SWT/KWS RIFT VALLEY MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
JANUARY 2023
Introduction
14 Cases in January
August Report by Dr. Titus Kaitho
6 Poaching Cases
1 Elephant Case
Most of the areas south and north of Lake Naivasha and the Central Rift Conservation Area in general were generally dry in January. The Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 14 cases in January 2023. These comprised 3 buffalo cases, 1 security dog case, 5 zebra cases, 1 ostrich case, 2 waterbuck cases, 1 giraffe case and 1 elephant case. 5 cases in total were related to poaching.
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. Thank you all.
Case Details
SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
January 2023
Case 1 – 01st January 2023
Buffalo Snared Impala Area - Kedong Ranch
This female buffalo calf that had been snared with a winch wire and wounded on the right hind leg was reported by Ms Ellis. The buffalo was darted with 5.5 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone. The wound on the right hind leg was cleaned with water, rinsed with Iodine, and sprayed with Alamycin to repel flies. 6,000 mg Amoxicillin, 250 mg Flunixin meglumine and 30 ml Catasol were administered intramuscularly and 6 ml Ivermectin given subcutaneously. Anaesthesia was then reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route. The buffalo calf has a favourable to guarded prognosis.
Case 2 – 01st January 2023
Security Dog Natural Causes WRTI Canine Unit
Bella, a security dog puppy, had colitis (blood-tinged stool) due to GIT infection.
She was treated with 2 ml Penistrep 20/20 for 3/7 days, 2 mg Dexamethasone for 3/7 days and 4 ml Catasol for 3/7 days. The Veterinarian reviewed her after treatment and recovery was excellent.
Case 3 – 03rd January 2023
Zebra Snared Marula Estates
The Marula Estate security team reported an adult female zebra which had been wounded by a winch wire snare on its left hind leg. The zebra was darted with 5 mg Etorphine and 100 mg Azaperone. The snare was removed then the wound was cleaned with water and Iodine, the wound was then sprayed with Alamycin fly repellent. 6,000 mg Amoxicillin and 250 mg Flunixin meglumine was administered intramuscularly while 6 ml Ivermectin injected subcutaneously. Anaesthesia was reversed thereafter with 75 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route. The zebra has a good prognosis.
Case 4 – 03rd January 2023
Buffalo Natural Causes Marula Estates
This case was also reported by the Marula Estate security team. The adult female buffalo had marked lameness due to an injured and inflamed front left leg. The buffalo was darted with 9 mg Etorphine and 80 mg Azaperone. 12,000 mg Oxytetracycline and 500 mg Flunixin meglumine were administered intramuscularly while 8 ml Ivermectin was given subcutaneously. Anaesthesia was reversed with 125 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route to avoid re-narcotization. The buffalo has a good prognosis.
Case 5 – 05th January 2023
Ostrich Natural Causes Lake Bogoria Spa Resort
The Senior Warden Baringo County reported a male ostrich with a chronic wound on the toe of the left leg which was causing marked lameness. The ostrich was darted with 4 mg Etorphine and 80 mg Ketamine. The Veterinarian suspected that the lesion was neoplastic. The wound was cleaned with water, rinsed with Iodine and sprayed with Alamycin fly repellent. 6,000 mg Amoxicillin, 500 mg Flunixin meglumine and 20 ml Catasol were administered intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was then reversed with 100 mg Naltrexone via IV and IM route. The ostrich has a guarded to poor prognosis.
Case 6 – 06th January 2023
Zebra Snared
Kanyeri Area – Marula Estates
The Marula Estates security team reported an adult female zebra with a wire snare around the neck, its left hind leg had also been amputated by a wire snare. The zebra was darted with 5 mg Etorphine and 100 mg Azaperone. The snare was removed then 6,000 mg Amoxicillin, 500 mg Flunixin meglumine and 20 ml Catasol were administered intramuscularly and 6 ml Ivermectin subcutaneously. Anaesthesia was reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route. The zebra has a guarded prognosis.
Waterbuck Natural Causes KWS Naivasha Station
The KWS Sub-County Warden – Naivasha reported an injured male waterbuck calf
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The waterbuck calf was manually restrained then 10 mg Azaperone was injected intramuscularly to reduce handling stress. Physical examination revealed that the waterbuck calf had suffered skin bruises on the left hind leg. The wounds were cleaned with water, rinsed with Iodine then sprayed with Alamycin fly repellent 3,000 mg Amoxicillin and 100 mg Flunixin Meglumine were administered intramuscularly while 2 ml Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously.
Relocation and prognosis
The waterbuck calf was moved from the KWS Naivasha Station to the Lake Naivasha Country Club for reunion with its mother and rest of the herd at the lake waterfront. The calf has a good prognosis.
Zebra Natural Causes Elsamere Area
This female zebra foal with a swollen left hind leg was reported by Elasemere conservation management
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The zebra foal was darted with 1.5 mg Etorphine and 5 mg Azaperone. The zebra’s left hind leg was swollen at the calcaneus region and filled with puss. The abscess was lanced and the pus drained, it was then cleaned with water and rinsed with Iodine before Alamycin fly repellent was sprayed onto it 3,000 mg Amoxicillin, 100 mg Flunixin meglumine and 10 ml Catasol was administered intramuscularly and 1 ml Ivermectin given administered subcutaneously. Anaesthesia was reversed with 50 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route.
Prognosis
The zebra foal has a guarded prognosis.
Zebra
Natural Causes Peppercorn Farm
Peppercorn farm owners reported an adult female zebra that was recumbent
Examination
The zebra was found recumbent, moribund and in a coma. Sadly, this zebra had a poor prognosis; therefore, it was put to rest with 4,000 mg Sodium pentobarbitone to alleviate further suffering & pain. The carcass was safely disposed at WRTI Game farm
Waterbuck
Natural Causes
The Senior Warden Baringo County reported an injured male waterbuck.
Examination
Lake Bogoria
The adult male waterbuck was immobilized with 6 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone. The waterbuck had suffered a complete open fracture of the hind leg. Sadly, this waterbuck had a poor prognosis. It was put to rest with 4,000mg Sodium pentobarbitone administered intravenously to alleviate further pain & suffering
Giraffe Arrow Kipkonyo Village - Duro area
This case was reported by the area chief.
Post-mortem findings
The carcass of the adult male Masai giraffe was found lying on left lateral recumbency in the homestead of Hon. Paraijo – Member of Parliament for Narok North.
i. The body condition of the giraffe was excellent, score of 5. Body scoring scale 1= very poor, 2 = poor, 3= Fair, 4= good, 5=Excellent.
ii. The giraffe had suffered a deep cut on the right hind leg about 10 cm in depth. Some blood was oozing from the cut. The extensor ligament(s) of the right hind leg had been cut off using a sharp object. The foot could not keep an extended position.
iii. The giraffe had also suffered another deep cut on the right front leg.
iv. The giraffe had been shot with an arrow on the right scapula area.
Cause of death
The cause of dead was hypovolemic shock due to massive blood loss due to deep cuts on the legs. The carcass was dismembered, loaded onto a tipper truck, and safely disposed at Hells gate National Park.
Case 12 – 16th January 2023
Buffalo Snared Kongoni Game Valley
This buffalo with a long wire snare around the neck was reported by Kongoni Game Valley security scouts
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The buffalo was darted with 9 mg Etorphine and 100 mg Azaperone. It had a long wire snare around the neck. Luckily, the snare had not inflicted any injury. The snare was removed then anaesthesia was reversed with 100 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route. The buffalo has a good prognosis.
Case 13 – 17th January 2023
Zebra Snared Kedong Ranch
An adult female zebra that had been snared and wounded on the right front leg by a cable snare was reported by the Veterinary Unit’s informer. The zebra was darted with 5 mg Etorphine and 100 mg Azaperone. The wound was cleaned with water, rinsed with Iodine then sprayed with Alamycin fly repellent.12,000 mg Oxytetracycline and 250 mg Flunixin meglumine were administered intramuscularly while 5 ml Ivermectin was injected subcutaneously before anaesthesia was reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given by IV & IM route. The zebra has a good prognosis.
