SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
MAY 2023
Introduction
May Report by Dr. Michael Njoroge4 Elephant Cases
The Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 10 Cases in May 2023 and 1 at the end of April. These included 5 elephant cases, 1 white rhino case, 2 masai giraffe cases, 1 common zebra case, and 2 roan antelope cases.
Acknowledgement
The Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit team greatly appreciates Elizabeth Scarlett for funding the Unit through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Additionally, the team would also like to thank Kenya Wildlife Service for providing technical support and all the conservation partners within the Mara ecosystem who contributed to the success of veterinary interventions through timely reporting of veterinary cases, as well as tracking, and monitoring treated animals.
Case Details
Oloisukut Conservancy
Naibosho Conservancy
Ripoi Conservancy
Carcass of an adult female white rhino called Morah was found by rangers on patrol.
Causes Adult female antelope with lots of maggots around the ears and in the auditory meatus.
Adult female masai giraffe with an arrow lodged in its left side
Common zebra stallion with a wire snare around the neck
Elephant bull limping heavily due to a huge swelling on the left forelimb.
Causes Unpleasantly smelling adult male roan antelope with swollen ears
Treated
treated
treated
Elephant Human – Wildlife Conflict Dupot
Rangers and the local community reported an adult male elephant running rogue in the Dupot area
Immobilisation and translocation
The elephant was found grazing alone in a thick forested area. It was darted with 17 mgs Etorphine from a helicopter provided by Mara Elephant Project. The drugs took effect 6 minutes later, the animal went down on lateral recumbency, and physical examination indicated that the elephant was in good condition for translocation.
The bull was hoisted by a crane onto a flatbed lorry and translocated to the release site in Mau Forest. 1 mg Etorphine was administered every 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the duration it took for the sedative to wear off. It took approximately 12 hours to reach Mau Forest due to difficult terrain, bad weather and poor access to the forest. Upon arrival, the bull was offloaded and fitted with a collar provided by Mara Elephant Project to monitor the animal’s movement. Anaesthesia was thereafter reversed with 60 mg Diprenorphine administered intravenously, but unfortunately the elephant did not attempt to stand. Sadly, the elephant developed laboured breathing thereafter and died despite supportive therapy being administered.
Post-mortem findings
The autopsy carried out thereafter found collapsed lungs; blood-tinged fluid in the lungs suggestive of a haemorrhage; and an enlarged/congested heart.
Cause of Death
The elephant died from pink froth syndrome. A condition that arises due to prolonged recumbency on immobilization leading to acute hypovolemic shock and failure of all vital organs.
Elephant Spear Olaro Conservancy
Rangers on patrol around the Olaro Area observed a sub-adult female elephant moving with difficulty due to an injured left hindlimb that was oozing pus.
The elephant had been treated on 18/03/2023 for a spear wound that had resulted in dead soft tissue hanging from the wound. Follow up treatment had also been carried out on 11/04/2023, and there was noticeable sloughing of the skin and necrosis ventral to the stifle joint.
Immobilisation and examination
The elephant was found grazing alone in a thick forested area. From a distance, noticeable swelling could be seen on the animal’s left hind leg. A 3 ml dart was prepared with 12 mgs Etorphine, the elephant was approached stealthily on foot and darted. It attempted to flee to the nearest hill when the dart landed, but it was prevented from going too far with help from rangers. Full immobilization was achieved 6 minutes postdarting. The elephant went down on lateral recumbency, and the left ear was used to cover the left eye to shield it from direct sunlight and dust.
Upon physical examination, the wound was found to have necrotized further, the animal’s body condition score and health status had also drastically deteriorated
Prognosis
Given the elephant’s poor prognosis, the elephant was put to rest to alleviate further pain and suffering. The carcass was disposed of accordingly.
Elephant Natural Causes Mara North Conservancy
A sub-adult elephant bull with a swollen left hindlimb due to a wound on the medial aspect of the limb was seen by Mara Elephant Project rangers while they were on patrol in Mara North Conservancy.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant was found in an area with bushy and rocky terrain. Therefore, it was darted from a helicopter with 17 mgs Etorphine. The dart landed on the animal’s hind quarters. The helicopter was then used to herd the elephant to a nearby clearing and prevent it from going back into the bush. Full immobilization was achieved 10 minutes post-darting. The bull went down on lateral recumbency, its left ear was used as a blindfold, and it was also doused with water to cool it down. Physical examination revealed a penetrating wound on the medial aspect of the left hind limb at the level of the stifle joint. The wound was cleaned with water, disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine, and sprayed with a fly repellent. Systemically, 35,000 mgs Tetracycline and 40 mgs Dexamethasone were administered The elephant was revived with 250 mgs Naltrexone administered both intravenously and intramuscularly. Recovery was smooth, and 5 minutes after revival, the bull was in sternal recumbency. It stood shortly thereafter and walked towards the bush.
Prognosis
The bull has a good prognosis since the injury was minor It is expected to recover fully within a short time
Giraffe Natural Causes Olderkesii Conservancy
A member of the community reported seeing an injured adult male masai giraffe that was unable to move and provided GPS coordinates indicating where the animal was last seen.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
It took about 3 hours for the Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit to reach the area. After another 30 minutes of searching, the giraffe was spotted in a bushy area browsing with 3 other giraffes. The injured giraffe was darted from a vehicle with 15 mgs Etorphine and 25 mgs Azaperone. It attempted to run away, but it was easily followed on foot. The drugs took effect 7 minutes later, and the animal went down on lateral recumbency Anaesthesia was immediately reversed, then the giraffe was blindfolded and physically restrained by pinning the head and neck to the ground. Physical examination revealed a wound at the level of the cannon bone. Fortunately, the deep digital flexor tendon and suspensory ligaments were intact. The wound was disinfected with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine then Tetracycline spray was applied topically 20,000 mgs Tetracycline and 40 mgs Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly before the giraffe was released
Revival and prognosis
Anaesthesia was reversed when the animal went down on lateral recumbency. 170 mgs Naltrexone was administered both intravenously and intramuscularly, but the animal did not regain consciousness. After several unsuccessful attempts to lift the animal into sternal recumbency with long ropes, 2 mgs Adrenaline was administered into the jugular vein and into the muscle. 3 minutes later, the animal was on sternal recumbency, it stood energetically and run into the bush. The giraffe has a good prognosis since the wound had not affected the tendons and ligaments.
Elephant Spear Naibosho Conservancy
Polaris, a collared elephant bull, had been treated in April for a spear wound. It was noted that he was moving slower than usual as indicated by the data transmitted by his collar. Mara Elephant Project rangers later reported that Polaris had a fresh spear wound on the left shoulder that was oozing pus.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
Polaris was darted from a helicopter on the hind quarters with 17 mgs Etorphine. The drugs took effect 7 minutes later, and he went down on right lateral recumbency. His left ear was used to blindfold the left eye, he was also doused with water to cool down his body. A penetrating wound was observed on the left shoulder. The wound was cleaned with water and disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine. A drainage channel was created to ensure exudates don’t accumulate in the wound. The wound was then sprayed with Tetracycline to repel files. Systemically, Tetracycline and Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was reversed with 250 mgs Naltrexone administered intravenously and intramuscularly Polaris stood 5 minutes later and headed for a nearby hill.
Prognosis
Polaris has a good prognosis; he is expected to recover fully within a short period of time.
Rhino Snared - Postmortem Ruma National Park
The carcass of an adult female white rhino called Morah was found by rangers on patrol in the park
General findings
The carcass was about 2 weeks old. A snare bound to a tree was observed on the cervical region of the carcass. The carcass had decomposed. Therefore, no viable post-mortem could be carried out.
Both horns were present but had disengaged from the carcass. The horns were collected and handed over to the Ruma National Park security team for safe custody.
Roan
Natural Causes
Ruma National Park
Rangers on patrol spotted an adult female roan antelope that was unable to move, the animal had swollen ears with lots of maggots around the ears and in the auditory meatus. It was also seen shaking its head while grazing before collapsing. The same condition had been reported in the area at an earlier date and attended to
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The antelope was physically restrained. Its body condition was below average, it had pale mucosa, it was significantly dehydrated, and it had a lot of brown ticks on the pinnae with facultative myiasis occurring around the ears and on the ventral surface of the neck and in the perineum. The wounds were cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine. 1 litre glucose infusion fluid and 1 litre Lactated Ringer's were administered intravenously. Amoxicillin and Dexamethasone were also administered intramuscularly while Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously. The animal’s poor body condition and very pale mucus membranes suggested serious anaemia. Sadly, the roan antelope passed on during treatment.
Postmortem findings
Significant External findings: Body conditions score 2/5 Emaciated carcass Lots of brown ticks around the pinnae, in the perineum and on the udder. Maggots around the horns, the ears and on the ventral surface of the neck. Alopecia around all the areas infested by ticks and maggots.
Significant internal findings: Pale mucus membranes. Swollen ears and maggots evident on the ears auditory meatus. Meningitis inflammation of the meninges.
Morphological diagnosis: Anaemia; Dehydration. Tentative diagnosis: Toxic shock; Neurogenic shock
Immediate cause of death
Hypovolemic shock due to the high number of blood-sucking parasites.
Giraffe Arrow Oloisukut Conservancy
An adult female masai giraffe with an arrow lodged in its left side at the level of the scapula was reported by Oloisukut rangers.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The giraffe was found browsing in a forested area. It was darted with 15 mgs Etorphine and 25 mgs Azaperone and was fully immobilized 7 minutes later. The giraffe was roped down smoothly on right lateral recumbency then anaesthesia was immediately reversed. It was physically restrained by pinning the head and neck to the ground. The animal was also blindfolded and Butorphanol administered to enhance respiration. The arrowhead was carefully removed, this caused fresh blood to ooze from the wound. The penetrating wound was disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine then it was sprayed with Tetracycline topically. Longacting anti-biotics and anti-inflammatories were also administered.
Revival and prognosis
Anaesthesia was reversed immediately the giraffe went down. This was achieved with 200 mgs Naltrexone administered intravenously and intramuscularly. After treatment, the giraffe was released, it stood energetically and run towards a herd grazing nearby. The giraffe has a good prognosis.
Zebra Snared Naibosho Conservancy
Rangers on patrol spotted a common zebra stallion with a wire around the neck. The animal was constantly shaking its head as it tried to dislodge the snare. The discomfort occasioned by the snare was preventing the animal from feeding adequately.
Immobilisation and examination
The snared zebra was found in a herd of 3, it was easily spotted and darted from a vehicle with 5 mgs Etorphine and 60 mgs Azaperone. Full immobilization was attained 5 minutes later with the zebra still standing. It was brought down manually and placed on right lateral recumbency while blindfolded. The wire snare was then removed. Fortunately, no significant injuries were observed on the nuchal ligament and the entire neck. The zebra had slightly lost the body condition due to the discomfort.
Anaesthesia was reversed with Naltrexone administered through the jugular vein. Sedative reversal was achieved 2 minutes later. The zebra sprung up energetically and run away.
Prognosis
The zebra stallion had no significant injuries. It has a good prognosis.
