SWT/KWS MERU MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
JUNE 2024
5 Cases in June
June Report by Dr.
Aminga Duncan
Rhino Case
Elephant Case
In June, the Meru ecosystem experienced uncharacteristically low humidity coupled with soaring daytime temperatures which painted a stark contrast to its typically lush surroundings. The rivers that defined the landscape had begun drying up and its verdant greenery was fading into a sombre brown with some areas already reduced to barren earth. Despite this, there was a notable decrease in wildlife related veterinary emergencies. The SWT/KWS Meru Mobile Veterinary Unit responded to 5 cases in June, one of these cases involved a postmortem examination on the carcass of an adult elephant bull in the Kinna Area Although the advanced state of decomposition hindered determining the cause of death, it was suspected that the elephant’s death was related to human-wildlife conflict in the region. The team also rescued a female subadult white rhino that had strayed from the Meru Rhino Sanctuary and sustained gunshot wounds in the shoulder area. After treatment, the rhino was successfully returned to the sanctuary with an optimistic outlook for recovery. Additionally, the Meru Veterinary Unit attended to an adult male lion named King with a wire snare around his neck and treated an adult male common zebra for injuries sustained during a failed predatory attack. Both cases have a good prognosis. Lastly, the team administered preventive treatment against Trypanosomiasis for a security dog named Packer at the Meru Rhino Canine Unit.
Acknowledgement
We wish to express our sincere appreciation to Sylvie Chantecaille for the unwavering and generous financial support extended to the Meru Mobile Veterinary Unit through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. We are also grateful to Kenya Wildlife Service for providing vital oversight and logistical support under the leadership of the Senior Assistant Director-Eastern Conservation Area and the Head of KWS-Veterinary Services Department. Additionally, we appreciate our conservation partners, Elsa's Kopje management and team, and all the individuals who report wildlife cases and provided steadfast support during our interventions.
Case Details
June 2024
Case 1 – 03rd June 2024
Lion Snared
Meru National Park
The Head Guide at Elsa’s Kopje reported sighting an adult male lion named King with a snare around his neck.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
King was darted on the right rump and immobilized with 4 mgs Medetomidine and 300 mgs Ketamine The drugs quickly took effect and within 5 minutes he was completed sedated and lying on his left side. The pride was then pushed away to a safe distance using a vehicle. King was blindfolded to prevent ocular damage and visual excitation before proceeding with examination. The wire snare was loosely bound around his neck. Luckily, it had not caused severe injuries to the neck muscles except for abrasion wounds which were cleaned with water, rubbed with an antibiotic ointment and covered with an antibiotic spray to keep off flies. A contaminated wound on the right eyelid and a subcutaneous wound on the left forelimb were noted and treated accordingly. 5 mg Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously to control parasites along with intramuscular antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Anesthesia was reversed with an intramuscular injection of 20 mgs Atipamezole 1 hour and 45 minutes later. Within 5 minutes, palpebral reflexes returned, and after 15 minutes, King regained mobility and walked away to rejoin its pride. He has a good prognosis.
Prognosis
King has a good prognosis.
Case
Elephant
Post-mortem
Kinna Area
The Assistant Director of Meru National Park informed the SWT/KWS Meru Mobile Veterinary Unit about the sighting of the carcass of an adult elephant bull in the Kinna Area and requested the team to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Post-mortem findings
The carcass was found lying on its right side, with both tusks removed and secured by the KWS Meru team. Externally, the carcass exhibited good overall body condition, rated at 3.5 out of 5, indicated by welldeveloped muscle coverage. It was in an advanced stage 2 of autolysis, with the skin beginning to liquefy in several areas. Evidence of scavenging was noted in the inguinal area, parts of the perineal area, and the soles of the front limbs. Examination of the left side revealed no significant injuries, while assessment of the right side was impeded by the inability to reposition the carcass. Internally, the organs had liquefied, and bloodtinged fluid had leaked from the abdominal and thoracic cavities, preventing a thorough post-mortem examination.
Cause of death
The exact cause of death could not be definitively determined; however, it was suspected to be related to human-wildlife conflict in the region.
Security Dog
Technical Case
Meru National Park
The vital contribution of the security dogs in Meru National Park to wildlife conservation entails their crucial role in tracking poachers and detecting any illicit activities within the Meru ecosystem. Despite their significant contributions in combating poaching, they face the risk of Trypanosomiasis, a highly fatal disease transmitted by tsetse flies. To safeguard these valuable canines, the Meru Veterinary team took preventive action by administering vaccinating Packer, an adult female Dutch Shepard security dog stationed at the Meru Canine Unit, against Trypanosomiasis.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
Packer was allowed to become acquainted with the veterinarian beforehand to prevent any excitement during examination. From physical examination, it was noted that she was in good body condition (3.5/4), active, and alert. Her body weight was measured (30 kgs), and the appropriate drug dosages were calculated based on the recorded weight. She was manually restrained then 0.9mls of Triquin® (a combination of Quinapyramine sulphate & Quinapyramine chloride) was administered subcutaneously on the dorsal side of her neck.
Prognosis
There were no adverse reactions observed after the drug administration leading to a good prognosis for her recovery.
Case 4 – 27th June 2024
Zebra Natural Causes
Meru National Park
While on patrol, the SWT/KWS Meru Mobile Veterinary Unit encountered an adult common zebra stallion with a large, contaminated wound on its left flank and several wounds on its hindquarters.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The zebra was darted on the left neck muscles with 7 mgs Etorphine and 80 mgs Azaperone. Once the drugs took effect, he was swiftly secured and blindfolded to prevent eye damage and visual stimulation. He was also doused with water before physical examination to enhance thermoregulation Examination revealed he had sustained injuries to his left flank and hindquarters following a failed lion attack. The wounds were cleaned with water, necrotic tissues excised, and irrigated with Iodine. The wounds were also rubbed with antibiotic ointment and irrigated with Amoxicillin before being covered by an antibiotic spray to deter flies. Intramuscularly, the zebra received 60 mgs Dexamethasone sodium for pain and inflammation management, and 2,250 mgs Amoxicillin to combat bacterial infection. Subcutaneously, 5 mg Ivermectin was administered for parasite control. Anaesthesia was reversed 10 minutes later with 150 mgs Naltrexone administered via a prominent jugular vein. The zebra rose 2 minutes later and ran away to re-join the rest of its herd.
Prognosis
The zebra has a good prognosis
Rhino Bullet wound
Meru National Park
On 29/06/2024, the Meru Veterinary Unit was informed about a female white rhino sighted outside the confines of the Meru Rhino Sanctuary. The team promptly responded and positively identified her by her tag as Chemutai’s calf. Several weeks prior, 2 rhinos had strayed from the sanctuary into nearby community settlements, KWS had successfully relocated 1 back to safety. This rhino had eluded capture during the initial relocation efforts. Despite being in good general health, she had a pus oozing wound on both shoulders. Initial attempts to guide her back into the sanctuary were hindered by challenging terrain. Consequently, plans were made to undertake her treatment and relocation the following morning with support from the SWT/KWS Mt. Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit, various KWS teams, and other conservation partners.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The rhino was located with support from KWS fixed wing aircraft and darted on the right rump from a helicopter, immobilization was achieved with 4 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone The helicopter herded her into an open area that was easily accessible by vehicles for treatment and subsequent transport back to the rhino sanctuary. The drugs took effect after 5 minutes, and she lay recumbent on her left side. She was promptly secured and blindfolded to prevent visual stimulation then positioned on her sternum with her neck elevated to enhance respiration and facilitate treatment. Her body was generously doused with water to aid in cooling and to protect her from external heat. 25 mg Butorphanol tartrate was given intravenously as a partial reversal agent to counteract the negative effects of Etorphine. Intranasal oxygen insufflation was also initiated to improve cardiorespiratory function. Upon examination, she was found to be in good body condition (score of 4 out of 5). She had sustained a gunshot wound slightly above the shoulder area, with an entry point on her right side and an exit point on her left. The wound was examined and found to be nonlife-threatening, as there were no severe injuries to the body tissues and the wound had begun healing by secondary intention. The wounds were flushed with water and Hydrogen peroxide for debridement, irrigated with Iodine, infused with antibiotic ointment, packed with antibiotic pessaries for slow release, and treated with green clay for its healing properties. An antibiotic aerosol was applied to the wounds to deter flies and promote proper healing. Intramuscularly, the rhino received 4,000 mg Cyanocobalamin, 8,000 mg Phenylbutazone for pain and inflammation management, and 15,000 mg Amoxicillin for bacterial infection management. The white rhino was also ear-notched for easier monitoring.
Relocation, revival and prognosis
Anaesthesia was reversed with 100 mg Naltrexone administered intravenously and 50 mg administered intramuscularly. She was then pulled into a crate by using ropes and successfully relocated back to the Meru Rhino Sanctuary. She was released in good body condition and is expected to settle in well. Ground teams were instructed to monitor her progress and update the resident veterinarian. The prognosis for her recovery is favourable.
