made some efforts to run away but was immobilized in seven minutes and then fell to ground.
The wounds were cleaned with water, then cauterized with Hydrogen peroxide and lavaged with povidone Iodine. Tetracycline spray and green clay was used as topical treatment. Antibiotic pessaries were inserted into the heavily infected deep wounds to deter any chances of reinfection. Systemically it was given Amoxicillin and Dexamethasone intramuscularly.
Revival and prognosis
It was revived using 150mgs Naltrexone into the ear vein and third of the drug intramuscularly on the forelimb. Prognosis is good as we observed the juvenile reunite with his mother.
