SWT/KWS TSAVO MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT MARCH 2022
Introduction
10 Cases in March
2 Poaching Cases
4 Elephant Cases
March Report by Dr. Poghon Jeremiah The rains are still low in the Tsavo and Coast Ecosystems with surface water drying up and the pastures becoming scarce. The cases are still low, and the Unit attended to 10 cases in the month. Cases included post-mortem of a rhino carcass in Chyulu Hills National Park and two elephants, one at Ol Donyo Wuas and the other at Mgeno Ranch, treatment of a zebra at Kaluku, an elephant bull with arrow wound at Danisa area and a cheetah for mang. Also, the Unit also investigated mortalities of African laughing Doves at Thabalgunji area Tsavo East. Acknowledgement The Unit acknowledges the support of its sponsors ViER PFOTEN through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for their huge financial support to the Unit. We also thank Kenya Wildlife Service through the Assistant director Tsavo Conservation Area and the Head, Veterinary Services Department.
Case Details Date
Species
Area Found
Reason for Intervention
Outcome
3-Mar-22
Giraffe
Shimba Hills Reserve
Natural Causes
Giraffe was quite old, had poor body condition and had general body weakness
Prognosis Poor
4-Mar-22
Elephant
Tsavo East NP
Rescue
The elephant calf had gotten stuck at the Sentrim water hole overnight
Reunited with Mother
5-Mar-22
Elephant
Chyulu Hills
Postmortem
Carcass was in good condition but there were bruises on the left side of the body
Died
8-Mar-22
Elephant
Tsavo East NP
Arrow
Had an arrow projecting on the left lateral side of the body
Successfully Treated
8-Mar-22
Zebra
Kaluku
Natural Causes
Had bruises and lacerations at the hock joint also had bruises and laceration on the neck
Successfully Treated
8-Mar-22
Rhino Black
Chyulu Hills
Postmortem
The animal had poor body condition could have lead to recumbency and death
Died
9-Mar-22
Cheetah
Taita Ranches
Natural Causes
Mites had infested the paws and he had difficulty in walking and hunting
Successfully Treated
9-Mar-22
Lion
Tsavo East NP
Postmortem
The lion carcass had several bruises on the body torso and four puncture wounds
Died
10-Mar-22
Other
Tsavo East NP
Research/ Survey
Mass mortalities of African laughing doves were noticed around the water points
Task Successful
30-Mar-22
Elephant
Taita Ranches
Arrow
The elephant carcass had arrow wounds on the left laterals side of the body
Poaching Death
SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations March 2022
Case 1 – 3rd March 2022 Giraffe
Natural Causes
Shimba Hills National Park
The Giraffe was seen having abnormal gait and walked with difficulty by KWS Rangers manning the Reserve. The hind limbs were observed to have slight weakness and the Giraffe felt pain upon exerting weight on the left forelimb, hence the need for urgent clinical examination and treatment. Examination The Vet Unit found the giraffe to be quite old, in poor body condition and exhibited general body weakness. A decision not to anaesthetise the giraffe was arrived at as the poor body condition posed too many anaesthesia risks. The animal was left alone. Prognosis Prognosis is poor as the animal is in the end stages of life.
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Case 2 – 4th March 2022 Elephant
Rescue
Sentrim, Tsavo East NP
Tsavo Vet Unit received a report that the elephant calf had become stuck at the Sentrim waterhole overnight and the mother had tried to help him with no success.
Rescue The vet team rush to the area to help the stuck calf. The calf was in good body condition, active and alert. The mother and bull elephants surrounding the stuck calf were driven away to give room for the calf to be evacuated from the water hole. The calf was physically evacuated as the water hole was shallow enough and reunited with his mother.
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Case 3 – 5th March 2022 Elephant
Post-mortem
Ol Donyo Wuas, Chyulu
The carcass was in good body condition body condition score of 3 in scale of 5.There were bruises on the left lateral side of the body. The ivory tusks had been removed by the KWS security team. Post-mortem examination LIVER –The liver was enlarged, had rounded edges there was black colouration of the hepatic parenchyma, suspected hepatic melanosis. There was also a generalized icterous of the liver parenchyma. Stomach - the stomach was empty and bloated. The stomach blood vessels were congested and petechial haemorrhages on the walls if the stomach Mesentery – blood vessels were congested and prominent. The mesenteric fat had gelatinized and reddened. Peritoneum- large amount of straw coloured peritoneal fluid was observed in the peritoneum. Large and small in small- hyperaemic mucosa of the intestinal loop at the duodenum, also the large intestines showed a clear margin of hyperaemia and congestion of the intestinal blood vessels. Cause of death Gastrointestinal obstruction and liver failure.
Case 4 – 8th March 2022 Elephant
Arrow
Danisa, Tsavo East NP
The elephant was observed having an arrow projecting from the left lateral side of the body and pus was oozing out of the wound hence the need to urgently treat the animal. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was immobilized with 18mg of Etorphine and was immobilised after 12 minutes. Cold water was poured onto the ears and the entire body to keep him cool before proceeding with physical examination. Examination revealed the arrowhead had fallen off and left a 6” deep puncture wound, which was infected and oozing pus. The elephant was in good body condition. The wound was cleaned and debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, disinfected with Tincture of Iodine and sealed with medical clay. The elephant was also administered with 20mg of dexamethasone intravenously. Prognosis He was revived using 24mg Diprenorphine and 40mg Naltrexone and re-joined his family group. Prognosis for recovery was good as timely treatment was done.
Case 5 – 8th March 2022 Zebra
Natural Causes
Kaluku, Tsavo East NP
The zebra was observed to have swollen hind limbs at the level of both hock joints. It had bruises and wound lacerations at the hock joint and to the neck and cheek muscles. The stallion showed moderate lameness and treatment and management of the wounds was indicated.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The stallion was immobilized using 8mg Etorphine combined with 60mg Azaperone Hcl, and he went down after 9 minutes. Cold water was poured on to the body to aid in cooling the animal as it was a hot day. The eyes were covered using a blind fold. The wounds were examined then cleaned with Iodine and 300mg Amoxicillin tryhydrate given IM. Prognosis The zebra was revived using 24mg of Diprenophine IV. The prognosis was good as the wounds were healing and treatment given appropriately.
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Case 6 – 8th March 2022 Black Rhino
Post-mortem
Mukururo, Chyulu Hills
The report was received from the warden Chyulu hills National Park F coy, that a rhino carcass had been spotted inside Chyulu Hills National Park. The Vet was airlifted to the area to attend and perform autopsy. Post-mortem examination The carcass was found deep in the forest, on its left flank after rolling down a 20m slope. It was in mid-level decomposition with scavenger activity. The two horns had sloughed off and were secured by KWS. No penetrating wounds were found but the neck had an old healed snare wound, (which had been treated). The skeleton was normal but the muscle cover was very thin – a sign of poor body condition. The abdominal cavity, intestines and stomach were all normal. Liver, kidney, spleen and heart were all decomposed. Cause of death The significant findings were poor body condition for unknown cause, previous snare injury, animal was mature but no know actual age, the GIT was in good condition and it was feeding well prior to death. The animals poor body condition could have led to recumbency and death. The cause of death was deemed natural as there was no pathological finding observed to indicate otherwise.
Case 7 – 9th March 2022 Cheetah
Natural Causes
Kulalu, Taita Hills
The cheetah was observed to have scars and scratching a lot for a long period of time. Mites had infested the paws and he had difficulty in walking and hunting. The body condition was poor (2 in the score of 5).
Immobilisation, examination and treatment The cheetah was immobilized with 50mg Ketamine and 80mg Meditomidine. As it was extremely hot, cold water was poured over the body and rectal temperature was monitored constantly so the animal didn’t become hyperthermic. Skin scrapings were sampled for laboratory processing and diagnosis, then 0.2mg of Ivermectin was administered subcutaneously and 4mg of dexamethasone given IM. Prognosis The animal was monitored for about an hour for the amount of Ketamine in the system to reduce then he was revived using 2.5 mg of Atipemazole Hcl and 20mg of Yohimbine Hcl given intramuscularly. Prognosis is good
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Case 8 – 9th March 2022 Lion
Post-mortem
Aruba Lodge, Tsavo East NP
A lioness carcass was reported at Aruba lodge area, the TMVU went to the area to access and conduct a post-mortem of the lioness carcass. Post-mortem examination Upon reaching the site, the lion carcass had several bruises on the body torso and four puncture wounds. The carcass was about two days old. The puncture wounds were in the right lateral side of the body around the scapular region and at the left lateral side of the body, also the perineal area was had a deep puncture wound that was oozing bloody serous fluid. Cause of death Due to the evidence presented the lioness had engaged fight with buffalo had the puncture wounds inflicted to her.
Case 9 – 10th March 2022 Laughing Doves
Research/Survey
Tsavo East National Park
Mass mortalities of African laughing doves were noticed around the water points. It has been observed for about a week. The birds showed weakness, in-coordination, and thirst for water before they die. Post-mortem examination There were over 100 carcasses around the water point, the predators and birds of prey had consumed some of the carcasses and the weak birds. The live birds showed, weakness and emaciation,circling and Incoordination , gasping for breath, star-gazing and nasal and oral serous discharges. Post-mortem examination of the carcasses revealed that the lungs were very congested and hemorrhagic, there was frothiness upon palpation and they were very edematous. The tracheal blood vessels were congested and petecheal haemorrhages were observed at the trachea. Samples taken included, cloacae swabs, nasopharyngeal swabs and lungs and liver. Cause of death Pigeon paramyxovirus infection/Newcastle disease infection
Case 10 – 30th March 2022 Elephant
Post-mortem
Mgeno Ranch
The elephant carcass was seen the day before by herds men who then informed the Wildlife Works Team. Post-mortem examination The carcass had an arrow on the left side of the body which had swollen due to the effects of the arrow. • •
There was blood coloured fluid in the peritoneum of about 100 l in volume Large/Small intestines: were hyperaemic and the intestinal blood vessels were congested
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The intestinal loops were empty, tympanic, and yellow coloured mucoid fluid covered the intestinal mucosa. There were necrotic lesions on the wall of the intestines which upon scraping the intestinal wall peeled off easily. The mesenteric fat had gelatinized and the fat had blood stains. The mesenteric blood vessels were congested and the haemorrhages were seen on the serosa of the intestines. The liver: The liver had a cooked appearance and upon palpation soft and fragile, it had decomposing, necrotic lesion on the parenchyma
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Cause of death Systemic poisoning caused by a poisoned arrow.