SWT/KWS MERU MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT

JANUARY 2023

Introduction

3 Cases in January 2 HWC Cases 2 Elephant Cases

January Report by Dr. Aminga Duncan

Wildlife in the Meru ecosystem continued to prosper despite the effects of last year’s drought. Various wildlife species were observed to be in good health, and the number of new-born elephants were noted to have increased.

The beginning of the year was relatively quiet as there were only 3 cases. One case involved a security horse named Adam treated in Aberdare National Park for a class 3 laceration wound on the right hindleg. The other two cases were elephant interventions arising from human-elephant conflict. The 1st was a lame elephant bull in Lerata Village, Samburu County with a bullet wound on the right hindleg while the other was an elephant bull in Sarara Camp - Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy that had spear and arrow wounds on the right forelimb.

Acknowledgement

We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who made it possible for the Meru Veterinary Unit to successfully attend to the cases reported in December. We appreciate Sylvie Chantecaille for funding the Unit through Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and the support we have received from other conservation partners, local communities, and Kenya Wildlife Service through the Senior Assistant Director Eastern Conservation Area and the Head of the Kenya Wildlife Service Veterinary Department. Thank you.

Case Details

January 2023

Elephant Human – Wildlife Conflict Lerata Village, Samburu County

Human-elephant conflict continues to pose a threat to elephant populations in Northern Kenya. Elephants attacked by people in retaliation suffer severe injuries as was the case with this elephant bull that presented with severe lameness.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was found in dense acacia tree vegetation, it was carefully driven out of the thicket with a vehicle and darted on the right rump with 14 mgs Etorphine. The drugs took effect 7 minutes post-darting. The elephant’s body was doused with water then the bull was physically examined and found to have massive soft tissue swelling due to a penetrating wound on the right hind leg suspected to have been caused by a bullet. The wound was probed, but no foreign body was found. It was flushed with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine, packed with Oxytetracycline pessaries, and covered with an antibiotic spray to deter flies. 120 mgs Dexamethasone sodium and 15,000 mgs Amoxicillin were administered before anaesthesia was reversed with 150 mgs Naltrexone. The bull was assisted to rise 3 minutes later and continued to browse nearby.

Prognosis

Due to the suspected damage to the knee joint tissues, the prognosis for recovery is guarded

Security Horse Natural Causes Aberdare National Park

The Meru Mobile Veterinary Unit was called upon to treat a security horse stallion named Adam after it was reported that he had been injured while grazing in the field

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

Adam was observed to be in poor body condition, the ribcage and the iliac crest were prominent due to poor muscle cover. He had a dip in the spine (lordosis) suspected to be from weakening of spinal ligaments. Significant shedding was also observed upon brushing of the skin by hand. Adam had a class 3 laceration wound on the ventral side of the right hindleg distal to the fetlock joint, and an abrasion wound on the ventral side of the left hindleg distal to the fetlock joint suspected to have been caused by blunt force trauma. He was manually restrained by the handler then the wound was debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, flushed with Iodine and covered with an antibiotic spray. 3,000mgs Amoxicillin and 750 mgs Flunixin meglumine were administered intramuscularly to manage bacterial infections and pain respectively. Subcutaneously, he received 10 mgs Ivermectin to control endoparasites and ectoparasites. Additionally, metabolic stimulators were administered to enhance feeding and recovery of body condition.

Prognosis

Adam has a good prognosis for recovery.