SWT/KWS MERU MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT FEBRUARY 2022
Introduction
4 Cases in February
3 Antelope Cases
1 Giraffe Case
February Report by Dr. Ndambiri Ephantus February has been unusually wet due to unexpected rains. These rains have caused massive vegetation regeneration making enough forage available for the wild animals more so within protected areas. We are optimistic that the same weather conditions will continue to prevail and ensure animals are well nourished. The four cases this month were all located in Ruma National Park, Western Kenya. Five Roan antelopes were translocated from Tanzania to Ruma National Park to increase the gene pool. Unfortunately, the antelopes didn’t arrive in very good condition. One of the females was dead on arrival and the other died shortly after. They were both heavily pregnant and died from gestational stress. They were poor candidates for translocation. The sub adult male was in also in poor condition and he died several hours later. His postmortem revealed he had suffered head injuries resulting in death. Later in the month, the Unit returned to check on the two remaining females and assess their condition. They had slightly improved and the Unit gave extensive advice on future management to ensure their survival. Additionally, the Unit treated a giraffe with a swelling on the leg which was presumed to be cancerous. Acknowledgement We dearly recognize the commendable support offered by The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. It is through that sponsorship that all cases were attended to meticulously. Together in collaboration with other conservation partners we achieve greatly.
Case Details Date
Species
15-Feb-22
Antelope
15-Feb-22
Antelope
24-Feb-22
Giraffe
Ruma National Park
Antelope
Ruma National Park
26-Feb-22
Area Found
Reason for Intervention
Ruma National Park Ruma National Park
Five Roan antelopes from Tanzania were translocated to Kenya. 1 female arrived dead another female died after release Five Roan antelopes from Tanzania were Posttranslocated to Kenya. 1 male died after mortem release It was spotted with a swelling at the right Natural knee. It was presumed to be sarcoid-like Causes swelling and treatment was aimed to be conservatory treatment The surviving two adult female Roan antelopes from Tanzania have been held in a Technical quarantine boma at Ruma Roan Sanctuary Cases for the last ten days. Despite their health being poor at the time of arrival, they have steadly improved Postmortem
Outcome Died
Died
Prognosis Poor
Task Successful
SWT/KWS Meru Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations February 2022
Case 1 – 15th February 2022 Antelope
Post-mortem
Ruma National Park
Five Roan antelopes (4 females and 1 male) were translocated from Tanzania to Kenya with the aim of enriching the gene pool of the resident population in Ruma National Park following the Roan Antelope Recovery Program initiated in 2020. The five were captured in Rungwa Game Reserve and held in a boma for several weeks for acclimatization. They were loaded individually in a transport crate on 14/2/2022 and taken to the Ruma National Park. Three adult females and one subadult male arrived safely on the morning of the 15/2/2022 and immediately released into the holding boma. The male was held separately while the three females were released simultaneously into three intercommunicating boma compartments. The fourth female arrived dead. The male scored poorly with 2.5/5 body score and had a freshly broken left horn which was bleeding and thought to be the cause of the bloody discharge from the nostrils. Females scored 3/5, 3/5 and 3.5/5 body score. There were skin friction wounds/scars on different parts of the body on all candidates including around the eyes, horn bases, the anal area and on the shoulders. In the afternoon of 15/2/2022, the female with a body score of 3.5/5 was noted to have succumbed less than four hours post release while inside the boma. The two female post-mortems were done separately, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon on 15/2/2022.
Post-mortem examination Both carcasses had similar important autopsy findings. • • • • • •
They were slightly emaciated and dehydrated with body score of 3/5 and 3.5/5 Lungs were congested with partial internal haemorrhage patches Mucus membranes had some degree of paleness Internal anthelminthosis was noted on the lung surface composing of adult round worms and small hydatid cysts The pleural surface of the lungs and diaphragm were covered with fibrin particularly on the dorsal aspects Both females were in their last trimester. The female that died post-release had a female foetus that was slightly more developed. The one that died during transit had a male foetus
Cause of Death The females likely died from gestation stress. The deaths likely occurred because of the poor health status of the two females. They were heavily pregnant hence poor candidates for capture and translocation. The adverse weather conditions pre-capture and boma holding condition, particularly confinement stress, caused low immunity. This made them susceptible to opportunistic infections; pneumonia in the female that died on-transit and pleuropneumonia in the other.
Case 2 – 15th February 2022 Antelope
Post-mortem
Ruma National Park
Following the previous case regarding the five Roan antelopes translocated from Tanzania to Ruma National Park, Kenya, there was a further report on the only male that was translocated. In the afternoon on the release date, the male started showing unstable gait with a dropping head. After about an hour it succumbed and the Unit conducted a third post-mortem. Post-Mortem Examination •
Nostrils depicted bloody discharges
• •
There was a scar just above the right eye and near the base of the right ear The right horn had fractured at its root on the cranium leaving a widely open frontal sinus filled with clotted blood The rest of the internal organs were in no pathological status
•
Cause of death The animal suffered blunt trauma to the head which was depicted externally as a broken left horn and skin scars just above the right eye and ear base. Internally the trauma resulted in a fractured cranium at the right horn base causing internal bleeding thus bloody discharge at the nostrils.
Case 3 – 24th February 2022 Giraffe
Natural Causes
Ruma National Park
Ruma Rhino Rangers spotted a giraffe with a swelling of the right knee. The Meru Vet Unit was camping at the Roan Sntelope Sanctuary taking care of the confined Roans so were able to respond promptly. The bull was with three females and their juveniles. The swelling was dry, exhibiting scar formation. Immobilisation, examination and treatment A giraffe was approached with a vehicle and darted with 18mgs Etorphine and 25mgs Azaperone. The animal ran a short distance of about 20m then begun to exhibit sedation signs. It was then roped to the ground on left recumbence. The anaesthetic was reversed, and the giraffe restrained manually by holding the head. The swelling was observed to have been in existence for quite a long time. It had lacerations on the surface resulting in a scab formation. It had a hard consistency depicting fibrosis. It was presumed to be a sarcoidlike swelling and treatment was aimed to be conservatory. A subcutaneous injection ring with 40ml Enrolfroxacin was made around the sarcoid. The same amount was given intramuscularly divided equally into each thigh. The scarred sarcoid was sprayed with Oxytetracycline to repel fries and to prevent skin infections. Prognosis Guarded, as the injury is thought to be tumorous. The sarcoid surface could also indicate internal metarstasis.
Case 4 – 26th February 2022 Antelope
Technical Case
Ruma National Park
The surviving two adult female Roan antelopes that were translocated from Tanzania have been held in a quarantine boma at the Ruma Roan Sanctuary for the last ten days. Despite their health being poor at the time of arrival, they have steadily improved due to the commendable animal husbandry which is being accorded to them by the onsite capture team. Below is an update after the vet conducted an onsite visit to offer any advice on management practices. Boma Feeds While inside the boma, they are on 1kg of Bongo pellets placed on a handful of Lucerne inside an improvised feeding trough laced with diluted molasses. Mineral supplements are provided with a 2kg licking mineral block. Water is abundantly provided near each feeding trough. Feeding is done once in a day. During this time troughs are emptied of any remnant feed/water from previous feeding, thoroughly cleaned and refilled accordingly as prescribed above.
Routine Practices A morning round is made at 5:30am to record the health status of each female. Recordings include: • • • • • • •
Alertness (demeanor) which is scored as either alert or dull Chewing status as either regurgitating/not regurgitating, grazing (browsing)/not grazing -Feed trough status as either full/ ¾/ ½ /¼, full or empty -Water trough status as either water in/ water out (empty) Fecal status as either pelleted/ doughy, substantial/scarce, colour and odour Urination as either observed/ not observed, colour and odour Skin injury as present/absent, location on limbs/flanks/neck/head/rump, swelling/wound
Concomitantly as the health status is recorded, boma integrity is being assessed. This includes; •
Canvas sheeting either up/down, worn out/not worn out
• •
Fence poles as either erect/not erect, upright/slanting Wedge wires as either on hold/not on hold, intact/not intact
• • • •
Vegetation integrity as either trampled/ not trampled, adequate/not adequate, green/dry Shade as either adequate/not adequate Exit/entrance secured/not secured Foreign invasion as present/absent, by which animal-specify
Monitoring The Roan’s are monitored every three hours from 5:30am through to the feeding time at 5:30pm. Feeding time is the only time any personnel enter the boma. At the three hourly intervals, a monitor climbs quietly at strategic observation locations using a ladder and takes his/her recordings from that position. This is aimed at minimizing contact and reducing stress as much as possible. It is due to this minimal stress that the two roans have calmed down, settled and gained weight substantially. Security and Supplies The boma is under 24hr surveillance by the Capture Rangers on a rotational duty rooster. No unauthorized visitation is allowed. The two roans maintained as above have sufficient supplies