SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Report for March 2024

SWT/KWS RIFT VALLEY MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT

MARCH 2024

March Report by Dr.

Titus Kaitho

Many parts south, north of Lake Naivasha and generally most of the Central Rift Conservation Area during this reporting period received sporadic showers. 10 Wildlife clinical case interventions were undertaken during March. Rift Valley Vet Unit visited the following areas; Naivasha Prison, Soysambu Conservancy, Kenya Nut, Kedong ranch, Evergreen farm, Marula Estates, Kedong ranch, Green Park, Kijabe farm, Sopa lodge, Kamere beach among other areas. Other than general routine case work and security patrols, the Unit also translocated various wildlife species from Kenya Nut farm, Evergreen farm to Tundra Conservancy.

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. Kenya Wildlife Service is acknowledged for general operational & leadership support. Wildlife Research & Training Institute (WRTI) supported the activities by hosting staff at WRTI.

Case Details

11-Mar-24

Conservancy

Causes

wire on the right front leg

examination the giraffe calf had a wound on the head and a broken ossicone

Treated 11-Mar-24 Giraffe Soysambu Conservancy Natural Causes The giraffe had suffered a deep and extensive wound on the cranium

Soysambu Conservancy Snared The hyena had been snared, injured and wounded by a wire on the neck

Treated 18-Mar-24 Hyena Soysambu Conservancy Snared The hyena had been snared by a wire on the neck Successfully Treated 19-Mar-24 Zebra Lake Elementaita Postmortem The zebra carcass was lying on left lateral recumbency. The carcass looked fresh

26-Mar-24

Naivasha Snared The giraffe had been snared by a long wire on the left hind leg

Treated 28-Mar-24

Naivasha HWC The zebra had a large open wound inflicted by a sharp object on the right hind leg

Treated 28-Mar-24

Naivasha Natural Causes The zebra was suffering a suppurative painful joint on the right front leg Successfully Treated

March 2024

Case 1 – 8th March 2024

Zebra Natural Causes

Naivasha Prison

This zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone. On examination the zebra had been injured and suffered a dislocation of the right front leg at PI & PII. The joint was swollen inflamed and immobile. The dislocation was the major cause of marked lameness. The zebra was administered 250mg Flumeg, 9,000mg Biocillin injection, and 40ml Catasol by IM route. 5ml Intermectin was also given by SQ route.

The anaesthesia was reversed with 75mg of Naltrezone and the zebra given a good prognosis.

Case 2 – 11th March 2024

Giraffe

Snared

This giraffe calf was darted with 5mg Etorphine plus 40mg Azaperone.

Soysambu Conservancy

The giraffe had been snared by a wire on the right front leg. Fortunately, the wire had caused only minor bruises/lacerations on the skin. The snare was removed then the giraffe was reversed from general anaesthesia using 100mg of Naltrexone by IV route and a ¼ of the dose by IM route to avoid re-narcotization.

Prognosis of this case is good.

.

Case 3 – 11th March 2024

Giraffe Natural Causes

Soysambu Conservancy

This giraffe calf was darted using 2.5mg Etorphine plus 10mg Azaperone. The giraffe calf had a wound on the head, a broken ossicone and peeled off skin on the forehead. The wound was infected & infested with maggots. We surgically removed the peeled off skin and cleaned the wound using water and tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent was applied. The giraffe was then given 250mg Flumeg, 9,000mg Biocillin, 40ml Catasol, all by IM route, and 5ml Intermectin by SQ route We reversed the giraffe calf from general anaesthesia using 75mg of Naltrexone by IV route and a ¼ of the dose by IM route to avoid re-narcotization.

Prognosis of this case is good

Case 4 – 11th March 2024 Giraffe Natural

Causes

Soysambu Conservancy

This giraffe calf was darted using 2.5mg Etorphine plus 10mg Azaperone. On examination the giraffe had suffered severe myasis, deep and extensive gangrenous wound on the cranium which was maggot infested.

Prognosis of the case was poor. The calf was put to rest.

Case 5 – 18th March 2024

Hyena Snared Soysambu Conservancy

We used a call back station equipment to call the hyena from the burrows. This hyena was darted with 280mg Ketamine plus 6mg Medetomidine. On examination the hyena had been injured by a wire snare around the neck. We cleaned the wound using water and rinsed the same with tincture of Iodine. Alamycin fly repellent was sprayed on the wound. The hyena was given 200mg Flumeg, 6,000mg Amoxicillin and 40ml Catasol by IM route as well as 4ml Ivermectin by SQ route We reversed the hyena from anaesthesia after one hour by using 20mg of Atipamezole given by IM route. Prognosis of this case is good.

Case 6 – 18th March 2024

Hyena

Snared

Soysambu Conservancy

This hyena was also called out of the burrows using a call back station equipment then darted with 280mg Ketamine plus 6mg Medetomidine. On examination the hyena had been snared, by a wire on the neck. Fortunately, the snare had only caused minor bruises on the neck. The skin lacerations were treated by administration of a fly repellant spray (Alamycin® Aerosal) applied topically. The anaesthesia was reversed after one hour by using 20mg of Atipamizole.

Prognosis is good.

Case 7 – 19th March 2024

Zebra Post-mortem Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary

This case was reported by Warden - Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary.

External Post-mortem Findings

The zebra carcass was lying on left lateral recumbency. The carcass looked fresh as the zebra had died at around 7.30 am on 19.03.2024.

• Rigor mortis had kicked in

• The carcass head, perineum and parts of the stomach had been mauled by dogs

• The carcass had a good body condition, body condition score of 4. Body scoring scale: 1 =very poor, 2=poor, 3=fair, 4 = Good, 5=Excellent

Internal Post-mortem Findings

▪ Yellow fat – on all parts – chronic granulomatous steatitis (yellow fat disease in a female zebra)

▪ Two large tumors - haemorrhagic masses approximate weight 3kg

▪ Pulmonary thrombosis

▪ Nephrosis – Kidney capsule adhered to the cortex of the kidneys

Cause of death

The immediate cause of death of this female zebra was severe pulmonary thrombosis.

Case 8 – 26th March 2024

Giraffe Snared Marula Estates, Naivasha

This male giraffe was darted using 13mg Etorphine plus 60mg Azaperone. He ran away for a distance and an additional dart of 13mg Etorphine plus 50mg Azaperone was necessary.

The giraffe had been snared by a long wire on the left hind leg. Fortunately, the snare wire had only caused minor skin lacerations. The snare was removed and the giraffe promptly reversed from general anaesthesia by rapid administration of 200mg Naltrexone administered by IV route and a ¼ of the dose given by IM route to avoid re-narcotization. Prognosis of this case is good.

Case 9 – 28th March 2024

Zebra

Human Wildlife Conflict

This zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone. The zebra had a large open wound inflicted by a sharp object on the right hind leg. The wound was cleaned with water and tincture of Iodine. A fly repellent was applied. The zebra was also administered 250mg Flumeg, 9,000mg Biocillin, 40ml Catasol by IM route as well as 5ml Ivermectin by SQ Route.

Prognosis of this case is favourable. .

Sanctuary Farm, Naivasha

Case 10 – 28th March 2024

Zebra Natural Causes Sanctuary Farm

This case was reported by Sanctuary farm staff.

Immobilization, examination & treatment

This zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine plus 80mg Azaperone. On examination the zebra was suffering a suppurative painful joint on the right front leg. The suppurative wound had been caused by a traumatic injury. We cleaned the wound using water and rinsed the same using tincture of Iodine. A fly repellant (Alamycin® Aerosal) was applied.

We also administered the following:

▪ Flumeg (Flunixin Meglumine 5%) 250 mg by IM route

▪ Biocillin- (Amoxicillin 15%) injection 9,000mg by IM route

▪ Intermectin® 1% w/v (Holland) (Ivermectin) 5mL by SQ route

▪ Catasol 40mL by IM route

Reversal

The zebra was reversed from anaesthesia with 75mg Naltrexone. Prognosis of this case is favourable.

On 08th to 28th March 2024

Veterinary & Capture team in mass capture of wildlife and translocation to Tundra Wildlife Conservancy

Olmorogi farm is one the farms under Kenya Nut Company and is home to buffalos, zebras, impalas, waterbucks and other wildlife species. The core business of the farm is prime beef production. Kenya Nut Company made an official request to Kenya Wildlife Service for wildlife to be relocated to ease pressure on pastureland and enable the private company to concentrate on beef and dairy production. Olmorogi farm is also a known hot spot area for wildlife poaching and bushmeat activities. The translocation would ultimately give the wildlife population a safer habitat and enhance wildlife population and genetic diversity in Tundra Wildlife Conservancy as well as resolve the rampant cases of human-wildlife conflict in the Naivasha area. A comprehensive mass capture and translocation of diverse wildlife species was carried out in Olmorogi Farm (Kenya Nut Company) and Evergreen Farm, Naivasha from 8th to 28th March 2024. Capture Methods

For chemical immobilization candidates were darted from a vehicle. A combination of an opioid (Etorphine) and Butyrophenone (Azaperone) were used at various dose rates depending on species, age and sex. Darted animals were loaded manually into the transport crate where they were reversed from anaesthesia Naltrexone was administered intravenously to reverse the effects of etorphine in immobilized animals.

▪ Mass Capture

For the mass capture method, a funnel shaped structure (boma) approximately 400 meters long and 100 m wide at the entry was constructed using customized heavy duty opaque plastic sheet erected on metallic poles. The mass capture boma was strategically constructed in an area well camouflaged in green bushes and dead ground enhanced capture. This mass capture system was erected along wildlife movement routes to enhance chances of animals getting in with minimum effort.

Targeted herds of wildlife species were gently driven by helicopter into the boma. Plastic curtains were drawn at the entry and animals were guided into the loading ramp situated at the exit of the boma. Here a truck fitted with a custom-made animal transport crate was positioned for loading and transporting the animals.

▪ Net capture

Linear capture nets were set along wildlife trails concealed in thickets. Additional drop nets were provided to increase chances of capture. Target species were driven by vehicles into the nets.

Captured animals were retrieved by experienced capture rangers and loaded manually into the trucks for transport.

Biological samples collection and processing

The capture and translocation exercise provided an opportunity to collect various samples from immobilized animals for bio banking and for future retrospective analyses. Samples including blood, ticks, hair and skin tissue were labelled and preserved appropriately in liquid nitrogen (frozen) or ethanol for future analysis.

Results

During this operation (phase III), six hundred and eleven (611) various wildlife species were successfully captured and translocated to Tundra conservancy as shown below.

• Impalas 362

• Common zebras 146

• Thomson gazelles 76

• Waterbucks 17

• Wildebeests 10

All animals were transported safely by road in customized crates to Tundra Wildlife Conservancy.

Release sites were selected carefully to ensure relocated animals had access to water and to ensure even distribution of wildlife within the Conservancy.

Conclusions and Recommendations:

There is urgent need to organize another operation for capture and translocation of hartebeests, Thomson gazelles and zebras in Evergreen avocado farm. These animals are in farmland and have no chances of survival due to intensive farming in Evergreen Avocados. This will be conducted using Mass Capture System when the helicopter is available to drive the wildlife.

Hartebeests, Thomson gazelles and other wildlife species can be translocated from Kedong ranch once we get consent from the landowners. Kedong ranch has been subdivided and heavily fenced and crops like avocados are growing on the ranch. The wildlife is facing habitat loss and human wildlife conflict in this ranch.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge KWS Director General Dr Erastus Kanga (PhD) and Director of Wildlife and Community Services at KWS Professor Charles Musyoki (PhD) for approvals, provision of funds, facilitation and coordination of the exercise from planning to execution stage as well as provided Helicopter support from KWS airwing for capture operation.

We acknowledge the team from KWS Veterinary and Capture Services department and species conservation program led by Dr Isaac Lekolool head of Veterinary and Capture services, Dr Domnic Mijele (PhD) head of wildlife capture and translocations and Linus Kariuki head of species conservation. Thank you for your leadership and guidance.

Thanks to all other KWS Veterinary personnel and Capture officers led by Dr Domnic Mijele, Dr Benard Rono and Dr Titus Kaitho of KWS Naivasha Station and Rift Valley MVU, Senior warden Mr Francis Mutuku and Senior Assistant Director Mr Joseph Dadacha and everyone else who took part in this exercise in one way or the other to make this exercise successful.