SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Report for October 2024
SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
OCTOBER 2024
11 Cases in October 6 Poaching Cases 6 Elephant Cases
October Report by Dr. Michael Njoroge
The SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 11 cases in October 2024. 6 of these cases involved elephants, the majority (4 cases) were elephants with arrow wounds. The other elephant cases involved a spear wound treatment and post-mortem examination that found the elephant died from natural causes. Thankfully, all elephants with spear and arrow injuries were successfully treated with a good prognosis indicated. The Veterinary Unit also attended to 1 white rhino, 2 lions, 1 cheetah, and 1 snared zebra.
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
SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
October 2024
Elephant Arrow
Mara North Conservancy
The SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit was informed about an elephant bull with an arrow lodged in its hind quarters around the pelvic region.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant was successfully darted from a Mara Elephant Project helicopter and immobilized with 17mg Etorphine. It took 10 minutes for full anaesthesia to be achieved. Once the elephant was on lateral recumbency, he was blindfolded and doused with water to cool him down.
The arrow was carefully removed then the wound was cleaned with water, disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and irrigated with povidone Iodine. Antibiotic cream and spray were also applied topically. 30,000mg Oxytetracycline and 50mgs Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly before the anaesthesia was reversed with 170 mgs Naltrexone, two-thirds was given intravenously through a prominent ear vein and a third administered intramuscularly.
Prognosis
The elephant bull has a good prognosis.
Case
Elephant Spear
Naibosho Conservancy
The SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to a juvenile male elephant in Naibosho Conservancy with 2 deep spear wounds.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The young bull was darted from a helicopter and immobilized with 17 mgs Etorphine.
Two (2) deep spear wounds were observed on the head and thoracic region. Both wounds were about 15 cm deep. An incision was made on a swelling adjacent the wounds to drain the pus. The wounds were then cleaned with water, disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide, irrigated with povidone Iodine, infused with antibiotic cream and covered with an antibiotic spay. Systemically, 30,000mg Oxytetracycline and 50mgs Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was reversed with 170mgs Naltrexone administered by intravenous and intramuscular routes.
Prognosis
The juvenile elephant bull has good prognosis. Rangers in the area will continue to monitor his recovery.
Case 3 – 13th October 2024
Elephant Post-mortem Maasai Mara National Reserve Rangers on duty reported the discovery of the carcass of an adult elephant bull in Oldekesi area, Maasai Mara National Reserve. The SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit carried out a post-mortem to establish the cause of death.
General Post-mortem findings
The adult male elephant carcass was found lying in right lateral recumbency with no autolysis and putrefaction since the carcass was fresh. The animal appeared to have been in good body condition prior to death. No signs of struggle before death were observed at the scene.
Significant post-mortem findings
Congestion and petechial haemorrhages of conjunctiva, mouth and vulvar mucosa. Enlarged subscapular and submandibular lymph nodes. Degeneration on liver, kidneys and heart connective tissues Splenomegaly
Cause of death
The post-mortem findings indicated that the elephant’s sudden death may have been due to high systemic pathogenic bacterial load in the blood stream that led to death by sepsis.
Case
Elephant Arrow
Mara Triangle
The SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to an adult elephant bull with an arrow wound on the left forelimb. It was suspected that the arrow was most likely poisoned owing to the evident necrotic tissue around the entry wound.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The animal was successfully darted with 14mgs Etorphine and was fully immobilized 7 minutes post-darting.
The necrotic tissue around the entry wound was debrided then the wound was cleaned with water, disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide, and irrigated with povidone Iodine. Topical antibiotic cream and spray were also applied. Systemically, 30,000mg Oxytetracycline and 50mgs Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was reversed with 170mgs Naltrexone administered by intravenous and intramuscular routes.
Prognosis
The elephant has a good prognosis.
Rhino Natural Causes
Partakilat Conservancy
The SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to an adult female white rhino in Partakilat Conservancy reported to have tears running from her eyes.
Examination
Assessment found the animal was in good health with no tearing noted No intervention was necessary.
Case
Elephant Arrow
Naibosho Conservancy
The SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to an adult male elephant with 2 arrowheads embedded in the left forelimb and the right hindlimb respectively.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant bull was darted successfully with 14mgs Etorphine. It was fully immobilized 7 minutes later.
The arrowheads were carefully removed, then the wounds were debrided, cleaned with water, disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide, irrigated with povidone Iodine and covered with topical antibiotic cream and spray.
Systemically, 30,000mg Oxytetracycline and 50mgs Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was reversed with 170mgs Naltrexone, two-thirds of the dose was administered intravenously into the ear vein while a third was given intramuscularly.
Prognosis
The elephant bull has a good prognosis
Lion
Natural Causes Survey Area, Maasai Mara
The SWT/KWS Maasai Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit was informed about an adult male lion that was lame after a territorial fight.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The lion was darted from the vehicle and immobilized with 300mgs Ketamine and 4mgs Medetomidine.
Upon examination, he was found to have suffered a fracture of the left hind limb at the stifle joint. Given the lion’s poor prognosis for recovery, he was put to rest to alleviate further pain and suffering. A post-mortem was performed thereafter that confirmed the diagnosis.
Prognosis
The lion had a grave prognosis and was euthanized to alleviate further pain and suffering
Elephant Arrow
Mara North Conservancy
The SWT/ KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to a matriarch with an arrow lodged in her right forelimb.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The animal was darted from the vehicle and successfully immobilized with 14mgs Etorphine.
The arrowhead embedded in the elephant’s right forelimb was carefully removed then the necrotic tissue was debrided. The wounds were cleaned with water, disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide, irrigated with povidone Iodine and covered with green clay to enhance healing. A topical antibiotic cream and spray were thereafter applied. Systemically, 30,000mg Oxytetracycline and 50mgs Dexamethasone was administered intramuscularly. The elephant was revived with 170mgs Naltrexone administered both intravenously and intramuscularly
Prognosis
The elephant matriarch has a good prognosis.
Lion
Natural Causes
Survey Area, Maasai Mara
The SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to an adult male lion that had been injured in a territorial fight in Mara-Survey area (Maasai Mara).
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The lion had a penetrating wound in the rear spinal region and another on the left front paw, and he was severely limping. He was darted from the vehicle and immobilized with 300mgs Ketamine and 4mgs Medetomidine. The dart landed on the pelvic muscles, and he was completely sedated ten minutes later. The lion was blindfolded and moved to a shaded area. The deep septic wound in the rear spinal region was cleaned with water, disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and irrigated with povidone Iodine. 15,000 mg Amoxicillin was infiltrated into the wound before it was covered with Tetracycline wound spray. Systemically, 15,000mgs Amoxicillin and 30mgs Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly while 40mg Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously to control internal and external parasites. Anaesthesia was reversed 1-hour post-immobilization with 20 mgs Atipamezole.
Prognosis
The lion has a good prognosis
Case
10 – 30th October 2024
Cheetah Natural Causes Maasai Mara National Reserve
The SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to an injured adult male cheetah in Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Examination and treatment
The injured cheetah was observed from a distance. It was suspected that his injuries were most likely sustained while hunting.
The cheetah was remotely darted with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.
Prognosis
The cheetah has a good prognosis.
Zebra Snared
Mara Ripoi Conservancy
The SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to an adult male common zebra in Mara Ripoi Conservancy with a wire snare tightly embedded in its left hind limb.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The snared zebra stallion was darted from a vehicle and immobilized with 6mgs Etorphine combined with 70mgs Azaperone.
Upon examination, the snare was found to have cut through the soft tissues and had reached the bone. The tight wire snare was cut loose with wire cutters then dead tissue around the snare wound was debrided. The wound was then cleaned with water, disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide, irrigated with Iodine, and sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray topically. 15,000mgs Amoxicillin and 30mgs Dexamethasone were administered intramuscularly before anaesthesia was reversed with 200mg Naltrexone administered through the jugular vein. The animal stood shortly thereafter and run into the bush.
