SWT/KWS RIFT VALLEY MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT APRIL 2022
Introduction
18 Cases in April
7 Poaching Cases
72% Success
April Report by Dr. Titus Kaitho After months of minimal rainfall and dry vegetation, the Lake Naivasha and the Central Rift Conservation Area are now experiencing sporadic showers which started at the end of March and is hoped to continue. During April, the Unit performed general patrols and attended to 18 cases within various Farms and Ranches within Lake Naivasha as well as Soysambu. There were 7 snaring incidents involving 6 zebras and 1 buffalo. The Unit relocated 4 buffalos due to HWC, treated 6 animals for natural causes, performed 1 post-mortem and the relocation of 2 giraffes. Acknowledgement We sincerely thank Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) and FIGs inc, for support, resources & sponsorship for the Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit. We acknowledge Angela Sheldrick’s (SWT CEO), steadfast support. We highly appreciate Kenya Wildlife Service who supported the Unit by availing personnel and other equipment that ensured the activities were successful. We sincerely thank all stakeholders and scouts and who reported the cases in distress.
SWT/KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations April 2022
Case Details Date
Species
1-Apr-22
Buffalo
1-Apr-22
Zebra
10-Apr-22
Zebra
12-Apr-22
Giraffe
12-Apr-22
Zebra
13-Apr-22
Zebra
13-Apr-22
Zebra
15-Apr-22
Zebra
19-Apr-22
Buffalo
Area Found Lentolia, Naivasha Oserengoni, Naivasha Lentolia, Naivasha Soysambu Conservancy Eburu, Naivasha Soysambu Conservancy Morenda, Naivasha Peppercorn, Naivasha Color Crops, Naivasha
Reason for Intervention Snared Snared Snared Natural Causes Snared
Snared by a wire on left front leg
Human Wildlife Conflict
Caught in fence by the hind legs. Also headbutted the post and sustained head injuries Injured and wounded by wire snare on right hind leg The calf was recumbent with a gangrenous wound A relocation/translocation of 3 buffaloes that had strayed onto a wheat farm, destroying crops and posing human threat
Snared Natural Causes
Buffalo
Human Wildlife Conflict
Buffalo
Marula, Naivasha
Human Wildlife Conflict
24-Apr-22
Zebra
Elementia, Naivasha
25-Apr-22
Zebra
Kalro, Naivasha
26-Apr-22
Giraffe
Nini, Naivasha
26-Apr-22
Giraffe
Naivasha
26-Apr-22
Zebra
27-Apr-22
Zebra
22-Apr-22
30-Apr-22 Waterbuck
Elementia, Naivasha Marula, Naivasha Naivasha
Snared by a winch wire on the neck and right front leg Snared and wounded by a winch wire on the chest This giraffe had been reported to have suffered difficult calving Snared and tethered by ground nylon rope snare
Snared
Marula, Naivasha
22-Apr-22
Snared by a wire on the neck
The female buffalo had strayed into a public road corridor
Was weak, aged, lethargic and had lost body condition due to the drought Severely lame due to overgrown Natural hoof which had a pungent Causes smell/foot rot Giraffe had sustained a complete HWC fracture of the left front leg Drove 2 giraffes which had strayed Relocation into the Moi South Lake Road closed corridor PostCollected a dead male zebra. The mortem zebra was aged and debilitated Snared and tethered to the ground Snared by a winch wire snare Natural The waterbuck had been injured and Causes wounded on the right hind leg Natural Causes
Outcome Successfully Treated Successfully Treated Successfully Treated Died Successfully Treated Successfully Treated HWC Death Successfully Treated Died Task Successful Task Successful Successfully Treated Successfully Treated HWC Death Task Successful Died Successfully Treated Successfully Treated
Case 1 – 1st April 2022 Buffalo
Snared
Lentolia Conservancy, Naivasha
This case was reported by Lentolia Conservancy Security staff. Immobilisation, examination and prognosis This buffalo was darted with 9mg Etorphine and 50mg Azaperone. The buffalo had a snare around the neck which was removed. It had not caused any other injury the buffalo was reversed from the anaesthetic and given a good prognosis.
Case 2 – 1st April 2022 Zebra
Snared
Oserengoni Conservancy
The zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine and 100mg Azaperone. The zebra had been snared by a winch wire around the neck and right front leg. The zebra had also suffered traumatic injuries to both hind legs. The zebra was treated with 9,000mg Alamycin, 800mg Phenylbutazone, 4ml Noromectin and 20ml Catasol. Prognosis of the case is good.
Case 3 – 10th April 2022 Zebra
Snared
Lentolia Conservancy
The zebra was darted using 5mg Etorphine and 100mg Azaperone. On physical examination the zebra had been snared by a wire around the chest. The wire was removed with wire cutters and the zebra was given 9,000mg Alamycin, 80mg Phenylbutazone and 20ml Catasol. The prognosis of the case is good.
Case 4 – 12th April 2022 Giraffe
Natural Causes
Soysambu Conserancy
This giraffe had been seen the previous day, apparently having difficultly calving. The team found her very dull and lethargic; she must have been struggling for more than 48 hours. Despite concerns, the vet had no option but to chemically immobilize her with 13mg Etorphine and 100mg Azaperone, then she was roped to the ground, the drugs reversed, and she was manually restrained. The giraffe had a fetal malposition dystocia, the calf had already succumbed and was swollen/gas filled. The fetus was on anterior presentation with flexion of both front legs butting on the mother’s pelvis. An attempt to manually extract the fetus with limb traction and liquid paraffin lubrication was made but sadly the mother succumbed to death during extraction of the fetus.
Case 5 – 12th April 2022 Zebra
Snared
Eburu, Naivasha
The zebra was darted with 5mg Etorphine and 100mg Azaperone. The zebra had been tethered by a ground nylon rope on the left front leg. The snare was removed and a fly repellant (Alamycin) was applied to the bruised leg. Then the zebra was administered with 4,500mg Biocillin, 200mg Flumeg, and 20ml Catasol. Prognosis is good.
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Case 6 – 13th April 2022 Zebra
Snared
Soysambu Conservancy
The zebra was darted with 5mg Etorphine and 100mg Azaperone. On physical examination the zebra had been injured and wounded on the left front leg. The wound was cleaned with water, disinfected with Iodine then sprayed with Alamycin. The zebra was also given 4,500mg Amoxicillin, 200mg Flumeg, 4ml Noromectin and 20ml Catasol. The anesthesia was reversed and the prognosis for a full recovery was good.
Case 7 – 13th April 2022 Zebra
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Morendat North Farm, Naivasha
The zebra had been caught by fence wires around both the hind legs. The zebra had also sustained head injuries as he had butted his head on the fence post trying to get free. The zebra was in great distress as he had spent hours trapped by the fence wire. The zebra was freed and the wounds washed with water, disinfected with Iodine and sprayed with Alamycin, fly repellant. The zebra was also given Biocillin, Flumeg and Catasol. The prognosis of the case was poor and unfortunately the zebra succumbed shortly after the anaesthetic was reversed. This was a case of humanwildlife conflict as people had chased the zebra out of a lucerne farm into the fence.
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Case 8 – 15th April 2022 Zebra
Snared
Peppercorn Farm, Naivasha
The Vet darted the zebra with 5mg Etorphine and 100mg Azaperone. The zebra had a wire snare around the right hind leg which was removed. The snare had caused a wound which was cleaned with water, disinfected with Iodine then sprayed with fly repellant. The zebra was also administered with 9,000mg Alamycin, 800mg Phenylbutazone, 4ml Noromectin and 30ml Catasol. The anesthetic was reversed and the zebra given a good prognosis.
Case 9 – 19th April 2022 Buffalo
Natural Causes
Color Crops Farm, Naivasha
The buffalo calf was recumbent and moribund so did not require immobilisation. The calf had a gangrenous
wound which had extended to the spinal cord. The calf’s four legs were in paralytic state. The calf had a poor prognosis and had to be put to rest using 4,000mg of Sodium phenobarbitone given via IV.
Case 10 – 22nd April 2022 Buffalo
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Marula Estates, Naivasha
Two male buffalos had strayed into a human populated wheat farm within Marula Estates. These were dangerous animals grazing on valuable wheat crop fenced off farmland. The buffalos were immobilized with 9mg Etorphine and 5-mg Azaperone simultaneously. One of the male buffalos was under light anesthesia and was topped up with 500mg Ketamine. The buffalos were loaded onto a trailer whilst under general anesthesia. The buffalos were translocated 5km away to the Kipruti wetland area within Marula Estates. The anesthetic was reversed, and the buffalos release was safe and well executed.
Case 11 – 22nd April 2022 Buffalo
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Marula Estates, Naivasha
The female buffalo had strayed into a public road corridor within Marula Estates. This was a dangerous animal that was roaming and grazing along the Moi North Lake Roadside. The buffalo was quickly immobilised with 9mg Etorphine and 50mg Azaperone. The buffalo was loaded onto a trailer whilst under general anaesthetic. The buffalo was taken approximately 5km away to the same location as the previous 2 male buffalos; the Kipruti Wetland Area within Marula Estates. The anaesthetic was reversed and the release was successful.
Case 12 – 24th April 2022 Zebra
Natural Causes
Elementaita Weavers, Naivasha
The zebra was darted with 5mg Etorphine and 100mg Azaperone. Examination revealed the zebra was weak, aged, lethargic and had lost body condition due to the prevailing drought. The zebra also had a abdominal – ventral hernia which was reducible. The zebra was also administered with 9,000mg Alamycin, 4ml Noromectin and 20ml Catasol. The prognosis of the case is good.
Case 13 – 25th April 2022 Zebra
Natural Causes
Kalro, Naivasha
The zebra was darted with 5mg Etorphine and 100mg Azaperone. The zebra was severely lame due to an overgrown hoof. The hoof also had a pungent smell due to chronic foot rot. We carried out extensive hoof trimming and filling of the left front hoof. A fly repellant was sprayed onto the hoof then the zebra administered with Alamycin, Phenylbutazone, Noromectin and Catasol. Prognosis of the case is good.
Case 14 – 26th April 2022 Giraffe
Human Wildlife Conflict
Nini Farm, Naivasha
The giraffe had been hit and injured by an unknown vehicle on the Moi South Lake Road. The Naivasha Sub County Warden reported the case. The giraffe was darted with 9mg Etorphine and 50mg Azaperone. An examination revealed the giraffe had sustained a complete fracture of the left front leg. The giraffe was bleeding from the mouth and leg. As the prognosis was poor the giraffe was put to rest.
Case 15 – 26th April 2022 Giraffe
Relocation
Naivasha
Two giraffes strayed onto the Moi South Lake Road closed corridors. The giraffes were successfully driven through a gate into Nini Farm.
Case 16 – 26th April 2022 Zebra
Post-mortem
Elementaita Weavers, Naivasha
The Unit collected a dead male zebra from Elementaita Weavers and disposed of the carcass at Sanctuary Farm. The Unit did a quick examination and determined the animal was aged and debilitated.
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Case 17 – 27th April 2022 Zebra
Snared
Marula Estates, Naivasha
This zebra was darted with 5mg Etorphine and 100mg Azaperone. The zebra had been tethered by a ground winch wire snare on the right front leg. The snare was removed and then a fly repellant was applied to the bruised leg. The zebra was also administered with 4,500mg Biocillin and 200mg Flumeg. As the snare didn’t cause any injuries the zebra has a good prognosis.
Case 18 – 30th April 2022 Waterbuck
Natural Causes
Lake Naivasha Country Club
This waterbuck was darted with 6mg Etorphine and 50mg Azaperone. A waterbuck showed marked lameness and had been injured on the right hind leg which had caused swelling of the affected leg. The hooves were all trimmed and filed, then cleaned liberally with water, disinfected with Iodine and sprayed with Alamycin. Biocillin and Phenylbutazone were also administered. Prognosis is good.