SWT/KWS MT. KENYA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT

MAY 2023

Introduction

6 Cases in May

May Report by Dr.

Jeremiah Poghon

2 Rhino Case 2 Elephant Cases

In May 2023, the Mt. Kenya Wildlife Veterinary Unit attended to 6 cases in the Laikipia ecosystem and Mt. Kenya region.

The team treated an elephant cow for lameness at the Ewaso trading centre; de-snared a Grevy’s zebra stallion at Mpala Research Centre; translocated 6 ‘problem elephants’ from Solio and Chaka areas in Nyeri County to Tsavo; treated 1 male white rhino and relocated 2 surrogate female southern white rhinos from the larger Ol-Pejeta Conservancy to a boma; and treated a Ruppel’s vulture for suspected poisoning.

Acknowledgement

The Mt. Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit acknowledges the Senior Assistant Director, Mountain Conservation Area and the Head of Veterinary Services, Kenya Wildlife Service for providing leadership and technical expertise. The Unit also appreciates Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for providing the financial and logistics support that enables the Unit to deliver its mandate.

Case Details

May 2023

Elephant Natural Causes Ewaso Center, Northern Laikipia

An adult elephant cow with serious lameness of the left hind leg was reported by community scouts. The vet team rushed to the area, but they were not able to find the elephant They requested the SWT helicopter to assist in the search for the injured elephant.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The helicopter arrived a short while later and quickly located the injured animal. The elephant was darted from the helicopter and immobilised with 16 mgs Etorphine hydrochloride. The dart was delivered on the musculature of the right rump. Induction time was 7 minutes, and the animal went down in left lateral recumbency. The right hind limb was swollen from the thigh area downward and painful to palpate. The injury was suspected to have been caused by dislocation of the ankle joint. Long-acting antibiotics were given intramuscularly and Phenylbutazone was also administered to manage pain and inflammation. Vitamin B12 complex was also administered. Anaesthesia was reversed with 200 mg Naltrexone administered through the ear vein. The elephant was then assisted to stand.

Prognosis

The elephant cow has a guarded prognosis.

Zebra Snared

Mpala Wildlife Conservancy

A Grevy’s zebra stallion with a tight wire snare around the left hindlimb was spotted at Mpala Research Center.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The Veterinary team found the Zebra at an airstrip. It was darted from a vehicle with 6 mg Etorphine hydrochloride and 60 mg Azaperone tartrate. The dart landed on the musculature of the right thigh. It took about 6 minutes for the drugs to take full effect, and the animal went down on lateral recumbency. The eyes were covered with a towel, and the zebra’s body was doused with water to cool the animal down. The wire snare was cut loose then the wound was cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide mixed with water, necrotic tissues were surgically exercised then the wound was sprayed with Oxytetracycline wound spray and covered with green wound healing clay. Long-acting antibiotics and anti-inflammatories were administered parenterally. Thereafter, anaesthesia was reversed with 120 mg Naltrexone injected intravenously. The animal recovered, stood after 2 minutes, and ran away.

Prognosis

The Grevy’s zebra has a good prognosis.

Elephant Human-Wildlife Conflict - Relocation Nyeri County

Human-Elephant conflict has been rampant in areas neighbouring Solio ranch and Chaka, and several complaints have been raised by the community regarding crop destruction by elephants. KWS Headquarters approved the translocation of 6 ‘problem elephants’ upon request by the local KWS community warden. The Veterinary and Capture Department was tasked with translocating the 6 elephant bulls to Tsavo. The Mt Kenya Mobile Veterinary Unit teamed up with the Capture Unit from KWS Headquarters in this exercise.

Immobilisation and translocation

The elephants were first located by a fixed wing aircraft. The capture team was then called in to set up capture equipment nearby. Each elephant was darted from a helicopter and immobilized with 18-20 mgs Etorphine hydrochloride. The elephant was then herded to a clearing by the helicopter before it went down. Induction time was between 7-20 minutes. The animal was loaded onto a flatbed truck with a crane and transported to the recovery and transport container. The elephant was placed on a flat trailer with rollers and pulled into the recovery container. Anaesthesia was reversed then the elephant was assisted to stand and pushed into the transport container. The elephants were immediately translocated to Tsavo and released. All the 6 elephant bulls were released successfully.

Rhino Natural Causes Ol-Pejeta Conservancy

The report was made by Rangers of that a white rhino was observed with injury of the hind limb near the hock joint. The rhino was being monitored by rangers and was easily found. A helicopter was called in from Nairobi KWS airwing to assist in immobilization.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The rhino disappeared shortly but was found after a short search by a helicopter The rhino was immobilised using 4.5mgs Etrophine hydrochloride and 80mgs Azaperone delivered using a Dan-Inject CO2 rifle, fired from a helicopter into the right rump. The rhino was pushed by a helicopter to a clearing before going down. Induction time was 7 minutes and the animal went down in left lateral recumbency.

The injury on the left hind limb caused by filariasis was cleaned and necrotic tissues removed. The wound was flushed with iodine and covered with green clay. Long-acting antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs were administered parenterally. Water was poured on the animal to keep him cool and oxygen supplementation provided. Samples were collected for storage and laboratory analysis.

Prognosis

Prognosis is good.

Unfortunately there are no pictures available for this case

Rhino Relocation Ol-Pejeta Conservancy

The Northern White Rhino Bio-rescue Project aims to save the species from extinction by artificially collecting sperm and ova from the few remaining northern white rhinos, fertilising them and using a southern white rhino surrogate to carry the embryo. The southern white’s surrogates are carefully selected and recruited into the program. The selected females are captured and moved to isolated bomas to prevent breeding with other males. 2 female surrogates were captured from the larger Ol-pejeta Conservancy and moved to a boma.

Immobilisation and translocation

Each rhino was darted from a helicopter and immobilized with 4.5 mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 80 mgs Azaperone. The dart was delivered on the musculature of the right rump. The rhinos were pushed into a clearing by helicopter before they went down. Induction time was between 7-10 minutes. The rhinos were then quickly secured, blind folded and doused with water to cool them down. Blood, faecal and tissue samples were collected then anaesthesia was reversed. Each rhino was carefully guided into a translocation crate. The crates were then loaded, one at a time, onto a truck. The rhinos were then transported to a fenced off boma where they were released. The 2 southern white rhinos are among several surrogates that will be introduced into the enclosure to assist in saving the endangered northern white rhino.