SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Report for November 2022

Introduction

1 Case in November 0 Poaching Cases 1 Rhino Case

The Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit was on leave in November 2022, but nonetheless Dr. Titus Kaitho and other KWS Veterinarians namely: Dr. Duncan Amiga, Dr. Jeremiah Poghon, Dr. Campaign Limo, and Dr. Tabitha Gathoni were involved in trimming the horn of a problematic white rhino bull in Lake Nakuru National Park on 25th November 2022.

Acknowledgement

Based out of Naivasha, with KWS veterinarian Dr. Titus Kaitho at the helm, the Rift Valley Unit serves wildlife in the Lake Naivasha – Elementaita – Nakuru Region, the Bogoria – Baringo Region and western Kenya The Rift Valley Veterinary Unit is supported by FIGS through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The Unit is hosted by Wildlife Research & Training Institute (WRTI) in Naivasha, and it is overseen by the Kenya Wildlife Service Veterinary Department.

Case Details

Rhino Lake Nakuru N.P. Technical Case Trimming the horn of a problematic white rhino bull Task successful

November Report by Dr. Titus Kaitho

SWT/KWS Rift Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations November 2022

Horn Trimming of a Problematic White Rhino Bull in Lake Nakuru National Park on 25th November 2022

One of the primary reasons a rhino has a horn is to fight other rhinos over territory and females. These fights result in grievous wounds being sustained or death, horn trimming helps to prevent such occurrences. After several incidents of grave injuries to white rhinos in Lake Nakuru National Park caused by an aggressive older male, the KWS Director General approved the trimming of the aggressive male’s horn as a mitigation measure to deter recurrent fights with other white rhinos.

Immobilisation and horn trimming

After the target rhino was positively identified, he was driven to open ground and darted from a helicopter with 5.5 mgs Etorphine and 80 mgs Azaperone. The dart landed on the left rump, and he went down on sternal recumbency 12 minutes later. The rhino bull was then secured, blindfold and 50 mgs Butorphanol tartrate administered intravenously to enhance respiration. He was also doused with water to cool his body while vital parameters were monitored to ensure there were no anaesthetic complications.

The front horn was trimmed with a wire saw to about 7 finger widths from the base before anaesthesia was reversed with 100 mgs Naltrexone administered intravenously and intramuscularly. The team observed the rhino until he was fully awake.