SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT MAY 2022
Introduction
9 Cases in May
6 Poaching Cases
3 Elephant Cases
April Report by Dr. Ndambiri Ephantus April has witnessed continuous rains which has made the Mara plains admirable with massive grass sprouts and abundant surface water. Animals are enjoying every bit of the satisfying niche. This is particularly so within the reserve. Unfortunately, outside the reserve things there is increased human-wildlife conflict and poaching cases. These include spearing, arrowing and snaring. After animals experience the misadventures, they seek solace in Conservancies and in the Reserve where they are spotted, reported and attended to. It is important to sensitize the community on the need to coexist peacefully with animals. Acknowledgement We are very thankful of the enormous support of the Unit by Elizabeth Scarlet through The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. All other partners in conservation are hereby recognized. These include Community Conservancies and NGOs working within the expansive Masai Mara ecosystem without forgetting the KWS fraternity.
Case Details Date
Species
Area Found
9-May-22
Giraffe
Mara Triangle
Spear
The spear had pierced through the neck at the mid-section emanating on the other side
Successfully Treated
10-May-22
Giraffe
Oloisukut Conservancy
Arrow
Bleeding from a lodged arrow at the left shoulder/withers area
Poaching Death
11-May-22
Zebra
Kimintet
Snared
The zebra had a resultant traumatic wound inflicted by the snare
Successfully Treated
14-May-22
Zebra
Siana Conservancy
Spear
It had severed deep digital flexor tendons by a sharp object/spear
Prognosis Poor
16-May-22
Elephant
Olkinyei Conservancy
Natural Causes
Dripping clear urine/discharge from the prepuce
Successfully Treated
17-May-22
Elephant
Masai Mara NR
HWC
Dragging a plain wire with its neck spreading about ten meters behind making a big loop
Task Successful
20-May-22
Buffalo
Ruma NP
Relocation
Buffalos had to be removed as they posed a security threat to Rangers and scientists
Task Successful
23-May-22
Giraffe
Olorien
Spear
Massive necrotic tissue, foul smelling, heavy maggot infestation and creamy pus
Successfully Treated
25-May-22
Lion
Koyiaki
HWC
Found dead with suspicion of being poisoned
HWC Death
26-May-22
Elephant
Olarro Conservancy
Arrow
It was lame and found to have an embedded arrow head at the right fore limb
Prognosis Poor
Reason for Intervention
Outcome
SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations May 2022
Case 1 – 9th May 2022 Giraffe
Spear
Mara Triangle
A report was made by Serena hotel staff that there was a speared giraffe within the vicinity of the hotel. The spear had pierced through the neck at the mid-section emanating on the other side. The animal appeared emaciated and slightly dehydrated meaning it had stayed for more than four days without good browse. Immobilisation, examination and treatment It was found alone on a plain but nearby there were pebble riddled gully and a bush and on the other side Mara River. It was driven away from both and darted with 15mgs Etorphine and 25mgs Azaperone. After four minutes post darting it went straight to the gully and all efforts to keep it away proved futile. It went down upon roping, immediately revived, blindfolded and manually restrained. The spear was gently pushed through and dislodged. The resultant penetrating wound was disinfected with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine then Tetracycline wound powder and spray liberally applied. It was covered systemically with 20000mgs Tetracycline and 100mgs Dexamethasone into different muscle sites. It tried to get up when released but fell due to poor terrain. The animal was pulled away from the gully by a vehicle and placed in sternal recumbence. It was left on sternal recumbence as it appeared to be frightened by human presence. After one hour it was checked and confirmed to have gotten up and disappeared into the vast Mara Triangle ecosystem. Prognosis Fair as he got up after being left alone and is expected to heal fully.
Case 2 – 10th May 2022 Giraffe
Arrow
Oloisukut Conservancy
The adult female was spotted by Conservancy Rangers bleeding from a lodged arrow at the left shoulder/withers. It was in a group of many others consisting of both genders and of all age groups. Immobilisation and examination The group was found browsing in a shrubby area. The arrow metallic part was inside the muscles and the outer wooden part had bent downward possibly by the vegetation as the animal waded through the bush. It remained immobile and though a dart was prepared she collapsed onto right recumbence when approached with a vehicle. She was quickly pinned down by the head manually and immediately seemed to gasp for air. She started peddling limbs and appeared to be passing out. Quickly 60mgs Doxapram was administered to improve respiration, but she succumbed. The arrow shot appeared very fresh as fresh blood was still dripping. A skin incision around the lodged arrow was done and a skin patch removed. The skin puncture edges and muscle tissues near the arrow canal appeared black. The arrow head was removed using a scalpel blade. The canal/track was followed, and it was clear that it had not punctured the chest cavity. Cause of death It was concluded that the candidate succumbed to a poisoned arrow shot. This was confirmed by the Conservancy Administrator who confessed that that is how game meat is acquired. The Administrator promised to reach out to the local community to lessen the practice through community education.
Case 3 – 11th May 2022 Zebra
Snared
Mbokishi, Kimintet
The snared zebra had been on off the rangers’ radar in Mbokishi Conservancy for a week. On this fortunate day they spotted it and monitored it after contacting Vet Unit.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The zebra was emaciated and isolated due to the traumatic wound inflicted by the snare. The zebra, who was in thick thickets, was approached with a vehicle and darted with 6mgs Azaperone and 60mgs Etorphine. The snare friction on the wound made ambulation painful which facilitated in successful darting in the right thigh. The long plain snare wire around the left hind fetlock was removed cautiously so not to cause more trauma. The wound was cleaned with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine then a thick layer of green clay was smeared over the wound followed by Tetracycline wound spray. It was injected with 50mgs Ivermectin under the skin as an anti-parasitic, then 30,000mgs Amoxicillin, 20ml multivitamin and 30mgs Dexamethasone was given each at its own muscle site. Prognosis It was up two minutes after the anaesthetic was reversed and walked away slowly into Lelechua thickets. Prognosis is good as it is expected to recover fully.
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Case 4 – 14th May 2022 Zebra
Spear
Nashulai Conservancy, Siana
The common zebra was reported by a Ranger working to monitor wildlife within the vicinity of Bush Top Camp. The zebra was lame on left hind limb with a raw wound at fetlock area posteriorly. Immobilisation, examination and treatment It was found at salt lick area near Camp lying down. It was approached with a vehicle and darted with 5mgs Etorphine and 70mgs Azaperone. The dart was placed on the right thigh setting the animal trotting for ten meters and remained immobile for five minutes before assuming sternal recumbence in full sedation. It was observed that it had severed deep digital flexor tendons by a sharp object thought to have been maliciously inflicted. This caused the distal part of limb to be flat on the ground. It was decided to treat the injury as the zebra hadn’t lost condition and water and grass was abundant and within the vicinity. The wound was cleaned with water and disinfected with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. Tetracycline wound powder was liberally applied followed with topical Teracycline wound spray. It was covered systematically with 45000mgs Amoxycillin, 15ml Catosal and 30mgs Dexamethasone. 5omgs Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously to cater for parasites both internally and externally. Prognosis Guarded as severed tendons don’t heal easily. It will be reviewed after two weeks.
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Case 5 – 16th May 2022 Elephant
Natural Causes
Olkinyei Conservancy
This elephant in its old age had been observed as dripping for almost one month by Masai Elephant Project Rangers. The drips had a foul strong smell at times and the inner side of the hind limbs was constantly wet. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The old bull was browsing calmly in company of other three males of similar age. The prepuce was dripping clear urine/discharge and the inner sides of hind limbs were wet. The temporal glands were not swollen and were not discharging. As his temperament and the other males were calm the bull could have been in musth. Other males stay clear from the musth bulls and musth bulls carry their trunk over their tusks to relieve pressure on the temporal gland, and generally keeping their head higher than their shoulders. This seemingly ‘abnormal’ dripping led to assumption that there could have been urinary tract infection. The bull was darted from a vehicle with 20mgs Etorphine in the mid right thigh. The preputual opening depicted graying colouration and was presumed to be urine burn. The inner side of prepuce was examined and found to have numerous eroded/raw discrete dermal swellings. There was no penal swelling picked through palpation. Systemically it was injected with 15000mgs Amoxicillin into two different muscle sites. Prognosis Fair at the time of treatment subject to revision at the review time. .
Case 6 – 17th May 2022 Elephant
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Masai Mara National Reserve
The calf was sighted near Governor’s Camp dragging a plain wire around its neck spreading about ten meters behind making a big loop by the Guides of the camp.
Immobilisation Vehicles were used to drive the other family members away whilst the mother was darted with 20mg Etorphine. The mother walked towards dry savannah and begun to reverse after five minutes, becoming entangled on the left hind limb by the wire being dragged by the calf. The calf pulled strongly and severed the wire and took off with the rest of the family members. Attempt to dart the calf proved futile as the family took refuge inside the swamp. We retreated to monitor the immobilized mother. She was breathing labourly necessitating reversal. The revived dam walked re-joined the family and they all left the swamp. This gave a chance to attempt to dart the calf. Observation ascertained that the wire the neck had snapped off. Several sightings were needed to make sure that truly the calf had dropped the ‘snare wire’. Observation revealed the wire had definitely dropped off so treatment was not necessary. The entangling wire was not a laid down snare but an abandoned fence wire. Prognosis Both mother and calf have a good prognosis. .
Case 7 – 20th to 23rd May 2022 Buffalo
Relocation
Ruma National Park
Roan antelope population has been dwindling and they are now classified as critically endangered in Kenya. They are only found in Ruma National park. To help raise their numbers Roan Antelope Conservation Strategy Programme was launched two years ago and a sanctuary was created. During final fencing some buffalos were enclosed in the Sanctuary. By the time of translocation, they had multiplied to 13 individuals with the youngest being less than three weeks old. Foot patrols are done to monitor of the roans which is done on foot, and the buffalos had to be removed as they posed big security threat to rangers and research scientists. Immobilisation and relocation The Mara Elephant Project provided a helicopter which was fuelled by KWS so the buffalos could be darted from the air. All buffalos were darted using Etorphine in combination with Azaperone. Dosages were determined by individual size of the animals. Only the youngest which was about three weeks old was not darted. It was captured manually. An open lorry/truck mounted with lifting crane was used to load the sedated buffalos into its own carrier and transport them away from sanctuary to the open Park area. A stretcher composing of slings and ropes was improvised to help hoist the buffalos onto and out of the lorry. The lorry made several trips. Three trips each with three individuals and two trips with two individuals. There was only one breeding bull, a male calf about half a year old, 8 adult females and 2 subadult females. All got up in an average of three minutes post reversal and the exercise was a success.
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Case 8 – 23rd May 2022 Giraffe
Spear
Angama, Olorien
The adult female giraffe was spotted a day earlier with an extensive skin injury on the left thigh. Immobilisation, examination and treatment She was found browsing with several individuals. A vehicle pushed the herd away from a sloped terrain then she was darted with 15mgs Etorphine and 30mgs Azaperone. She was startled but begun to wobble at one minute. This indicated the dart might have dispensed intravenously. She was roped quickly and brought down, restrained manually, blindfolded and immediately revived. She shook off sedation fast and stabilized. She went down on the left obscuring the injury and was flipped to the right to expose the injury. The sloughing off skin patch had massive necrotic tissue underneath. It was foul smelling with heavy maggot infestation and creamy pus. Near the spine and just above the injury was a penetrating spear wound exuding creamy pus. The loose skin was trimmed then the wound extensively cleaned getting rid of all necrotic material and maggots. It was disinfected with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine, infiltrated with Tetracycline wound spray and powder and packed with wet green clay. She was administered with 40mgs Dexamethasone, 20ml Multivitamin, 15000mgs Tetracycline Hydrochloride and 250mgs Ivermectin. Prognosis She is expected to heal well thus has good prognosis. .
Case 9 – 25th May 2022 Lion
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Pardamat Conservancy, Koyiaki
A lioness was reported by the security team of Pardamat Conservancy to have been found dead with suspicion of having been poisoned. Post-mortem examination Sites of vomitus, bait remnants and poisoning locations were visited. The vomitus consisted of chunks of meat with pinkish colouration. Bait remnants consisted of cattle skin and lungs. The poisoning site depicted stomach content spillage with pinkish colouration and about 5 meters under a thicket was the stick used to stir the pink poison with pink colouration. Samples from all these site/remnants were picked. The lioness carcass which was on left lateral recumbence was highly putrified with popping out intestinal organs at the right flank. There was bloody discharge from the mouth and nostrils, foul smell and piece of intestine popping out from the anal opening. An incision into the abdominal cavity depicted engorged stomach with meat chunks with pink colourations. The liver and kidneys appeared mottled/cooked and peritoneal fluid was bloody tinged. Samples picked included the stomach content, kidney and liver. Cause of death The poison used to lace the bait is suspected to be carbofuran which belong to the class of carbamate chemicals. All bait remnants and the carcass were disposed of to prevent exposure to other animals. The Security team was instructed to continue looking for any other dead animals.
Case 10 – 26th May 2022 Elephant
Spear
Olarro Conservancy
This lame elephant was found to have an embedded arrowhead at the right fore limb. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was found alone inside thickets. A vehicle was used to approach and dart the bull with 20mgs Etorphine. After darting the elephant moved downhill but didn’t go far because of the painful foot. It fell on the left but an injury was spotted on the left flank. It had to be flipped to expose the left flank injury. The embedded arrowhead had bent possibly as the elephant tried to rub it off against and as a result a stick had pierced the foot just below the embedded arrowhead. A skin incision was made and through cautious manipulation using two pliers the head was pulled out of the foot. The stick was also pulled out by hand. It is suspected the arrowhead was laced with poison. The injury at the flank was a pocket filled with pus presumably from an earlier penetrant like spear or arrow. The entrance was enlarged to allow wound disinfection and self-drainage. All wounds were cleaned with water, Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine after to remove necrotic tissue. then infiltrated with Tetracycline wound spray. The elephant was also given Tetracycline, Catosal injections and an intravenous anti-inflammatory injection of Dexamethasone. Prognosis Guarded as it was suspected to be a poisoned arrow. It will be monitored and reviewed in 10 days. .