SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Report for May 2024
12 Cases in May 7 Poaching Cases
May Report by
Dr. Titus Kaitho
2 HWC Cases
Heavy rain fell across the Central Rift Conservation Area and the Lake Naivasha Area in May 2024. The SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 12 Cases. 7 of these cases involved snared animals. These included 2 animals (1 Masai giraffe and 1 zebra) in the Lake Naivasha Area and 5 animals (4 waterbucks and 1 buffalo) in Mt. Elgon National Park. Sadly, the snared buffalo died during treatment, and even more tragically, it was heavily pregnant and near term.
The team also attended to 2 human – wildlife cases. The 1st involved a common zebra foal with injuries on its hind legs sustained when it was trapped in a wire fence. Thankfully, the foal was successfully treated. The 2nd case involved the translocation of 14 ‘problematic’ common zebras from Naivasha Prisons and Naivasha Police to Solai/Tindress Wildlife Sanctuary. During the same capture/ translocation exercise, the team also captured and translocated 5 common elands from Soysambu Conservancy to Solai/Tindress Wildlife Sanctuary. All the animals were safely translocated and released in the Sanctuary save for 1 male adult eland that was found dead upon arrival at the release site. The team also attended to a lame common zebra in Sanctuary Farm and dewormed a security horse in Mt. Elgon National Park.
Acknowledgement
The Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary team greatly appreciates The Brady Hunter Foundation for funding the Unit through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT). The team acknowledges Angela Sheldrick, CEO -SWT for her unwavering support and interest in the work undertaken by the Mobile Veterinary Unit and thanks the Wildlife Research & Training Institute (WRTI) for hosting the Unit at WRTI - Naivasha. The team additionally thanks all the stakeholders and scouts who reported wildlife in distress and supported the veterinary interventions captured in this report. Thank you all.
Case Details
Date
Species Area Found
Reason
15-May 24 Zebra Sanctuary Farm Natural Causes Lame adult male common zebra with an open wound on the left hind leg
16-May 24 Zebra Sanctuary Farm HWC
Successfully treated
Male common zebra foal with injuries on it hindlimbs Successfully treated
17-May 24 Giraffe Oserengoni Sanctuary Snared Severely lame adult female Masai giraffe with a young calf less than 1 month old Prognosis poor
18-May 24 Zebra Marula Estates Snared
22-May 24 to 24-May 24 Zebra Naivasha Area HWC
23-May 24 Eland Soysambu Ranch Relocation
27-May-24 Waterbuck Mt. Elgon N.P. Snared
Adult male common zebra tethered to the ground by a rope snare
Successfully treated
Translocation of 14 ‘problematic’ zebras from Navisha Prisons and Naivasha Police Station to Tindress Wildlife Sanctuary Task Successful
Translocation of 5 elands from Soysambu Ranch to Tindres Wildlife Sanctuary Task Successful
Adult female waterbuck (No. 1) wounded by a wire snare around its neck
Successfully treated
28-May-24 Waterbuck Mt. Elgon N.P. Snared Adult female waterbuck (No. 2) wounded by a wire snare around its neck Successfully treated
28-May-24 Waterbuck
28-May-24 Buffalo
29-May-24 Waterbuck
29-May-24 Security Horse
Mt. Elgon N.P. Snared Adult female waterbuck (No. 3) with a wire snare around its neck Successfully treated
Mt. Elgon N.P. Snared Adult female buffalo with a nylon rope snare on the right front leg Poaching Death
Mt. Elgon N.P. Snared Adult female waterbuck (No. 4) with a wire snare around its neck Successfully treated
Mt. Elgon N.P. Technical Case Routine checkup and deworming of a security horse named Flamingo Successfully treated
SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
May 2024
Sanctuary farm staff reported an adult male common zebra exhibiting severe lameness
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The injured adult male common zebra was darted with 5mg Etorphine and 80mg Azaperone.
Upon examination, the zebra was found to have an open wound on the coronet region of the left hind leg. This injury was the cause of severe lameness. The wound was cleaned with water, rinsed with tincture of Iodine, and sprayed with a fly repellent. Additionally, 9,000 mg Amoxicillin, 250 mg Flunixin meglumine, and 40 ml Catasol were administered intramuscularly. 5 ml Ivermectin was also injected subcutaneously before anaesthesia was reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given via intramuscular and intravenous route.
Prognosis
The zebra has a good prognosis.
Case
The Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit was informed by Sanctuary Farm staff about a juvenile male common zebra seen with injuries on the hindlegs after being entangled in a wire fence.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The zebra foal was darted with 1.5mg Etorphine combined with 10mg Azaperone.
Close examination when the drugs took effect revealed wounds on both hind legs caused by the wire fence. The wounds were cleaned with water, rinsed with tincture of Iodine, and sprayed with a fly repellent. 3,000mg Amoxicillin, 100mg Flunixin Meglumine and 20ml Catasol were injected into different muscle sites. 2ml Ivermectin was also administered subcutaneously.
Anaesthesia was thereafter reversed with 75mg Naltrexone administered intramuscularly and intravenously
Prognosis
The zebra foal has a good prognosis
Giraffe Snared Oserengoni Wildlife Sanctuary
Game Valley Security Rangers reported a severely lame adult female Masai giraffe at Oserengoni Wildlife Sanctuary. The giraffe had a young calf that was less than 1 month old.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The giraffe was darted with 15mg Etorphine and 80mg Azaperone. Upon examination, the giraffe was found to have suffered a serious wound on right hind leg caused by a wire snare. The deep wound inflicted by the snare was at the level of the ligaments, it was also infected and suppurative. The wound was cleaned with water, rinsed with tincture of Iodine, and sprayed with a fly repellent. 15,000mg Amoxicillin, and 40ml Catasol were administered intramuscularly while 15ml Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously. Anaesthesia was reversed with 225mg Naltrexone, three-quarters by intravenous route and a quarter by intramuscular route to avoid re-narcotization.
Prognosis
The giraffe has a guarded prognosis.
Case 4 – 18th May 2024
Marula Estates
Marula Estates security staff reported sighting an adult male common zebra that was tethered to the ground by a rope snare.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The animal was darted with 5mg Etorphine and 80mg Azaperone. The zebra had a rope on its right front leg that was tethering it to the ground
The rope snare had caused severe bruises on the leg. Once the snare was removed, the wounds it had inflicted were cleaned with water, rinsed with tincture of Iodine, and sprayed with a fly repellent. 9,000mg
Amoxicillin, 250mg Flunixin Meglumine and 40ml Catasol were administered intramuscularly while 5ml Ivermectin was injected subcutaneously. Anaesthesia was reversed with 75mg Naltrexone administered by intramuscular and intravenous route.
Prognosis
The zebra has a good prognosis.
Case 5 – 22nd May 2024 to 24th May 2024
Zebra Human – Wildlife Conflict
Naivasha Prisons (Maximum, Medium and Women Prisons) and Naivasha Police station formally requested Kenya Wildlife Service management to translocate zebras that were roaming in these institutions. The animals were endangering human lives and raiding crops at the facilities.
Immobilisation and translocation
Each zebra was darted with a combination of 5mg Etorphine Hcl and 80mg Azaperone. Darting was done from a vehicle or on foot depending on terrain and accessibility. The average induction time was about 8 minutes. Once the drugs took effect the animals were quickly blind folded to minimize visual stimulation. They were then carried by stretcher and loaded onto a pick-up truck that ferried them to a lorry fitted with a translocation container.
The zebras were initially loaded in the first collection chamber/ compartment of the translocation container where anaesthesia was reversed with 75mg Naltrexone. After they were fully awake and standing in the truck, the zebras were moved to the holding compartment. On 22nd May 2024, 10 zebras were translocated by a truck from Naivasha Police Station and Naivasha Prisons to Solai Wildlife Sanctuary approximately 120Km away. On 24th May 2024, 4 zebras were captured by chemical immobilization at Naivasha Prison(s). All animals were safely released in Solai Wildlife Sanctuary.
Naivasha Prisons & Naivasha Police
Case 6 – 23rd May 2024
Eland Relocation
Soysambu Conservancy
During the same capture period highlighted under Case 5, the team captured five (5) common elands in Soysambu Conservancy and translocated them to Solai/ Tindress Wildlife Sanctuary.
Immobilisation and translocation
The five elands (1 male and 4 females) were captured on 23rd May 2024. Elands are usually very jittery necessitating the use of chase and dart method from a vehicle. Each adult eland was darted with a combination of 15mg Etorphine Hcl and 80mg Azaperone. The average induction time was about 9 to 10 minutes. The animals were blind folded and doused liberally with cold water to avoid hyperthermia and shock. When the animals were loaded into the translocation container, the anaesthesia was reversed with 200mg Naltrexone administered intravenously and an additional dose intramuscularly to avoid renarcotization. Recovery from anaesthesia was smooth and with no complications.
At the end of the day, the captured elands were translocated to Solai Wildlife Sanctuary (approximately 50Km away) where they were released. 4 out of 5 elands arrived safely at the destination and were released. Unfortunately, one (1) male eland was found dead upon arrival. The carcass was safely disposed of.
Waterbuck Snared
Mt. Elgon National Park
Mt. Elgon National Park management reported several snared animals in the park. This adult female waterbuck had a wire snare around its neck.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The waterbuck was darted with 6mg Etorphine and 60mg Azaperone. The animal had suffered injuries that were attributed to the wire snare around its neck.
Once the snare was cut loose, the animal’s wounds were cleaned with water, rinsed with tincture of Iodine, and sprayed with a fly repellent. 9,000mg Amoxicillin, 250mg Flunixin meglumine and 40ml Catasol were administered intramuscularly while 5ml Ivermectin was injected subcutaneously. Anaesthesia was reversed thereafter with 75mg Naltrexone given by IM and IV route.
Prognosis
The waterbuck has a good prognosis.
Waterbuck Snared
Mt. Elgon National Park
Mt. Elgon National Park management reported several snared animals in the park. This adult female waterbuck also had a wire snare around its neck.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The waterbuck was darted with 6mg Etorphine and 60mg Azaperone. The animal had suffered injuries caused by the wire snare around its neck.
Once the snare was cut loose, the animal’s wounds were cleaned with water, rinsed with tincture of Iodine, and sprayed with a fly repellent. 9,000mg Amoxicillin, 250mg Flunixin meglumine and 40ml Catasol were administered intramuscularly while 5ml Ivermectin was injected subcutaneously. Anaesthesia was reversed thereafter with 75 mg Naltrexone given by IM and IV route.
Prognosis
The waterbuck has a good prognosis
Waterbuck Snared
Mt. Elgon National Park
Mt. Elgon National Park management reported several snared animals in the park. This was the 3rd adult female waterbuck with a wire snare around its neck.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The waterbuck was darted with 6mg Etorphine and 60mg Azaperone.
The animal had a wire snare around its neck. Fortunately, the snare had not inflicted any injuries on the animal. Once the snare was removed, anaesthesia was reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given by IM and IV route.
Prognosis
The waterbuck has a good prognosis.
Case
Buffalo Snared
Mt. Elgon National Park
Mt. Elgon National Park management reported several snared animals in the park. This adult female buffalo had a nylon rope snare on its right front leg. The buffalo was heavily pregnant and almost near term.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The animal was darted with 9mg Etorphine and 70mg Azaperone. It had been wounded by the nylon rope snare on the right front leg
The wound was cleaned with water, rinsed with tincture of Iodine and sprayed with a fly repellent. 9,000mg Amoxicillin, 250mg Flunixin meglumine were administered intramuscularly while 8ml Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously.
Reversal
Sadly, the buffalo died due to anaesthesia complications. The team attempted to reverse anaesthesia with 250mg Naltrexone given intravenously and intramuscularly. Unfortunately, the buffalo died during the process. All blood vessels had collapsed, and it had gone into terminal shock and died.
Case 11 – 29th May 2024
Waterbuck Snared
Mt. Elgon National Park
Mt. Elgon National Park management reported several snared animals in the park. This was the 4th adult female waterbuck with a wire snare around its neck.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The waterbuck was darted with 6mg Etorphine and 60mg Azaperone. The animal had a wire snare around its neck. Fortunately, the snare had not inflicted any injuries on the animal.
Once the snare was removed, anaesthesia was reversed with 75 mg Naltrexone given by IM and IV route.
Prognosis
The waterbuck has a good prognosis.
Case 12 – 29th May 2024
Security Horse
Technical Case
Mt. Elgon National Park
An adult mare security horse in Mt. Elgon National Park, named Flamingo, was due for a routine checkup and deworming.
Examination and treatment
Flamingo was infested with ticks. The veterinarian recommended cleansing with Stelladone acaricide and shampoo. 10ml Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously and 40ml Catasol administered intramuscularly. The veterinarian also advised supplementation with hay adlib, maize germ and wheat bran.
Additionally, the addition of a mineral lick to the diet was recommended. According to the team’s assessment, Flamingo appeared to be lonely. Therefore, the team further recommend that she be translocated to Aberdare National Park due to welfare concerns. Social bounding was missing since the stallion (stall mate) was deceased. Translocation would also tap economies of scale in the care and maintenance of the security horses. The team recommend that the mare is moved together with care budget line.
