SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Report for February 2023

SWT/KWS RIFT VALLEY MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT

FEBRUARY 2023

14 Cases in February 7 Poaching Cases

February Report by Dr. Titus Kaitho

3 HWC Cases

The Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 14 Cases in February, 7 of these cases involved snared animals while 3 cases were related to human-wildlife conflict. In 3 separate cases, the Vet Unit translocated 36 animals in total. These included the translocation of 5 waterbucks from Flamingo Farm to Kingfisher Farm to mitigate human-wildlife conflict; the translocation of 21 giraffes from community land to Loldia Conservancy to mitigate human-wildlife conflict; and the relocation of 5 impalas, 4 ostriches and 1 wildebeest within Marula Estates.

Acknowledgement

We sincerely thank Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) and FIGS for their support and sponsorship. We also acknowledge Angela Sheldrick, CEO -SWT, for her unwavering support and interest in the work undertaken by the Vet Unit. Additionally, we appreciate Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for proving equipment, coordination and managerial oversight. We also acknowledge the Wildlife Research & Training Institute (WRTI) for hosting the Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit at WRTI. Furthermore, we sincerely thank all stakeholders and scouts who reported wildlife in distress and supported the translocation activities carried out in February. Thank you all.

Case Details

February 2023

Zebra Natural Causes Sanctuary Farm

Sanctuary Farm security scouts reported a female zebra foal with a bruised and swollen right hind leg.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The injured zebra foal was darted with 3 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone. 5 mg Butorphanol was administered intravenously to stabilize vital parameters while the animal was under anaesthesia. The zebra’s right hind leg had been injured, and it was bruised and inflamed. This injury was causing marked lameness. The wound was cleaned with water and rinsed with Iodine then sprayed with Alamycin fly repellent. 3,000 mg Amoxicillin, 150 mg Flunixin meglumine were administered intramuscularly while 3 ml Ivermectin was injected subcutaneously. Thereafter, anaesthesia was reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given intramuscularly and intravenously to avoid re-narcotization.

Prognosis

The zebra foal has a good prognosis.

Zebra Human Wildlife Conflict Sanctuary Farm

This case was also reported by Sanctuary Farm wildlife scouts; the sub-adult male zebra had suffered a sharp object cut/ wound on the left rump.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The zebra was darted with 5 mg Etorphine and 100 mg Azaperone. The zebra had suffered a sharp object cut/ wound on the left rump. The wound was cleaned with water, rinsed with Iodine and sprayed with Alamycin fly repellent. 4,500 mg Amoxicillin and 200 mg Flunixin meglumine were administered intramuscularly; 4 ml Ivermectin was injected subcutaneously then anaesthesia was reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route to avoid re-narcotization.

Prognosis

The zebra has a good prognosis.

Impala Snared Peppercorn Farm

The owner of Peppercorn Farm reported an adult male impala with a snare around the neck.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The impala was darted with 2.5 mg Etorphine and 10 mg Azaperone. It had a long wire snare around the neck. Fortunately, the impala had not sustained any injury. The snare was removed then anaesthesia was reversed with 50 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route.

Prognosis

The impala has a good prognosis.

Case 4 & 5 – Translocation of Waterbucks from Kingfisher Farm to Flamingo Farm RiparianArea on 03rd February 2022 and 06th February 2022

Several complaints had been made by Kingfisher Farm security and management to the Senior Warden-Hells N.P. regarding waterbucks that had caused bodily injuries to farm workers. The waterbucks were reported to be habitual crop raiders, and they had also injured farm workers harvesting baby corn. This urgent problem animal control request was addressed by capturing the conflict associated waterbucks in Kingfisher Farm and relocating them to the Flamingo Farm riparian area.

Immobilisation and translocation

On 03rd February 2023, 2 adult male waterbucks were immobilized with 6 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone. While under general anaesthesia, the animals were loaded onto a pick-up truck and ferried 8 km to Flamingo Farm. Anaesthesia was reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route. On 06th February 2023, 3 adult female waterbucks were also immobilized and translocated to the same release site.

Prognosis

The exercise was a success thanks to the co-operation and support from the management and staff of Kingfisher farm. KWS Hells Gate N.P. staff also supported the translocation exercise. All the 5 waterbucks were safely released at the Flamingo Farm riparian area.

Case 6 –

Translocation of Masai Giraffes from community land to Loldia Conservancy from 08th February 2023 to 13th February 2023

Giraffes have faced human related threats due to habitat loss as the need for arable land has increased. This scenario has escalated human wildlife conflict which threatens the survival of the giraffe population in Naivasha.

There have been increased cases of snaring, spearing, and injuries inflicted with sharp objects as giraffe poaching and intolerance by the local communities has risen. This necessitated translocation of the remnant population of giraffes in community land to ensure their survival in line with the national recovery and action plan for giraffe 2023-2027. A total of twenty-one (21) giraffes were rescued from the human associated danger of poaching and injuries, and moved to various secure land parcels meant for wildlife conservation where other giraffes thrive.

Immobilisation and translocation

Adult giraffes were each darted with 15 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone while each sub-adult giraffe was darted with 13 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone. The average induction time was approx. 8-9 minutes. Giraffe were either brought down by roping or went down themselves, general anaesthesia was quickly reversed thereafter with 250 mg Naltrexone for full reversal. The giraffes were then quickly blind folded, physically restrained and their ears plugged.

Giraffes that had suffered poaching related injuries including wounding by sharp objects were treated Ropes were then used to guide the giraffes carefully and skilfully into loading trolleys/crates. The crates were later towed with a farm tractor to a canter lorry fitted with a wooden crate. Giraffes were moved in pairs or a single giraffe per trip. The canter lorry was lined with a layer of wet/loose soil as beddings to avoid animals slipping and falling. A total of 12 giraffes were captured and translocated to Loldia conservancy from community land in Kipkonyo and Tangi Mbilli villages of Moi Ndabi location, and areas adjacent to Crater Lake Conservancy and Mundui Estates. Individual giraffes translocated were 6 males and 6 females among which were 2 sub adult females and 1 sub adult male. 4 adult male giraffes were driven to Mundui Estates Conservancy while 5 other adult males were driven to Wileli Wildlife Conservancy

Acknowledgement

The Safari Collection Foundation, Giraffe Manor, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), Kenya Wildlife Service, Save the Giraffe Now (SGN), Loldia Conservancy, Wildlife Research & Training Institute (WRTI) and Nation Media Group supported the rescue and translocation exercise in various ways. These partnerships are greatly valued, and the support you all provided is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Case 7 – 10th February 2023

Buffalo Snared Lentolia Conservancy

The owners of Lentolia Conservancy reported a sub-adult female buffalo with a long winch wire snare around the neck

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

This buffalo calf was darted with 4.5 mg Etorphine and 30 mg Azaperone. The calf had a long winch wire snare around the neck. Fortunately, the buffalo had not sustained any injury. The snare was removed then anaesthesia was reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given intravenously and intramuscularly The buffalo has a good prognosis.

Case 8 – 12th February 2023

Waterbuck

Snared

Crater Lake Conservancy

An adult female waterbuck with a wire snare around its neck and hind left leg was reported by KWS Naivasha Station staff. The waterbuck was darted with 6 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone. Fortunately, the waterbuck had only suffered some minor bruises. The snare was removed then anaesthesia was reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route to avoid re-narcotization. The waterbuck has a good prognosis

Case 9 & 10 –

Translocation of Impalas, Ostriches, and a Wildebeest in Marula Estates from 14th February 2023 to 16th February 2023

Cesare area in Marula estate is home to various wildlife species such as impala, zebra, ostrich, wildebeest, Thompson gazelle among others. The proprietor requested KWS to translocate 8 ostriches, 6 specific male impalas and 1 male wildebeest to Hill cake area, Corner Mbaya area and Kipiro areas respectively

Immobilisation, capture and translocation

1 adult male ostrich was chemically immobilized by darting from a vehicle with 4mg Etorphine and 80 mg Ketamine while the other 5 ostriches (comprising 3 adult females, 1 adult male and 1 female chick) were captured with nets 2 of the 3 adult female ostriches that were captured with nets run for a distance and were quite exhausted. Sadly, both ostriches died due to exhaustion despite the team’s best efforts. The surviving adult ostriches were injected with 80 mg Ketamine upon capture, they were then loaded onto a lorry. The chick was lured into the net, captured by hand, and physically restrained until release.

The 5 adult male impalas were chemically immobilized by darting from a vehicle with 2.0-2.5 mg Etorphine and 10 mg Azaperone Anaesthesia for each of the animals was reversed with 40 mg Naltrexone immediately after it went down. Each impala also received Dexamethasone and Vitamin E / selenium intramuscularly. The impalas were then loaded onto a translocation lorry.

The wildebeest was darted with 6 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone. Anaesthesia was reversed with 120 mg Naltrexone once it had been loaded onto the lorry. The animals were then driven from the loading site in Cesare to their respective release sites in Hill cake and Corner Mbaya area (approx. 8 Km) and Kipiro (approx. 15 Km). The translocation team successfully captured and translocated 4 Ostriches, 5 adult male Impalas, and 1 adult male wildebeest.

Acknowledgement

The Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit wishes to thank the following partners for their collaboration in ensuring the exercise was successful: Kenya Wildlife Service Director General and Management; Kenya Wildlife Service Veterinary Services & Species Programme Departments and Marula Estates Ltd

Case 11 – 20th February 2023

Waterbuck Snared Crescent Island

Sanctuary Farm scouts reported an adult female waterbuck with a wire snare around the neck.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The snared waterbuck was darted with 6 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone. The waterbuck had a long wire snare around the neck. Fortunately, the animal had only suffered some minor bruises. The snare was removed then anaesthesia was reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route to avoid re-

Case 12 – 21st February 2023

Giraffe Snared Hippo Point

An adult female giraffe snared on the front and hind legs was reported by Ms Casidra. The Vet Unit attempted to immobilize the giraffe with 13 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone. Unfortunately, the team failed to stop the powerful and huge giraffe as they attempted to rope it down, the giraffe ran into the lake and regrettably drowned. The following day, the team retrieved the carcass from the lake for safe disposal.

Case 13 – 24th February 2023

Buffalo Snared Hell’s Gate National Park

While on routine patrol, KWS Hell’s Gate National Park security staff reported an adult male buffalo that was tethered to a tree by a snare on the left front limb and neck.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The snared buffalo was darted with 9 mg Etorphine and 70 mg Azaperone. The buffalo had a winch wire snare around its neck which also entangled the horn and left front leg. Fortunately, the vet unit arrived at the scene in good time since the snare was severely strangulating the buffalo. The snare was removed then anaesthesia was reversed with 200 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route. The buffalo has a good prognosis.

Case 14 – 28th February 2023

Zebra Snared

Maragwa Area, Marula Estates

The SWT/KWS de-snaring unit reported an adult female zebra with a wire snare around its left front leg. The zebra was darted with 5 mg Etorphine and 80 mg Azaperone. It had a wire snare on the front left leg that had inflicted some minor bruising. The snare was removed then the wounded area was sprayed with a fly repellent. Anaesthesia was thereafter reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route. The zebra has a good prognosis.