SWT/KWS TSAVO MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT
MARCH 2023
Introduction
14 Cases in March
March Report by Dr. Campaign Limo
2 Lion Cases
9 Elephant Cases
The Tsavo Conservation Area received no rain at the beginning of March, and extremely high temperatures were experienced throughout the month. Almost all the natural ponds dried up. However, there were clear signs of impending rain and at the end of the month some parts of the conservation area received some precipitation.
The SWT-KWS Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 14 Cases in March, most of the cases (9) attended to involved elephants, but there were 2 lion cases, 2 zebra cases and 1 giraffe case.
Acknowledgement
The Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit would like to appreciate the efforts made by various stakeholders towards the translocations, rescues and clinical interventions carried out within the Tsavo Conservation Area. We wish to thank the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for the continuous facilitation and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) management for providing technical support
Case Details
SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations
March 2023
Elephant Arrow Kulalu Ranch
An elephant bull with an injury on its back was spotted by a SWT pilot on routine patrol.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The injured elephant bull was found in a herd of over 100 elephants. A wound was visible on its left gluteus muscle. The bull was darted with 18 mgs Etorphine from a helicopter. It took 10 minutes for the drugs to take effect. Closer examination revealed a deep penetrating wound on the left gluteus muscle. The wound was most likely caused by a poisoned arrow. It had straw like discharge. Damaged devitalized muscle tissue was surgically excised then the wound was debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, lavaged with water using a 20 ml syringe to rinse deep into the wound, infused with Iodine, and packed with green clay. Long-acting Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories were administered intramuscularly before anaesthesia was reversed with 36 mg Diprenorphine hydrochloride and 150 mg Naltrexone given through a prominent ear vein. The bull stood 2 minutes post-reversal and walked back to join the herd.
Prognosis
The elephant bull has a good prognosis.
Elephant Human – Wildlife Conflict (Relocation) Release site: Rhino Valley
A SWT-KWS De-snaring Unit reported that an elephant bull was running rogue in the community area and posed a clear danger to people.
Capture and translocation
The elephant bull appeared fierce and enraged. It was roaming about with another adult male elephant and causing significant alarm The bull was darted with 18mg Etorphine from a helicopter, it was immobilized 7 minutes later. The animal was then collared by the Tsavo Trust team for movement monitoring and loaded onto an SWT truck for translocation to the release site in Rhino Valley, Tsavo West National Park. Dexamethasone anti-inflammatories were given intravenously in addition to 40 mg Azaperone given intramuscularly. 4 top up doses of 2 mg Etorphine were given during the translocation.
Revival
Anaesthesia was reversed with 24 mg Diprenorphine hydrochloride and 150 mg Naltrexone through a prominent ear vein at the release site in Rhino Valley, Tsavo West National Park. The bull stood 2 minutes later and walked into the wild.
Elephant Human – Wildlife Conflict (Relocation) Release site: Tsavo Triangle
This elephant bull was with the rogue male elephant translocated to Rhino valley on 02nd March 2023 (Case 2). They were roaming in the community area and were causing significant alarm. The SWT helicopter pilot and KWS personnel tried herding the elephant out of community area and into Park through a temporarily disabled section of the electric with no success. This prompted them to request the Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit to translocate the elephant to the park.
Capture and translocation
The elephant was found in the community area, and it was posing a significant danger to people. It was darted from a helicopter with 20 mgs Etorphine and was fully sedated 10 minutes later. The animal was then loaded onto an SWT truck and translocated to the Tsavo Triangle near the Athi River. 3 top up doses of 2 mg Etorphine each were administered during translocation.
Reversal
Reversal at the release site was achieved with 36 mg Diprenorphine hydrochloride and 150 mg Naltrexone given intravenously through a prominent ear vein. The elephant stood 2 minutes post reversal and walked across the nearby Athi river and further into Tsavo East National Park
Elephant Arrow Galana Wildlife Conservancy
While on patrol, a SWT pilot observed an adult male elephant with a wound at the base of the tail. The wound had pus like content.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The wound was visible on the right gluteus superficialis muscle at the base of the tail. The elephant bull was darted from a helicopter with 20 mgs Etorphine. Upon closer examination, a deep penetrating wound (about 35 cm deep) was observed. It had straw like discharge and tissue reaction was seen. The wound was most likely caused by a poisoned arrow. Damaged devitalized muscle tissues were surgically excised then the wound was flushed with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with water, infused with Iodine, and packed with green clay. 30,000 mg long-acting Amoxicillin antibiotics and 5,000 mg Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories were given intramuscularly. Anaesthesia reversal was achieved with 36 mg Diprenorphine hydrochloride and 150 mg Naltrexone given intravenously through a prominent ear vein. The bull stood 2 minutes post reversal and walked to a nearby herd.
Prognosis
The elephant has a good prognosis.
Zebra Snared Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
While on their way to attend to a case reported by Taita Hills Sanctuary, the Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit came across an adult female zebra with a tight wire snare around the neck. The zebra had a foal by its side.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The snared zebra was darted from a vehicle with 6 mg Etorphine and 40 mg Azaperone, complete sedation was achieved after 7 minutes. Closer examination revealed that the wire snare tightly bound around the animal’s neck had not inflicted any injuries. The snare was removed then anaesthesia was reversed with 24 mgs Diprenorphine hydrochloride delivered intravenously through the jugular vein. The zebra woke up 2 minutes post reversal and joined its foal and other zebras in the area.
Prognosis
The zebra has a good prognosis.
Zebra Snared Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
The Taita Hills Sanctuary patrol team reported a zebra stallion with a huge wire snare around the neck and the right hind leg The snare had inflicted a wound on the leg and was restricting movement.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The zebra was immobilized with 7 mg Etorphine and 60 mg Azaperone, and the drugs took effect within 7 minutes. The animal was in good body condition. The wire snare comprised several strands that were firmly bound around the neck, a section of the long snare had also entangled the zebra’s right hind leg inflicting a wound at the proximal end of the hock joint. The zebra was freed of the snare then devitalized tissues on the wound were removed. The wound was then debrided with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with Iodine and topical antibiotic spray applied. Long-acting Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatories were injected intramuscularly then anaesthesia was reversed with 36 mg Diprenorphine hydrochloride delivered intravenously through the jugular vein. The zebra woke up 2 minutes post reversal and joined other zebras nearby.
Prognosis
The zebra stallion has a good prognosis
Lion Natural Causes Ngutuni Lodge
The Tsavo Trust team reported seeing an injured lioness that had difficulty walking due to injuries on the hind legs. The lioness had 2 cubs.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The lioness was found with both cubs, she appeared weak, and pus oozing wounds were observed on her dorsal back. The lioness had trouble moving her back, and she seemed to be in pain. She was darted from a vehicle with 220 mg Ketamine and 4.8 mg Medetomidine and was fully sedated after 10 minutes. Upon closer examination, deep severely septic bite wounds were seen on her back. Vertebrae could be felt, and the wounds were oozing pus. Septic wounds were also observed on the hind legs. According to the vet, the wounds were incurred during a fight with other lions. They were flushed with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with water, disinfected with Iodine, infused with Cloxacillin antibiotic ointment and sprayed with a topical antibiotic spray. Broad-spectrum Amoxicillin antibiotics and Dexamethasone anti-inflammatories were given intramuscularly then anaesthesia was reversed with Yohimbine 18.75 mg administer intravenously through the femoral vein 1 hour after darting. The lioness stood 10 minutes later and walked back to her pride.
Prognosis
The lioness has a good prognosis
Lion Natural Causes Pipeline Area, Tsavo East National Park
Tourists informed the Senior Warden that they had seen an adult male lion with porcupine quills in the neck.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The lion was found with a lioness close by and a pride of lions around them. Two porcupine quills could be seen dangling from the animal’s neck. Restraint was achieved chemically with 250 mg Ketamine and 6 mg Medetomidine. The lion was darted from a vehicle, and it took 10 minutes for full immobilization to be achieved. The pride was driven away to facilitate treatment. The quills were located on the ventral side of the thoracic region. Several wounds from other quills that the lion had removed were also seen on the ventral neck, abdomen and lateral thorax. Removal of quills was done manually, all wounds were cleaned with water, disinfected with Iodine, infused with Cloxacillin antibiotic ointment and antibiotic spray applied topically. 3,300 mg Amoxicillin antibiotics and 24 mg Dexamethasone sodium anti-inflammatories were dispensed intramuscularly. Additionally, 50mg Ivermectin was given subcutaneously to control internal and external parasites. Anaesthesia was reversed with 25 mg Yohimbine given intravenously through the femoral vein. The lion woke up 13 minutes later. The team waited until the lion joined its pride.
Prognosis
The lion has a good prognosis.
Elephant Natural Causes Tiva River
A SWT-KWS De-snaring Unit reported a young elephant bull with a swollen lower forelimb
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The young bull had a swelling below the carpus of his left front leg. There was a small wound at the carpometacarpal joint. The elephant was darted from the air with 15 mgs Etorphine. Upon close examination, a small wound was seen between the carpo-metacarpal joint deep into the articulating bones. The wound appeared fresh, it had bloody discharge and some slight pus around the opening. Damaged devitalized tissues were surgically excised then the wound was flushed with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with water, and disinfected with Iodine before it was packed with green clay. Long-acting Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatory were given intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was then reversed with 18 mg Diprenorphine hydrochloride and 100 mg Naltrexone given through a prominent ear vein. The bull stood 2 minutes post-reversal and walked towards a nearby herd.
Prognosis
The young elephant bull has a good prognosis.
