SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Report for December 2024
DECEMBER 2024
8 Cases in December 5 Poaching Cases
December Report by Dr. Titus Kaitho
The Unit attended to 8 wildlife clinical case interventions during the month of December. Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit conducted general clinical work and routine patrols in the following areas; Hippo Point, Kongoni Game Valley, Oserengoni Wildlife Sanctuary, KALRO – DTI, WRTI-Annex, Crate Lake Wildlife Conservancy, Mundui Estates, Lentolia Wildlife Conservancy, Kedong Ranch among other areas.
Acknowledgement
We sincerely thank Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for support, resources & sponsorship of the Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit. Chief Executive Officer SWT, Angela Sheldrick, we acknowledge your unwavering support and interest in the work undertaken by the Mobile Veterinary Unit. Kenya Wildlife Service is acknowledged for general operational & leadership support. Wildlife Research & Training Institute (WRTI) supported the activities by hosting staff at WRTI. We sincerely thank all stakeholders and scouts and all who reported wildlife cases in distress. Thank you all.
Case Details
SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
December 2024
Case
Zebra Snared KALRO, Naivasha
This case was reported by KALRO – water staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the female zebra had been snared and wounded by a wire snare on the neck. The neck had suffered a dislocation. The wound was cleaned using plenty of water and rinsed with tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent (Alamycin® Aerosol) was also applied
In addition, the zebra was also administered 9,000mg Betamox by IM route, 300mg Flumeg by IM route, 5ml Noromectin by SQ route and 40ml Butasal by IM route
Reversal and prognosis
The zebra was reversed from anaesthesia using 75mg of Naltrexone given by IM and IV route.
Prognosis of the case is guarded.
Buffalo Snared Hippo Conservancy, Naivasha
This case was reported by Hippo Point by the owner of the property Ms Kasidra
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The buffalo cow was darted using 8mg Etorphine Hcl plus 80mg Azaperone.
On examination the buffalo with a young calf and had been snared and wounded by a wire on left hind leg. The wound was suppurative and infected. The septic wound was cleaned using water and rinsed with tincture of Iodine. A fly repellant (Alamycin® Aerosol) was a;sp applied.
In addition, the zebra was also administered 24,000mg Alamycin by IM route, 500mg Flumeg by IM route, 8ml Noromectin by SQ route and 60ml Butasal by IM route
Reversal and prognosis
The buffalo was reversed from anaesthesia using 75mg of Naltrexone given by IM and IV route.
Two male buffaloes were freely roaming and grazing on this densely populated residential area in Naivasha town causing a real threat to people’s lives at Kihoto. Kenya Wildlife Service Naivasha PAC team requested help to save the lives of citizens, and the Unit assisted in the translocation.
Immobilisation and relocation
The buffaloes were living in the flooded area of Kihoto during the daytime. At night they were roaming and grazing on the residential area. To allow smooth capture and recovery the bulls were driven by a helicopter to dry land – WRTI – Annex.
The bulls were darted using 9mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone darts. A top up with 200mg Ketamine was carried out to attain good level and stable anaesthesia. The buffaloes were manually loaded into pick - ups and translocated under general anaesthesia on the pick - up trucks to Hells Gate NP.
Reversal and prognosis
The buffalos were reversed from anaesthesia using 200mg Naltrexone given by IV route and ¼ of the dose by IM route to avoid re-narcotization. Translocation went well and they should adapt well in their new environment.
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Zebra
Human-Wildlife Conflict
This case was reported by Kedong ranch staff
Immobilisation and examination
Kedong Ranch
This zebra was hand injected using 5mg etorphine plus 60mg Azaperone to facilitate examination.
On clinical examination, the zebra had suffered severe head & leg injuries due to entanglement in wire fences. The case had a poor prognosis.
Prognosis and management
Due to the poor prognosis, the zebra was put to rest to alleviate further suffering.
The carcass was safely disposed at Kedong ranch.
Case
Zebra Snared WRTI, Naivasha
This case was reported by WRTI security staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This male zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone.
The zebra had been snared by along wire on the right hind leg. Fortunately, the snare wire had only caused minor skin lacerations and so serious injuries so did not require any treatments.
Reversal and prognosis
The zebra was promptly reversed from general anaesthesia by administration of 75mg of Naltrexone administered by IV route and a ¼ of the dose given by IM route to avoid re-narcotization.
The prognosis of this case is good.
Case
This case was reported by Kongoni Game Valley staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This female giraffe was darted using 15mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone.
The giraffe had been snared by along wire on the left hind leg. Fortunately, the snare wire had caused minor skin lacerations. As there were no serious injuries the giraffe required no additional treatment.
Reversal and prognosis
The giraffe was promptly reversed from general anaesthesia by rapid administration of 250mg of Naltrexone administered by IV route and a ¼ of the dose given by IM route to avoid re-narcotization.
Prognosis of the case is good .
Giraffe Snared
Kongoni Game Valley, Naivasha
This case was reported by WRTI security staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This male zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone. The lameness was due to a left hind leg injury on the hoof due to a foreign body. And the hooves were thoroughly examined for any injuries. The zebra was then administered the following;
i. Alamycin 300 LA® (Oxytetracycline LA 300mg/ml) injection 18,000mg by IM route
ii. Flumeg (Flunixin Meglumine 5%) 300 mg by IM route
iii. Noromectin® 1% w/v (Ivermectin) 5mL by SQ route
iv. Butasal® 40mL by IM route
Reversal and prognosis
The zebra was reversed from anaesthesia by administration of 75mg of Naltrexone. Prognosis is good.
Naivasha
This case was reported by Lentolia Wildlife conservancy staff
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
This female zebra was darted using 12mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone The giraffe had been snared by a wire on the right front leg. The wound was suppurative and infected. The septic wound was cleaned using water and rinsed with tincture of iodine. A fly repellant (Alamycin® Aerosol) was applied. The following were also administered;
i. Alamycin 300 LA® (Oxytetracycline LA 300mg/ml) injection 24,000mg by IM route
ii. Flumeg (Flunixin Meglumine 5%) 500 mg by IM route
iii. Noromectin® 1% w/v (Ivermectin) 10ml by SQ route
iv. Butasal® 60ml by IM route
Reversal and prognosis
The giraffe was reversed from anaesthesia by administration of 250mg of Naltrexone. Prognosis is good.
