Case 29 – 30th November 2022

This young waterbuck was reported having a wire around the neck. A KWS team was requested to immobilise him and remove the life-threatening snare.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

Immobilization was achieved using a Dart-gun, with a dart filled with 5mg Etorphine and 30mg Azaperone. It was later reversed using 1.5ml of Naltrexone intravenously.

The wire around the neck was cut free using wire cutters. An antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory were also administered.

Prognosis

Good No physical injuries were observed.

This baby white rhino was found abandoned, lying and weak. She was recumbent on arrival at The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The rhino was hydrated and also administered with glucose and normal saline solutions enabling her to stand and walk around though with a weak gait. She collapsed later in the night and died without any other signs of sickness.

Post-mortem Examination

• Good body condition

• Multiples ticks around the teats

• Slightly sunken eyes

• Inflammation of the lungs with congestion

• Bronchi and bronchioles filled with dark blood

• Congestion in the liver

• Fluidly content with food particle in the stomach and intestine

• Petechial haemorrhage in the GIT

• Worms in the GIT

• Normal kidney and heart

Cause of Death

Bronchial haemorrhage secondary to septicaemia infection and acute pneumonia. The weak status of the baby rhino when found could have brought the immunity down which would have led to the septicaemic infection and acute pneumonia

Elephant Snared Masai Mara National Reserve

A wire snared elephant calf in a family of 14 elephants was sighted one week earlier by Maasai Mara rangers. A vet was flown to the Masai Mara as the resident veterinarian was on leave.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant mother was darted first with 16mg Etorphine then the calf was darted with 2mgs Etorphine. The calf went down 500m from the mother. The herd tried to stay together and shield the calf.

The calf was promptly de-snared using a wire cutter. The strangulating wire snare was deeply embedded into the soft tissues. The wound was cleaned with copious amounts of water to remove dirt and dead tissue then cauterized with dilute Hydrogen peroxide, liberally cleaned with tincture of Iodine and the sinuses formed by the embedded wire thoroughly lavaged with tincture of Iodine. The wound was also sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray and covered with green clay to promote faster healing. The calf was administered with Amoxicillin Trihydrate BP (Betamox) and Flunixin meglumine.

Prognosis

The calf was reversed from the anaesthesia first, then the mother a minute later. Recovery from anaesthesia was smooth and they happily united moving towards the family direction. Prognosis is good.

Elephant Natural Causes Masai Mara National Reserve

This male elephant was reported limping by the Mara Rangers. After attending the previous case he was sighted in the company of two other bulls and was left behind due to the left front leg lameness.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The bull was pushed by a helicopter out of the forest to open land then darted with 20mgs Etorphine. The first dart didn’t take effect thus a top up dart of 10mgs Etorphine was used and the drug took full effect shortly after. The elephant was in good body condition, but the left forelimb was oozing pus at the carpus explaining the lameness. There was a penetrating 3cm wound near the sole that was filled with pus. The wound was suspected to be caused by a piece of wood. Hydrogen peroxide was used to flush the pus out, then the wound was washed with Iodine, sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray and packed with healing clay to hasten healing. The bull was the flipped to over to access a wound to the right rump that was seen oozing pus while darting. It was also cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide and Iodine, then sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray. A broad-spectrum antibiotic, Amoxicillin and Colvasone were administered.

Prognosis

Prognosis is good.

Elephant Spear Oldonyo Wuas

The Vet Unit received a report of an injured elephant and SWT arranged an aircraft to fly to the Chyulu Hills Conservancy. Big Life Foundation provided a vehicle for transport and darting.

Immobilisation, examination and treatment

The elephant was immobilised with 16mgs Etorphine Hydrochloride. Examination revealed a wound approximately 4cm (width) and 8cm (deep) about 2 weeks old on the right flank but close to the thoracic area. A second wound was also seen on the proximal spinal region. The wounds had been caused by a spear and were both septic and necrotic. The dead tissue was debrided and removed. The wound was then thoroughly cleaned with water and Hydrogen Peroxide then lavaged with tincture of Iodine. Topical antibiotic cream and green clay were applied into the wound to facilitate healing and avoid infection. The elephant was then injected with 200ml Oxytetracycline and 100ml Dexamethasone.

Prognosis and management

The elephant responded to the antidote but could not get up. This team tried to assist the elephant with ropes and a Landcruiser for about an hour until finally the respiration and pulse rate went down. It was evident that the prognosis was poor. To alleviate suffering and pain, a decision to euthanize was arrived at. The penetrating thoracic spear wound had caused lung damage causing Pneumothorax. The advanced age of the elephant complicated the condition hence the poor prognosis and outcome of the intervention.