SWT/KWS TSAVO MOBILE VETERINARY UNIT AUGUST 2019
Introduction
11 Cases in August
4 Poaching Cases
5 Elephant Cases
August Report by Dr. Jeremiah Poghon Wildlife cases handled in the region in the month of August 2019 include several wildlife deaths from suspected Anthrax (not confirmed) in Ngulia valley, Tsavo West, one elephant cow was euthanized near Voi gate and another young bull in Aruba water hole due to a motor vehicle accident and falling into a water trough respectively. A lion was treated for snare wound on the neck, an elephant bull was treated for arrow wound, autopsy was undertaken on an elephant cow carcass and finally an autopsy undertaken on a lioness carcass. With the region experiencing its driest months, cases of wildlife deaths will increase mainly due to natural deaths of old and very young herbivores Acknowledgement We thank the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT) for Mobile Unit Funding as well as material and aerial support, and KWS for logistical support and security.
Case Details Date
Species
Area Found
13-Aug-19
Elephant
Tsavo East NP
13-Aug-19
Waterbuck
13-Aug-19
Reason for Intervention
Outcome
HumanWildlife Conflict
Had complete multiple fractures caused by a possible vehicle collision
HWC Death
Tsavo East NP
Human Wildlife Conflict
Ran into a fence trying to avoid being captured by humans
Prognosis Poor
Elephant
Tsavo East NP
Postmortem
A case of colic was preceded by a torsion of a portion of the intestines
Died
14-Aug-19
Lion
Tsavo East NP
Snared
Deeply cutting snare around the neck
Successfully Treated
14-Aug-19
Lion
Tsavo East NP
Natural Causes
Shallow wound to the right paw pad
Successfully Treated
15-Aug-19
Elephant
Galana Conservancy
Snared
Deep cutting snare around the head and neck
Successfully Treated
17-Aug-19
Elephant
Tsavo East NP
HumanWildlife Conflict
Broken leg due to a vehicle accident and fell into a water hole
Died
17-Aug-19
Antelope
Tsavo East NP
Snared
Loose snare that didn’t cause injury but required removal
Successfully Treated
20-Aug-19
Elephant
Tsavo East NP
Arrow
The elephant had two wounds to the left side caused by an arrow
Successfully Treated
27-Aug-19
Antelope
Tsavo West NP
Research/ Survey
Investigating wildlife deaths possibly related to anthrax
Task Successful
Lion
Tsavo East NP
Human Wildlife Conflict
Post-mortem was inconclusive but poisoning was suspected
HWC Death
29-Aug-19
SWT/KWS Tsavo Mobile Vet Unit Treatment Locations August 2019
. Case
1 – 13th August 2019
Elephant
Human-wildlife Conflict
Voi Gate, Tsavo East National Park
A report was made that an elephant was observed recumbent and unable to rise along one of the park roads close to the Voi Gate of the Tsavo East National Park. The vet unit rushed to the area. Immobilisation and examination A syringe containing 5mg of Etorphine (M99) was prepared and administered through the ear vein and the elephant was immobilised in 1 and a half minutes. Examination revealed complete, multiple fractures of the right hindlimb at the level of the tibia-fibula complex. Due to proximity to the road and the wound type, it was likely hit by a vehicle. Prognosis and Management With the severity of the fracture being untreatable, especially for an animal this size and with wild conditions, the elephant was euthanised to end its suffering as well as for animal welfare concerns. Following euthanasia, the elephant was handed over to KWS rangers for tusk removal.
Case 2 – 13th August 2019 Waterbuck
Human-wildlife Conflict
SWT Stockade, Tsavo East National Park
It was reported that the calf was involved in an attempt by humans to trap it for bushmeat. While evading the humans, the calf ran into a chain-link fence and fell. Since the fall, the calf has been unable to rise. She is drinking milk and water when offered but had made no improvements in the 2 and a half weeks since the incident, even with supportive therapies. Examination A full exam of the waterbuck showed that the source of trauma may be the head or in the region of the cervical vertebrae along her spine. She still made no successful attempts to rise and was compliant to examination. Prognosis With the duration of recumbency, the prognosis of her being able to rise again is poor due to the level of muscle atrophy.
Case 3 – 13th August 2019 Elephant
Post-mortem
SWT Stockade, Tsavo East National Park
A report was made that an elephant had been spotted in the Ndara Plains area of Tsavo East National Park. An autopsy was requested to be undertaken to ascertain the cause of death. The vet unit rushed to the area by road. Examination The carcass was lying on the left side. The right mammary gland had been scavenged on but no other injuries to the external anatomy were observed. Faeces were matted on the perineal region as well as the ground she was laying on suggested that she struggled in one place before death. The carcass was in mid-level putrefaction with a moderate amount of bloating observed. The gastrointestinal system had scanty digestive content suggesting that she had not eaten for the past 3-4 days. A gravid uterus was observed with a foetus of about 18-19 months of age. Cause of Death It is possible that a case of colic was preceded by a torsion of a portion of the intestines or a physical obstruction of the digestive system leading to debilitating pain and eventual death.
Case 4 and 5 – 14th August 2019 Lion
Snare/Natural Causes
Sala Gate, Tsavo East National Park
One lion was observed by tourists to have a snare around its neck in the area near the Sala Gate within Tsavo East National Park. Once spotted again and the vet team informed, the team travelled by road to the area. After observing the lion with the snare, it was noted that his male companion was limping on his right forelimb. A decision was made to anesthetize both lions and attend to their injuries. Immobilisation, examination and treatment Both lions were immobilised using Ketamine and Medetomidine HCl. The snared lion went down after 9 minutes while the other walked away and was found down at approximately 11 minutes after darting. The snare had cut deeply into the skin and subcutaneous tissues with some involvement of the muscle on lateral aspects of the neck. The snare was cut loose and wound washed with water, followed by application of tincture of iodine, Oxytetracycline spray, and finally the green clay. A shallow wound was observed on his right paw pad which was treated with Oxytetracycline spray. The second lion had a shallow wound on his right paw pad causing the limp. Dilute Hydrogen peroxide, tincture of Iodine and Oxytetracycline spray were used to treat the wound. Both Lions were administered with long acting antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Prognosis Follow up revealed the Lions were seen several days after treatment doing very well.
Case 6 – 15th August 2019 Elephant
Snare
Galana Conservancy
The elephant was observed with a snare around her head and neck by tourists in the Galana Conservancy. For three weeks, air and road patrols searched for the elephant to attempt to locate her. A sighting near Kulalu Camp was reported and the vet was airlifted to the area by SWT aircraft to prevent the risk that visuals on the elephant would be lost again. Immobilisation, examination and treatment The elephant was approached and darted from the air with the SWT chopper. The dart discharged into the ramp and she went down after 6 minutes. The snare was diagonally circumventing her head, face and neck. Once the snare was cut and removed, the wound was thoroughly washed with water to assess the wound severity. The wound was mostly involving subcutaneous tissue with some muscle involvement around the lateral neck and the back of the ear. The wound was treated with dilute Hydrogen peroxide, Iodine, Oxytetracycline and green clay. The elephant also received supportive doses of long-acting antibiotic and Dexamethasone HCl. Prognosis She rose in under 2 minutes after anaesthetic reversal and walked away slowly. A good prognosis was given.
Case 7 – 17th August 2019 Elephant
Human-wildlife Conflict
Tsavo East National Park
A report was made that an elephant was observed trapped in a watering point and unable to exit. While trapped, hyenas had begun to predate on the elephant, rendering him severely injured on one hindlimb. The vet unit rushed to the area by road. Examination A syringe containing 5mg of Etorphine was prepared and administered through the ear vein. Due to the level of pain, it took the anaesthesia about 6 minutes to take effect. To fully examine the injury, large ropes were looped around two limbs and the TMVU vehicle pulled him out of the watering point. Examination revealed the injury to have a complete loss of the tissue surrounding the knee joint as well as the tissue of the tibia-fibula complex. The hyenas had also begun to gnaw away at his femur. It is likely the animal was hit by a vehicle and then fell into the watering hole and was unable to get out. Prognosis and Management As the injury was untreatable, the elephant was euthanised to end its suffering as well as for animal welfare concerns. The carcass was pulled using the vehicle away from the watering point and then handed over to KWS rangers for tusk removal.
Case 8 – 17th August 2019 Impala
Snared
Tsavo East National Park
It was reported that the impala had a snare around her neck and required treatment. The vet unit rushed to the area by road. Immobilisation, examination and treatment Darting equipment was prepared with 1.5mgs of Etorphine and 10mg of Xylazin. The impala was approached using the TVMU vehicle and darted in her right rump. The animal failed to go down after 12 minutes so was darted with another 2mg Etorphine and 20mg Xylazine into her right rump. After 5 minutes she was compliant to physical restraint. The snare had not severed the skin so it was easily removed. The dart sites were topically treated with Cloxacillin antibiotic and Oxytetracycline spray. Reversal and Prognosis The anaesthesia was reversed using a combination of 8.4mg Diprenorphine HCl and 1.5mg Atipamezole. The impala was released and walked away. Prognosis is good.
Case 9 – 15th August 2019 Elephant
Arrow
Tsavo East National Park
A report was made that the elephant bull was observed rubbing his left forelimb against rocks, with pus and blood seen on the rocks afterward. He also had a swelling on his left hind-limb. The vet was airlifted to the area by SWT aircraft to prevent the risk that visuals on the elephant would be lost. Immobilisation, examination and treatment After redirecting the elephant by chopper to an area that was easily accessible by a ground team, the elephant was darted from the air and he went down after 5 minutes. The elephant went down into right lateral recumbency which allowed for full access to his left side and the two wounds. The elephant had two wounds; one on the left tricep and the second on the left upper hind limb above the level of the knee joint. The team investigated the wounds to assess their nature and depth. A search for arrow tips was unsuccessful which suggest they came out. With no foreign bodies discovered, the wounds were cleaned with diluted Hydrogen peroxide followed by disinfection with tincture of Iodine. The wounds were then sprayed with Oxytetracycline, then the wound packed with abundant amount of green clay. The elephant also received supportive doses of long-acting Antibiotic and Dexamethasone. Reversal and Prognosis The anaesthesia was reversed and as he was within an area with thick bush, the team observed him from the chopper. He was seen walking 2 minutes after administration of the reversal. A good prognosis is given.
Case 10 – 27th August 2019 Impala/Zebra/Waterbuck
Research/Survey
Tsavo West National Park
Deaths of several wildlife species was reported on the 14th July 2019 and the Tsavo vet went to investigate the sudden death of a Buffalo in Komboyo area. Clinical and laboratory tests returned positive for B. Anthracis. The vet visited the area on 27/08/2019 after more deaths were reported by the pilot. Examination The team made the following observations: • •
9 carcasses of which 8 were Impala and 1 Zebra carcass discovered The carcasses were aged between 10 days and 2 days since time of death.
• • • • •
The carcasses were only scavenged by vultures (over 50 seen) and no other scavenger. The animals utilized hippo pools (lower one) for water, 6 live Impalas were seen nearby. The area is dry and dusty. Proper samples could not be collected as the vultures had reduced all the carcasses to skeletons. A Waterbuck carcass reported in the same location was not found.
Conclusion From the above observations there are two most probable reasons for the deaths. • Anthrax (suspected clinically but not confirmed). •
Water poisoning (unlikely as other animals are still using the water source
All teams in the park have been tasked to report any fresh wildlife carcass in the area as diagnosis of Anthrax depends highly on blood smears from a fresh carcass for accurate diagnosis.
Case 11 – 29th August 2019 Lion
Human-wildlife Conflict
Tsavo East National Park
A report was made that a dead lioness had been seen in the Ndara Plains area of Tsavo East National Park. An autopsy was requested to be undertaken to ascertain the cause of death. Examination The carcass was lying on the left side. The face and complete perineal region had been scavenged on but no other injuries to the external anatomy were observed. Track marks were observed showing she had died in a different location but was dragged by scavengers. The carcass was in mid-level putrefaction with a moderate amount of bloating observed. The stomach had liquid digestive content that was blood-tinged. Cause of Death Due to her proximity to the edge of the park, poisoning is suspected. To confirm the diagnosis, samples of the liver, kidney, and the digestive content were collected for laboratory analysis at the government chemist.
Other Activities •
The vet examined pieces of Ivory and wildlife carcasses confiscated from suspects and produced expert report for prosecution purposes.
•
The Vet testified in court where offenders were charged with being in possession of wildlife trophies.