SWT/KWS MARA MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT OCTOBER 2021
Introduction
9 Cases in October
7 Poaching Cases
5 Elephant Cases
October Report by Dr. Campaign Limo The month was characterised by intermittent precipitation with availability of food and water for all species being adequate. A number of snared animals were rescued including three elephant calves with life threatening snares treated in a single day in the Mara Triangle near the border with Serengeti. It is assumed they were accidental victims with the targets being migrating wildebeests as they cross over to Kenya from Tanzania. Many snare traps are laid along the border to catch these animals as they move to Kenya in masses. Acknowledgement The Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit would like to thank the many stakeholders who helped in reporting and monitoring the cases that required help. Many thanks to Elizabeth Scarlett for their support through the Sheldrick Trust, which facilitates the Unit's operations. Thanks too to KWS management for their technical support and guidance. All your support was instrumental for the success in helping the affected animals.
Case Details Date
Species
Area Found
Reason for Intervention
Outcome
7-Oct-21
Elephant
Mara Triangle
Snared
A cable wire snare in between her upper and lower jaw causing severe wounds
Successfully Treated
7-Oct-21
Elephant
Mara Triangle
Snared
The calf had a tight snare round his neck and appeared to be in great pain
Successfully Treated
7-Oct-21
Elephant
Mara Triangle
Snared
A tight cable wire snare round his neck entangling his left foreleg causing wounds
Successfully Treated
8-Oct-21
Giraffe
Mara Triangle
Snared
A loose snare round his left tarsal joint with no damaged noticed on the skin
Successfully Treated
15-Oct-21
Elephant
Koiyaki Group Ranch
Arrow
An injury to the elbow joint which contained a deep-seated arrowhead
Successfully Treated
16-Oct-21
Elephant
Masai Mara NR
Natural Causes
A septic wound on the distal aspect of his trunk likely caused by a crocodile
Successfully Treated
22-Oct-21
Giraffe
Mara Triangle
Snared
an old snare wound which had healed with excessive granulation
Successfully Treated
22-Oct-21
Giraffe
Mara Triangle
Snared
a loose snare round his left tarsus with no injuries caused
Successfully Treated
24-Oct-21
Rhino Black
Masai Mara NR
Rescue
Found with a bull that was attacking her, then alone and traumatised with wounds
Taken to Orphanage
SWT/KWS Mara Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations October 2021
Case 1 – 7th October 2021 Elephant
Snared
Mara Triangle
Three elephant calves were spotted near the Serengeti border by Conservancy Rangers. They belonged to different families but evidently had moved to the Conservation Area from Serengeti. They were snared at the border as they crossed. These snares were laid by poachers to catch the migrating wildebeests for bush meat. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The Vet Unit found the calf browsing but stressed due to a tight snare in between her upper and lower lip. The family were so protective, a helicopter was required to keep the other family members away for treatment. The mother refused to leave the calf despite the helicopter’s best efforts and the team finally decided to immobilise the mother and restrain the calf manually. The body condition of the calf was good but the cable snare in between her upper and lower jaw was tight causing severe wounds on both sides of her lip and around her head and ears. The wire was cut loose, and the wounds debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, cleaned with water, disinfected with Iodine and sprayed with Oxytetracycline spray. The calf also received Amoxicillin and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories. Prognosis After treatment, the mother was reversed and woke up to join her calf who was standing close by.
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Case 2 – 7th October 2021 Elephant
Snared
Mara Triangle
Three elephant calves were spotted near the Serengeti border by Conservancy Rangers. They belonged to different families but evidently had moved to the Conservation Area from Serengeti. They were snared at the border as they crossed. These snares were laid by poachers to catch the migrating wildebeests for bush meat. Immobilisation, examination and treatment This calf was with his family of about ten elephants who had other calves of almost similar age. The calf had a tight snare round his neck and appeared to be in great pain though the body condition appeared good. The team darted the calf with 60mg Azaperone from a vehicle to slow him down and at the same time used the helicopter to push the family away. When the drugs had taken full effect, the calf was manually restrained. This calf had a tight cable wire snare round his neck leading to ventral perforation of the trachea. About 20% of inhaled air was escaping from the perforated area during exhalation. The snare could have been in place for at least two weeks. The wire snare was cut loose and the wounds cleaned with water, disinfected with Iodine. The calf also received Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories. Prognosis He was released with the helicopter successfully guiding the family to re-unite with him. Prognosis is good.
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Case 3 – 7th October 2021 Elephant
Snared
Mara Triangle
Three elephant calves were spotted near the Serengeti border by Conservancy Rangers. They belonged to different families but evidently had moved to the Conservation Area from Serengeti. They were snared at the border as they crossed. These snares were laid by poachers to catch the migrating wildebeests for bush meat. Immobilisation, examination and treatment Given the mother was very aggressive, the team decided to immobilise her, while the helicopter prevented her moving into a thicket with her calf. When the anaesthetics took effect the calf remained with her. The helicopter then pushed the sister away to allow the team to attend to the calf. After manually restraining the calf, examination revealed a tight cable wire snare around his neck entangling his left foreleg. The snare had created wounds on the neck and severe damage of left foreleg muscles. Left Triceps brachii muscles were badly damaged. The wounds on the foreleg had maggots which were manually removed. The wounds were debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, and rinsed with water, disinfected with Iodine and sprayed with Oxytetracycline. The calf was also given Amoxicillin antibiotics, Flunixin meglumine antiinflammatories and Ivermectin parasiticide to eradicate and prevent external and internal parasites. Prognosis After treatment, the mother was reversed and she joined the calf with the sister joining them almost immediately. Prognosis is good.
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Case 4 – 8th October Giraffe
Snared
Mara Triangle
This giraffe was seen dragging a plain wire snare round his left hind leg by the Mara Triangle rangers. The Unit found the giraffebrowsing with other giraffes with the wire snare round his left tarsal joint. The snare was loosely attached but appeared as a nuisance on mobility.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment Restraint was chemically achieved by use of a combination of 12mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 60mgs Azaperone tartarate using a dart gun from a vehicle with drugs taking full effect after eight minutes. He was roped down for maximum restraint. Examination revealed a loose snare around his left tarsal joint with no damaged noticed on the skin. The wire snare was removed and the giraffe reversed. Reversal and Prognosis The anaesthetic was reversed with 36mgs Diprenorphine given through the jugular vein. He rose up to join the rest of the giraffes nearby. Prognosis is good.
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Case 5 – 15th October 2021 Elephant
Arrow
Pardamat Conservancy, Koiyaki
This female was seen severely limping and isolated by Pardamat conservancy rangers. They notified the mobile veterinary unit for action. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was darted from foot with 16mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and the drugs took full effect after ten minutes. She assumed right lateral recumbency. Examination revealed an injury on the lateral aspect of her elbow joint. Probing the small wound revealed a deep-seated arrowhead. The arrowhead was gently pulled out. Luckily it was a non-poisoned arrow. The wound was debrided with dilute Hydrogen peroxide and rinsed with clean water. The wound was disinfected with tincture of Iodine and then infused with Cloxacillin antibiotic ointment. Other treatments given included Amoxicillin long acting antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories all given intramuscularly. Reversal and Prognosis The anaesthetic was reversed with 42mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride delivered through a prominent ear vein. She woke up three minutes post revival and retreated deeper into the bush. Prognosis is good.
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Case 6 – 16th October 2021 Elephant
Natural Causes
Masai Mara National Reserve
This young calf was seen by visitors to Matira camp within the National Reserve with an injured trunk. The Unit found the calf in an open area with his family composed of adult females with their calves. His trunk was injured and he kept rubbing it against his forelegs. Immobilisation, examination and treatment His mother and the rest of the family members were very protective. The team had to immobilize the mother and push the other family members away using vehicles as the calf remained close to the immobilized mother. The calf was manually restrained and taken a few meters away from the mother for treatment. Examination revealed a septic wound on the distal aspect of his trunk, likely caused by attempted predation by a crocodile. The airways were perforated with maggots infesting the wounds. All the maggots were manually removed and the distal necrotic part of the trunk amputated leaving a healthy viable portion. He was also given Amoxicillin antibiotics, Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories and Ivermectin parasiticides. Reversal and Prognosis After treatment, he was placed close to his mother as she was being reversed. The mother and the calf reunited and moved away to join the rest of the family members. Prognosis is good.
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Case 7 – 22nd October Giraffe
Snared
Mara Triangle
This giraffe was seen by Mara Triangle Conservancy Rangers limping on her right hind leg which appeared swollen at the tarsal joint. The Vet Unit found her with other giraffes browsing in a sparsely wooded area. She appeared to walk with difficulty with a swollen left tarsal joint.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The giraffe was darted from a vehicle with a combination of 12mgs Etorphine and 60mgs Azaperone. The drugs took full effect after seven minutes and the giraffe was roped down for effective restraint. Examination revealed an old snare wound which had healed with excessive granulation. The snare had fallen off but had damaged the limb. The overgrown hooves were trimmed for better mobility. The giraffe also received parenteral administration of Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories. Reversal and Prognosis The anaesthetic was reversed with 36mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride given through jugular vein. She rose up upon release to join the rest of the giraffes. Good. She will live with the joint deformity. .
Case 8 – 22nd October Giraffe
Snared
Mara Triangle
This young male was seen with a loose plain wire snare round his left hind leg at the level of tarsal joint by Mara Triangle rangers on patrol. He was found browsing with other giraffes in a relatively open area. The snare was visible from a distance.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment Immobilization was achieved by a combination of 12mgs Etorphine hydrochloride and 60mgs Azaperone tartarate delivered through a 3ml dan-inject dart. Drugs took full effect after seven minutes then he was manually restrained with ropes. Examination revealed a loose snare round his left tarsus with no injuries caused. The snare was removed and the giraffe reversed. Reversal and Prognosis The anaesthetic was reversed with 36mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride given through jugular vein. He rose one and half minutes post reversal to join the other giraffes. Prognosis is good. .
Case 9 – 24th October 2021 Black Rhino
Rescue
Masai Mara NR
This baby rhino was first seen on 22nd October 2021 near the border with Serengeti National Park by Masai Mara NR and Serengeti NP Managers while doing an aerial recce to ascertain status of black rhinos along the border. This female calf was seen following a big bull who was hostile to her. This was a strange pair with no female close by. At this age, the calf is largely milk dependant. She was then seen two days later alone sleeping in a small thicket weak and without the mother by Masai Mara National Reserve Rangers. Immobilisation, examination and treatment She was found sleeping in a small bush with no other rhino close by. This was clear case of abandonment with this calf losing condition by day. Apart from starvation, there was high risk of predation and the teams deemed it necessary to rescue this calf immediately. This calf was captured manually with little struggle. She was put on a flat based well-padded truck and taken to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust orphanage. Examination during capture revealed several cutaneous abrasions likely caused by the hostile bull. There was also a deep septic wound on her inguinal area and she appeared traumatised. Prognosis Her condition was not promising, and prognosis considered guarded given the length of time without her mother and injuries suspected to have been caused by the big bull.