SWT/KWS TSAVO MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
APRIL 2023
Introduction
12 Cases in April 2 Big Cat Cases 6 Elephant Cases
April Report by Dr. Campaign Limo
The Tsavo Conservation Area generally received moderate to good precipitation. There was plenty of water and forage for wildlife; therefore, wild animals retreated to deep thickets with significant vegetation cover. The Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 12 cases in April. These involved 6 elephants, 2 lions, 2 elands and 2 zebras. Most interventions were attributed to natural causes. However, there was a snared zebra foal, 2 elephants with spear injuries, 1 elephant with an arrow wound and 1 elephant calf that was rescued after it was confirmed to have been abandoned by its mother.
Acknowledgement
The Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit would like to appreciate all the stakeholders who facilitated monitoring, rescue and clinical interventions undertaken over this period. We also thank the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for its ongoing sponsorship and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) management for providing technical support.
Case Details
SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
April 2023
Elephant Arrow Teita Sisal Estate
The ranch patrol team spotted an elephant bull with an injury on the left hind leg and informed the ranch management. This information was then relayed to the Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The bull was with an elephant herd and attempts to dart it from the ground proved difficult due to vegetation cover and challenging terrain. Aerial assistance was immediately offered by the SWT upon request. The elephant bull was darted from a helicopter with 17 mgs Etorphine It took 8 minutes for the drugs to take full effect. The elephant assumed right lateral recumbency and upon close examination, a deep wound was observed on the animal’s left lateral thigh muscles. The wound was most likely caused by poisoned arrow, it had red tinged to straw coloured discharge. Damaged devitalized muscle tissue was surgically excised and debrided with Hydrogen peroxide. The wound was cleaned with water, infused with Iodine and packed with green clay. Long-acting amoxicillin antibiotic and flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories were administered intramuscularly then anaesthesia was reversed with 24 mg Diprenorphine hydrochloride and 150 mg Naltrexone given through a prominent ear vein. The bull rose 3 minutes post reversal and re-joined the herd.
Prognosis
The elephant has a good prognosis
Elephant Arrow Sato Waterhole Area, Tsavo East N.P.
A SWT Pilot spotted an elephant bull with a big open wound and tissue hanging from the ventral abdominal region. The elephant bull had been treated previously for an arrow wound on the abdominal region.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant was darted from a vehicle with 20mgs Etorphine. It took 8 minutes for the bull to be fully immobilized. It assumed right lateral recumbency and upon examination a big wound ventral to the abdomen and communicating with the previously treated arrow wound on the left lateral abdominal region was observed The necrotic tissue hanging on the ventral wound was removed. The pyogenic membrane and damaged devitalized muscle tissues was surgically excised then the wound was debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, cleaned with water, infused with Iodine and packed with green clay. 30,000mg long-acting Amoxicillin antibiotic was given intramuscularly then the bull was revived with 36 mg Diprenorphine chloride and 150 mg Naltrexone given intravenously through a prominent ear vein.
Prognosis
The bull rose after 3 minutes and walked to the nearby herd. It has a favourable prognosis
Eland Natural Causes Nguuni Sanctuary, Mombasa
An eland was seen by sanctuary staff with a foetus head hanging from the vulva area for 24 hours.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The eland was weak, and the foetus head could be seen hanging from the vulva region. It was immobilized with 7mgs Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone. Closer examination revealed a dead emphysematous foetus with normal presentation. The eland was experiencing dystocia possibly due to a nutrition related cause given the recent drought The foetus was removed using traction with obstetric ropes Lubricant was applied to ease the traction process. The forelimbs were pulled out first then the head and the rest of the foetus was removed. During the delivery process, the eland was intravenously put on ringer’s lactate. Long-acting Amoxicillin antibiotics and dexamethasone anti-inflammatories were administered intramuscularly, and the uterine area was lavaged with dilute Iodine. Anaesthesia was reversed with 12 mg Diprenorphine hydrochloride and 100 mg Naltrexone given through the jugular vein. The eland rose after 3 minutes.
Prognosis
This eland showed great improvement for the first two days after joining its herd, but it died suddenly after the 3rd day due to stress induced pneumonia as per the post-mortem findings. This was possibly caused by heavy rains that night
Lion Natural Causes
Ndololo, Tsavo East National Park
Research scientist on a routine lion census spotted a weak, young adult lioness with multiple wounds
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The lioness was found alone, it was beside a road leading to Voi gate. The lioness appeared weak, and it had multiple wounds on the right lateral abdomen and thoracic regions and another one on the lower jaw. The lion was darted from a vehicle with 220 mg Ketamine and 4.8 mg Medetomidine and was fully immobilized after 8 minutes. Close examination revealed several wounds on the right lateral abdomen and thoracic regions which were small and a fresh major wound on the lower jaw that had left part of the lower lip tissue hanging. The wounds were possibly acquired as the lioness tried to bring down prey. The wounds were disinfected with Iodine, infused with cloxacillin antibiotic ointment, and sprayed with topical antibiotic spray. Long-acting Amoxicillin antibiotics and Dexamethasone anti-inflammatories were given intramuscularly then anaesthesia was reversed 1-hour post-darting with 18.75 mg Yohimbine administered intravenously through the femoral vein. The lion rose 9 minutes post-reversal and walked back to the bush.
Prognosis
The lioness has a good prognosis.
Zebra
Natural Causes Manga Area
The SWT-KWS De-snaring Unit spotted a lame female common zebra foal with a swollen carpus on the right forelimb. The zebra foal was seen along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The foal was found alongside its mother in a herd of zebras. The zebra foal had a swollen right carpus with pus oozing out of the injured limb. It was darted from a vehicle with 1 mg Etorphine combined with 40 mg Azaperone. The drugs took full effect 6 minutes post-darting.
Two small wounds were observed on the swollen carpus, they were both oozing pus. The wounds were debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with water, disinfected with Iodine, and sprayed with topical antibiotic spray. Long-acting Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories were administered intramuscularly. Ivermectin was also administered subcutaneously to control external and internal parasites
Prognosis
Anaesthesia was reversed with 12mg Diprenorphine hydrochloride delivered intravenously through the jugular vein. The zebra woke up 3 minutes post reversal and joined it mother and the zebras nearby.
The zebra foal has a good prognosis
Lion Natural Causes Pipeline Area, Tsavo East National Park
An injured lioness that could barely move was seen by visitors to the park who then informed park management.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The lioness was found beside a small waterhole, it could barely move and was clearly paralyzed on the hind legs. The animal was also in pain. The lioness was darted from a vehicle with 220 mg Ketamine and 4.4 mg Medetomidine. It was fully anaesthetized after 10 minutes.
Close examination revealed bite wounds on the animal’s hind legs and a big bite wound causing dislocation of the lumbar vertebrae. The injuries were possibly inflicted during a fight with other lions. Given the animal’s poor prognosis, it was put to rest to alleviate further pain and suffering.
Prognosis
The lioness was put to rest given its poor prognosis. A post-mortem carried out thereafter found shattered lumber vertebrae with multiple fragments around the spine.
Elephant Spear Ziwani Area
A SWT pilot an elephant bull with an injury on the left thigh.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The bull was found alone, a wound was visible on its left thigh muscles. Another wound was also seen on the left side at the lateral abdominal region. The animal was darted from a helicopter with 20 mgs Etorphine and was fully immobilized 10 minutes later Close examination revealed a wound on the animal’s left gluteus muscle that had straw like discharge. The other wound on the left lateral abdomen was healing. The injuries were most likely inflicted by a spear. Treatment was done by surgically excising damaged devitalized muscle tissues and debriding the wounds with Hydrogen peroxide. The wounds were also rinsed with water, infused with Iodine, packed with green clay and sprayed topically with antibiotic spray. Long-acting Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories were administered intramuscularly then anaesthesia was reversed with 30 mg Diprenorphine hydrochloride and 150 mg Naltrexone administered via a prominent ear vein. The bull stood 2 minutes post reversal and walked into dense vegetation.
Prognosis
The elephant bull has a good prognosis
Elephant Rescue Ziwani Area
A SWT pilot spotted a male elephant calf (approx. 2 years old) with a big bull near Ziwani area.
Rescue
An attempt was made to push the duo to join the nearest elephant herd that was about a Kilometre away in the hope that the calf’s mother was in the herd. This proved to be futile since they eventually peeled away from the herd and moved off together. After about 8 hours of monitoring without any positive development, it was clear that the calf had been abandoned and had to be rescued since it could not survive without milk at its age.
The calf appeared to be bloated with obvious diarrhoea. It was manually restrained then sedated with 40 mgs Azaperone before being loaded onto a truck and translocated to the SWT Voi Elephant Rehabilitation Centre.
Prognosis
The elephant calf has a good prognosis.
Elephant Spear Ziwani Area
A SWT pilot spotted an elephant bull with a pus oozing wound at the base of the neck.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The bull was found alone, a round wound was visible behind the ear near the elbow joint. The wound had straw-coloured fluids oozing out of it. Another wound, that appeared to be healing with minimal discharge, was also seen on the animal’s left abdomen. The bull was darted from a helicopter with 20 mgs Etorphine.
Closer examination revealed a wound on the animal’s neck that was about 35 cm deep. It had a round margin and was most likely caused by a spear. Damaged devitalized muscle tissue was surgically excised then the wound was debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with water, infused with Iodine and packed with green clay. 45,000mg Amoxicillin and 5,000mg Flunixin meglumine were administered intramuscularly. The wound on the abdomen was not treated since it appeared to be healing well. However, monitoring was advised.
Prognosis
The bull stood 3 minutes post-reversal and walked into thick bush. The elephant bull has a good prognosis.
Elephant Natural Causes Voi Stockades, Tsavo East National Park
During routine feeding, a stockade keepers discovered that Ndotto was experiencing some discomfort in his trunk. Upon inspection, he was found to have a small stone stuck in his right nostril. Last year, there were 2 similar incidents necessitating the extraction of a stone from Ndotto’s nostrils.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
Ndotto was approached on foot and darted with 7 mg Etorphine hydrochloride. The drugs took effect 10 minutes later. Upon physical examination, a stone was seen in his right nostril not far from the exit. The irregular stone was gently grasped with forceps and pulled out. Oxytetracycline antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories were administered intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was reversed thereafter with 150 mgs Naltrexone administered via a prominent ear vein. He stood 2 minutes post-revival and joined the orphan herd that was waiting nearby.
Prognosis
Ndotto has a good prognosis
Eland Natural Causes Kaluku Stockades
Susu, a female eland based at Kaluku stockade, was reported to have ventured into the wild and returned with an injury around the eye.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
Susu was approached on foot and darted with 7 mgs Etorphine and 60 mgs Azaperone. Upon close examination, tissue destruction around the eye was observed, the injury was fresh, and the eye was dry with clear tear glands damaged The upper eyelid was put back in place first using a simple interrupted suture pattern. The tissues around the eye were reconstructed using the same simple interrupted suture pattern, the muscle layer was sutured first followed by the skin. During the surgery, the eye was irrigated with normal saline. The wound was disinfected with Iodine and infused with Cloxacillin antibiotic ointment. Long-acting Amoxicillin antibiotic and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories were administered intramuscularly. In addition, an injectable dewormer was given subcutaneously for internal and external parasite control Anaesthesia was reversed with 24 mg Diprenorphine hydrochloride and 50 mgs Naltrexone delivered intravenously through the jugular vein. Susu stood 3 minutes post reversal walked into the wild.
Prognosis
She later returned to the Kaluku stockades She has a favourable prognosis.
Zebra Snared Manyani Prison Area
The SWT-KWS De-snaring Unit spotted a zebra foal with a snared around the neck. The zebra was seen along the Mombasa - Nairobi highway near Manyani.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The foal was found beside its mother amidst a zebra herd. Immobilization was achieved with 1 mg Etorphine and 40 mg Azaperone. The drugs took effect 6 minutes later.
The snare was removed. Fortunately, no injuries were observed on the zebra’s neck. An anti-parasitic was administered subcutaneously then anaesthesia was reversed with 12 mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride delivered intravenously through the jugular vein. The foal stood 3 minutes post-reversal and joined its mother.
Prognosis
The zebra foal has a good prognosis