Case
Lion
Natural Causes
Taita Saltlick Area
This problematic lioness was a candidate in a collar deployment exercise to monitor her pride’s movement, it was noted that she had a wound on the gum at the rostral mandible.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
She was immobilized with 4.8mg Medetomidine and 220mg Ketamine delivered in a 3cc Dan inject dart. The lioness was darted from the vehicle, and it took 11 minutes for the drugs to take effect.
Examination revealed a wound on the rostral mandible, the wound was suspected to be an injury inflicted by a bone during mastication. The wound was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected using dilute tincture of iodine. Additionally, the lioness received antibiotics and anti-inflamatories parenterally. Anaesthesia was reversed with 20mg Atipamezole given intramuscularly. She rose and slowly walked to rejoin her pride 12 minutes later.
Prognosis
The lioness has a good prognosis.
Elephant
Natural Causes Maungu
A lactating elephant cow in Maungu Ranch was seen limping by the KWS/Rukinga team.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant was approached on foot and successfully immobilized with 16mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. It took 8 minutes for full anaesthesia to be achieved.
Examination revealed that the left forelimb was affected, since no external wounds were observed, the limb was manipulated to rule out major fractures. Pain was suspected to be due to a strain on the left elbow. The cow was given Flunixin meglumine anti-inflammatory medication parenterally and the Ranger team was requested to monitor her progress. Anaesthesia was reversed with Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein. She rose and walked away 3 minutes later.
Prognosis
The elephant cow has a guarded prognosis
Lion Natural Causes Aruba Area, Tsavo East National Park
This lioness had been translocated a few months prior from Selenkei area in Kajiado County to Tsavo East National Park to mitigate livestock predation. She was weak and in poor body condition.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
It was noted that the lion was weak in both hind limbs with the right hind limb being more affected. She was successfully immobilized with a combination of 4mg Medetomidine and 180mg Ketamine. The lioness was darted from the vehicle, and it took 8 minutes for the drugs to achieve full effect.
Examination revealed that the lioness had several bite wounds on the lumbar and shoulder area. She was dehydrated, weak and in poor body condition i.e. 1 in a scale of 1 to 5. All wounds were cleaned, disinfected and infused with antibiotic cream followed by topical antibiotic spray. The monitoring collar was thereafter removed. The lioness was rehydrated, given antibiotics, anti-inflamatories and metabolic stimulants parenterally. Supplemental food was also provided for the lioness. The anaesthesia was reversed and she was alert after 10 minutes but still unable to rise due to poor hind limb coordination.
Prognosis
The lioness has a guarded prognosis
Giraffe Snared Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
This giraffe was seen by a SWT/KWS De-snaring Unit dragging a log attached to a snare on its right hind limb.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The Masai giraffe bull was successfully immobilized with a combination of 15mg Etorphine hydrochloride and 60mg Azaperone delivered remotely in a 3c Dan inject dart. The animal was darted from the vehicle, and it took 7 minutes for the drugs to take effect
Examination revealed a winch wire bound to the right hind limb, luckily the snare had not inflicted any wounds on the area. The snare was immediately cut loose using wire cutters. Topical antibiotic spray was applied on the small bruises on the area.
Anaesthesia was reversed with 200mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via the jugular vein. He rose 3 minutes later and hastily walked away to join a tower nearby.
Prognosis
The giraffe has a good prognosis.
Lion
Post-mortem Voi Office, Tsavo East National Park
This lioness had been treated a few days prior for fight wounds and general body weakness. She was found dead in the morning on 10/10/2024 by the SWT/KWS De-snaring Unit monitoring her progress. The carcass was delivered to the Veterinarian’s Office in Voi for postmortem examination.
Post-mortem findings
Musculo skeletal system
• The carcass was pale.
• The carcass was in poor body condition with very little muscle cover.
• There were haemorrhages at the lumbar spine and the shoulder area, these were as a result of trauma (bites).
Digestive system
• The stomach was full of fluid, trichobezoars and some small amount of ingested food.
• The intestines were empty.
Cause of death
Anaemia and dehydration coupled with Cachexia and its associated complications.
The fight wounds (bites to the lumbar spine) resulted in trauma to the spine and nerves supplying the hind limbs resulting in partial paralysis of the hind limbs. This coupled with cachexia due to starvation and unfamiliar environment after translocation resulted in the untimely death of this lioness.
Unfortunately, there are no pictures for this case.
Elephant Spear
Gonzani Area, Kwale County
This adult elephant bull was seen limping by a SWT/KWS De-snaring Unit in the area. He had a swollen left forelimb.
Immobilisation,
examination and treatment
The elephant was darted from a helicopter and successfully immobilized with 20mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. It took 7 minutes for the drug to take effect.
Examination revealed a deep wound on the elbow area of left forelimb, the wound was suspected to have been inflicted by a spear that also hit the bone and joint. The wound was thoroughly cleaned and debrided, flushed with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with water, and infused with tincture of Iodine. Antibiotic pessaries were thereafter introduced into the wound and antibiotic spray applied topically. Furthermore, the bull was given antibiotics and anti-inflammatories parenterally. Anaesthesia was reversed with 200mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein. He rose and slowly walked away 3 minutes later.
Prognosis
The elephant bull has a poor to guarded prognosis.
Human-Wildlife Conflict Shumba Valley Conservancy
The carcass of an adult male lion was found in Shumba Valley Conservancy in Kwale County on 13/10/2024.
Post-mortem findings
The carcass was found lying in right lateral recumbency 5O meters from his recent kill, a cow carcass. The lion appeared to have been in good body condition before death. Due to the degree of autolysis and extensive scavenging (the carcass was 4-5 days old) with dissolved internal organs, no meaningful post-mortem was done. Part of his decomposing liver was recovered for toxicological analysis. A few meters from the lion, 3 vulture carcasses were also found. The vultures had most likely scavenged on the lion carcass.
Cause of death
Poisoning was considered one of likely causes of death.
The lion’s decomposing liver, vomitus and vulture’s crop contents were collected for toxicological analysis. The vomitus, liver tissue of the lion and crop contents of the vulture were separately packed in sample bottles and submitted for analysis.
Giraffe Natural Causes Kishushe, Tsavo West National Park
A SWT/KWS De-snaring Unit found this adult male Masai giraffe in lateral recumbency unable to rise.
Examination and treatment
The giraffe was on right lateral recumbency, it had small wounds that had formed a scar on the medial surface of the distal thigh slightly above the knee joint. The knee joint area was swollen. The bull was old and had lost body condition. Efforts to help the giraffe rise were futile due to the injured knee and prolonged recumbency. The bull unfortunately succumbed shortly thereafter.
Post-mortem findings
Examination of the knee joint revealed abscesses on the lateral and medial aspect of the joint. The knee joint was intact with ecchymotic haemorrhages within the joint capsule. The healed wounds were suspected to be the route of entry of bacterial agents that resulted in the abscess formation and joint inflammation.
Cause of death
Exhaustion from repeated attempts to rise and complications associated with prolonged recumbency in giraffes.
Elephant Spear
This injured adult elephant bull was spotted by a SWT pilot during routine patrols. He had a wound on the proximal right forelimb.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The bull was successfully immobilized with 18mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from the helicopter, and it took 8 minutes for full anaesthesia to be achieved.
Examination revealed a deep wound on the proximal right forelimb slightly below the shoulder that was suspected to be a spear wound. The wound was thoroughly cleaned, flushed with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with water, and infused with tincture of Iodine solution, packed with antibiotic pessaries and covered with topical antibiotic spray. Additionally, Amoxicillin antibiotics and Flunixin anti-inflammatory medication was administered parenterally. Anaesthesia was reversed with 250mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein. The bull stood 2 minutes later.
Prognosis
The elephant bull has a good prognosis.
Tsavo West National Park
Case 10 – 17th October 2024
Elephant Snared Secluded Lodge, Mbulia
A SWT/KWS De-snaring Unit spotted this adult elephant bull dragging a wire snare secured on his right hindlimb.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant was darted from a helicopter and immobilized successfully with 17mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered remotely in a 3cc Dan inject dart. It took 9 minutes for full anaesthesia to be achieved.
Examination revealed a winch wire snare bound on the right hind limb at the tarsus level. Luckily, the snare had not inflicted any injuries on the limb
The snare was immediately cut loose using wire cutters then anaesthesia was reversed with 200mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein. He stood 3 minutes later and hastily walked away.
Prognosis
The elephant bull has a good prognosis.
Case 12 – 18th October 2024
Elephant Arrow Kamboyo, Tsavo West National Park
This injured elephant bull was spotted in the vicinity of Tsavo West NP near Kamboyo headquarters. It seemed he had recently arrived from an unknown location bearing a wound on his right flank.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant bull was darted from a helicopter and successfully immobilized with 20mg Etorphine hydrochloride. It took 10 minutes for full anaesthesia to be achieved. Examination revealed a wound that was oozing pus on the distal right flank. On probing the wound, a foreign object was felt within the wound. An incision was made at the edge of the wound to give access to the foreign body. Two fragments that were positively identified to be parts of an arrowhead were extracted from the wound. The wound was thereafter thoroughly cleaned, debrided, flushed with Hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with water, infused with tincture of Iodine, packed with antibiotic pessaries, and antibiotic spray applied topically Additionally, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories were administered parenterally. Anaesthesia was reversed with 200mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein.
Prognosis
The elephant bull has a good prognosis.
Elephant Arrow
Galana Ranch
This injured adult elephant bull was spotted by a SWT pilot during routine patrols, he had 2 wounds. One was on the left flank while the other was on the right rump area.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant bull was successfully immobilized with 21mg Etorphine hydrochloride delivered in a 3cc Dan inject dart. Darting was done from the helicopter, and it took 9 minutes for the drug to achieve full effect.
Examination revealed 2 arrow wounds oozing pus, one was on the left chest area while the other was on the right rump area. Both wounds were thoroughly cleaned, debrided and flushed with Hydrogen peroxide. They were then rinsed with water, infused with tincture of Iodine, and covered with a topical antibiotic spray. Additionally, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories were administered parenterally. Anaesthesia was reversed with 200mg Naltrexone hydrochloride given intravenously via a prominent ear vein. The bull stood 3 minutes later and hastily walked away.
Prognosis
The elephant bull has a good prognosis.
Elephant Spear Gonzani Area, Kwale County
This injured adult elephant bull had been treated a few weeks prior for a spear wound. However, his condition had continued to deteriorate making it difficult for him to move.
Immobilisation, examination and treatment
The elephant bull was approached on foot and successfully immobilized with 15mg Etorphine hydrochloride. It took 7 minutes for full anaesthesia to be achieved.
Examination revealed that the wound on the left elbow was still oozing pus, and the affected limb was swollen. Sadly, the bull’s prognosis was grave. Therefore, he was put to rest to alleviate further pain and suffering. A post-mortem examination was carried out thereafter.
Post-mortem findings
The postmortem revealed that the limb was inflamed, oedematous and had gelatinized fat. The joint capsule was necrotized with calcified tissues surrounding the area. There was direct access to the joint capsule through the spear wound. The spear blow to the joint resulted in severe arthritis due to introduction of pyogenic bacteria and elbow dysplasia resulting in pain and lameness.
