SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT APRIL 2022
Introduction
7 Cases in April
3 Poaching Cases
3 Lion Cases
April Report by Dr. Ndambiri Ephantus The Mara Conservation Area continues to flourish in both healthy prairies and dotted shrubs due to the continued rainy season. Animals have more than enough browse and grazing fields hence they are in impeccable health. The month under review has witnessed continued human wildlife conflict as reflected by spearing incidences. Predator prey and territorial conflicts also were witnessed as animals scramble for survival. Acknowledgement We appreciate the support of Elizabeth Scarlet through The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to the Unit. It is through that sponsorship that all cases were attended to pedantically. Together in collaboration with other conservation partners including community conservancies, Masai Mara N.R, people of good will and the KWS fraternity, together we achieve.
Case Details Date
Species
Area Found
Reason for Intervention
Outcome
9-Apr-22
Zebra
Masai Mara NR
Snared
The snare wire had caused a traumatic wound
Successfully Treated
10-Apr-22
Lion
Masai Mara NR
Natural Causes
The body was irresponsive. There was matting and an injury at mid lumbar region
Died
16-Apr-22
Lion
Masai Mara NR
Natural Causes
Had an infected gaping wound on the left hind limb following a buffalo attack
Successfully Treated
19-Apr-22
Zebra
Siana Conservancy
Natural Causes
Lameness of the left forelimb due to an injury from a sharp piece of wood/ stump
Successfully Treated
20-Apr-22
Elephant
Mara North Conservancy
Spear
A septic wound near the tail thought to have been caused by a spear
Successfully Treated
20-Apr-22
Giraffe
Mara North Conservancy
Spear
Wound caused by a spear
Successfully Treated
25-Apr-22
Lion
Masai Mara NR
Natural Causes
Two brothers fought another resulting in one dead lion and an injured counterpart.
Successfully Treated
SWT/KWS Amboseli Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April 2022
Case 1 – 9th April 2022 Zebra
Snared
Masai Mara National Reserve
A tour guide while touring the area around Kikorok Airstrip spotted a common zebra with a wire around the neck. The animal kept shaking head in attempt to take it off thus couldn’t concentrate on grazing. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The zebra was within a herd of more than a thousand so a thorough search had to be made to identify the snared zebra. After 20 minutes it was spotted accompanied by another male. The vet approached the zebra in a vehicle but it kept walking away. After 3 minutes of following the zebra it was eventually darted with 6mgs Etorphine and 60mgs Azaperone. It was startled and kept walking for five minutes when it attained standing immobilization. It was held by the ears and placed on left lateral recumbence and blindfolded. The wire was a three plain wire braided together. It had caused a traumatic wound to the nuchal ligament and was approximated to have been in place for more than two weeks. It had lost body condition as a result. The wire was severed using wire cutter. The wound was disinfected with Hydrogen peroxide and tincture of Iodine then sprayed l with Tetracycline wound spray to act as broad spectrum antibiotic and fly repellant. Prognosis The zebra is expected to recover fully thus it has good prognosis.
Case 2 – 10th April 2022 Lion
Natural Causes
Masai Mara National Reserve
The young cub was reported to the Vet Unit by the Reserve Security Team. The cub was found close to the road unable to walk though completely aware of its surroundings. The Vet Team responded immediately. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The cub was found on right lateral recumbence but with a bright demeanor. Its body was functional from the head to mid lumbar region. The rest of the body was irresponsive. There was matting at the mid lumbar region and was suspected to have had an injury at that point. The cub was approached on foot and darted with 100mgs Ketamine and 2mgs Medetomidine. The dart was placed on the left thigh and it was sedated in five minutes. By palpation and manipulation with special concern of the matted lumbar region it was established that the cub sustained a bite wound which fractured the spinal cord rendering the posterior part of the body the bite region paralyzed. Prognosis To alleviate suffering the cub was euthanized. An autopsy revealed a fresh bite wound and crushed lumbar vertebrae with bony chips. Blood clotting within the torn muscles was evident of the severity of the injury. The cub must have been bitten by a member of its’ pride during scramble for small prey such as warthog.
Case 3 – 16th April 2022 Lion
Natural Causes
Masai Mara National Reserve
The injured lioness was sighted by a tour guide four days earlier. The Unit responded but despite an extensive search it was not found. The second time the lioness was reported it was found following an hour of search. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The lioness had an infected gaping wound on the mediolateral aspect of the left hind limb accompanied by a small circular one on the lateral side of the same limb. This injury was likely caused by a buffalo during a hunt. She was darted from a vehicle with 300mgs Ketamine and 6mgs Medetomidine. She was in the company of two adult lionesses and a juvenile who stayed 100m away throughout the treatment. She was completely sedated in ten minutes assuming sternal recumbence. She was blindfolded and moved to vehicle shade. The longitudinal wound edges were shaven. It was cleaned using water, Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. The wound was sutured then infiltrated with 15,000mg Amoxicillin followed by Tetracycline wound spray topically. The small wound was disinfected and covered topically in the same way. Systemically it was injected with 22,500mgs Amoxicillin, 15ml Cyanocobalamin and 30mgs Dexamethasone into different muscle sites. For internal and external parasites she was injected with 40mgs Ivermectin under the skin. Prognosis The lioness walked away with the other three an hour after treatment. She is expected to recover fully.
Case 4 – 19th April 2022 Zebra
Natural Causes
Sekenani, Masai Mara
The common zebra was reported by a resident to have severe lameness warranting intervention.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The zebra had a foal less than three months old and was in the company of two other mares with their older foals and a stallion. Lameness was of the left forelimb and closer examination depicted an injured corronet area with a septic puncture wound thought to have been inflicted by a sharp piece of wood/ stump.. A dart composing of 6mgs Etorphine and 60mgs Azaperone was placed on the right thigh sending the zebra running into nearby thickets before assuming left lateral recumbence. The foal continued to hang around and the other members also joined and waited for the dam to rejoin them after treatment. The swollen corronet was palpated for foreign material and to squeeze the pus out of the puncture wound. The wound was cleaned using Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine then Cloxacillin cream was infiltrated into the canal. It was injected with 6,000mgs Amoxicillin and 40mgs Dexamethasone into different muscle sites Prognosis Prognosis is good and she got up and joined her waiting herd and foal.
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Case 5 – 20th April 2022 Elephant
Natural Causes
Mara North Conservancy
This elephant was spotted by Mara Elephant Project Rangers whilst monitoring within the Conservancy. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was found inside a bush sheltering from the sun. There was noticeable ventral oedema yielding to a swollen prepuce. This swelling interfered with normal ambulation. There was also a septic puncture wound at the level of tail but about 30cm to the right. This is thought to have been caused by a spear. It was darted with 19mgs Etorphine from a vehicle. It was startled after darting and moved into another bigger and thicker bush where it fell on right lateral recumbence fully immobilised. The swelling was palpated for any injury, foreign body and established that it was a pitting oedema. The wound was probed for any foreign body, but nothing was found. It was heading ventrally towards the prepuce. The wound was cleaned with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine then covered with Tetracycline wound spray. Systemically it was injected with 20,000mgs Tetracycline divided equally in two muscle sites, 40mgs Dexamethasone into the ear vein and another 60mgs of the same into the muscle to ease ventral oedema. Prognosis Fair as there was no foreign body and the spear was not poisoned. Progress will be assessed after a week.
Case 6 – 20th April 2022 Giraffe
Spear
Mara North Conservancy
A Masai giraffe with a spear sticking from the right side of the chest was reported by Mara Elephant Project.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment It was found inside the draining gully unable to get over out, close to the murram road. The spear was stuck near the mid spine thoracic area causing bleeding. It was darted with 1,300mg Etorphine and 25mg Azaperone. After it was darted it tried again to get out of the gully and the spear dislodged leaving a gaping skin puncture wound. It was immobilized in seven minutes but remained standing at the edge of the gully. Later it fell inside the gully after being directed using rope. It was immediately reversed and then physically restrained and blindfolded. The fresh penetrating wound was disinfected with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. It was flushed with 200mgs Tetracycline, filled with wet green clay and finally sprayed with Tetracycline topical spray. Systemically it was injected with 15,000mgs Tetracycline into two muscle sites and 40mgs Dexamethasone into the muscle. Prognosis Fair as she recovered well from the anaesthesia. Hopefully there is no major internal damage.
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Case 7 – 25th April 2022 Lion
Natural Causes
Masai Mara National Reserve
A territorial fight was reported to have occurred in the early morning resulting in one dead lion and an injured counterpart. The dead was fought by two brothers. The other brother had no injury. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The dead lion was found with the two brothers who were keeping guard. The carcass had multiple serious bites all over the body with bloody nasal and mouth discharge. It had sustained a spine injury which caused paralysis posteriorly. This predisposed the lion for a fatal head attack. The injured lion was darted from the vehicle using 300mgs Ketamine and 6mgs Medetomidine. It laid down five minutes post darting and was left for another fifteen minutes to be completely sedated. The brother was driven away into a small thicket where he rested until we finished treatment then he was driven back to the injured lion. The injured lion had a bite wound to the right forelimb, two scratch wounds on the left leg and one below the left eye. All wounds were disinfected with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. The cut below the eye was sutured then infiltrated with 750mgs Amoxicillin while all other wounds were sprayed with Tetracycline. It was injected with 30mgs Dexamethasone, 3750mgs Amoxicillin and 50mgs Ivermectin. Prognosis It is expected to recover fully because wounds were very fresh thus good prognosis was recorded.