EASTERN CONSERVATION AREA VETERINARY UNIT MONTHLY REPORT MARCH 2018

Report by: Bernard Rono

Veterinary Officer

Summary

This report describes the activities of the Meru veterinary unit in March 2018. The unit responded to several cases including the removal of a snare from an elephant trunk and treatment of snare wounds on a reticulated giraffe in Meru National Park. We also attended to a tracker dog which suffered from Trypanosomiasis, a disease transmitted by tsetse fly which is endemic to Meru park. In Lerata Community Land, Samburu we attended to a Grevy zebra which suffered a ruptured achilles tendon. 

The unit participated in an elephant translocation from Lewa/ Borana conservancies to the larger Tsavo West national park to reduce human elephant conflict in the area. The unit acknowledges support of the David Sheldrick wildlife Trust and KWS management which has enabled timely and effective veterinary intervention to Wildlife in northern Kenya.

CASE#1: TRANSLOCATION OF ELEPHANTS FROM BORANA/LEWA CONSERVANCY TO TSAVO WEST NATIONAL PARK

Date: March 7 - 16, 2018

Species: African Elephant (Loxodanta africana)

Capture site: Borana/ Lewa conservancy

Release site: Tsavo West National park

History

The elephant monitoring team in Lewa identified nine (9) bull elephants as frequent fence breakers and the cause of human-elephant conflict to communities living around Borana/ Lewa conservancy. These animals have been monitored over the years and have been identified and recommended for translocation to Tsavo West National park.

Capture and Translocation Process

The elephants were located and darted from a helicopter then recovered using a lorry fitted with a lifting crane and moved to the loading bay where they were loaded onto the transportation truck and revived from anaesthesia. The Meru Mobile Veterinary Unit participated in this very important exercise.

CASE #2: TRACKER DOG TREATMENT FOR CANINE TRYPANOSOMIASIS

Date: 17th March 2018

Name: Paco

Sex: Male

Species: Dog - Malanois

Age: 43 months

Weight: 25kgs

History

The dog presented with a history of reduced appetite, general body weakness and blindness.

Examination and treatment

Examination revealed a temperature of 38.9°C, capillary refill time of 3 seconds, swollen prescapular lymph nodes and pale mucous membranes. The blood smear showed Trypanosomes while a complete blood cell count showed a low PCV at 16%. Eye examination showed: bilateral superficial keratitis with blepharospasms. The diagnosis was Canine trypanosomiasis with secondary bilateral keratitis

The dog was given a Diminazine aceturate 140mg subcutaneous injection which was repeated on the 19/03/2018, Gentamicin/ Dexamethasone eye drops which were needed daily for 7 days and Hematinic syrup.

Prognosis

Subsequent review on March 23rd showed bright alert demeanor, pink mucous membranes, increased weight (28kg) and good appetite. Although the dog had responded well to anti-trypanocidal treatment, its eyes required further attention hence it was referred to a specialist.

CASE #3: TREATMENT OF SNARE WOUND IN A RETICULATED GIRAFFE

Date: 20th March 2018

Species: Reticulated giraffe

Sex: Male                  

Location: Meru National Park

History

The giraffe had a swelling and open wound slightly proximal to the pastern joint possibly from a wire snare. The animal presented with weight bearing lameness.

Immobilization, examination and treatment

The giraffe was immobilized with 12mg Etorphine hcl and 40mg Azaperone tartarate combined in one intramuscular 3ml Dan-inject dart following a car chase.

There was no snare on the limb but the wound around the limb was clearly caused by a stricture characteristic of wire snares. The swollen part of the limb was hard in consistency possibly due to prolonged restriction of circulation. The tissue was however still viable.

The wound was cleaned, debrided using dilute hydrogen peroxide and disinfected using dilute tincture iodine then covered adequately with Oxytetracycline aerosol. The giraffe was treated with Amoxicillin Trihydrate 6000mg and Flunixin meglumine 1000mg administered intramuscularly.

Reversal

Anesthesia was reversed using Diprenorphine 36 mg hydrochloride intravenously into the jugular vein.

CASE #4: SNARE REMOVAL FROM AN ELEPHANTS TRUNK

Date: 24th March 2018

Species: African elephant

Sex: Male

Age: Infant                

Location: Meru National Park

History

An infant elephant with a snare around its trunk was reported by a tour driver on the morning of the 24th and was tracked later that afternoon.

Immobilization, examination and treatment

The vet decided to immobilize the mother first then capture the infant via physical restraint. The elephant mother was immobilized using 14mg of Etorphine Hydrochloride and went down on sternal recumbency. Its herd members were scared off with the help of a vehicle before it was positioned on lateral recumbency. The infant unfortunately ran off with the other herd members and the mothers anesthesia was reversed using 60 mg of Diprenorphine hydrochloride intravenously at a prominent ear vein and the elephant was up on its feet 4 minutes later.

The infant was spotted again and this time successfully isolated from its mother and captured by physical restraint.

The wire snare was tightly tied around the trunk resulting in a deep wound around the entire circumference of the trunk. The snare was cut and the wound cleaned, debrided using dilute hydrogen peroxide and disinfected using dilute tincture iodine. The wound was then sprayed with Oxytetracycline aerosol. The infant elephant was treated using 3000mg Amoxicillin Trihydrate and 250mg flunixin meglumine administered intramuscularly and freed to reunite with the rest of the herd.

CASE #5: ACHILLES TENDON INJURY IN GREVY ZEBRA

Date: 25th March 2018

Species: Grevy zebra.

Sex: Male                  

Location: Lerata, Samburu.

History and clinical signs

The adult male was reported by the Grevy Zebra Trust staff to be lame with an injury sustained from a predatory attack. The zebra was recumbent on arrival with a large avulsion wound on the lateral and caudal aspect of its right hind limb proximal to the hock joint. When standing the zebra exhibited severe postural abnormalities. During the weight bearing phase of the right hind limb the tuber calcaneus dropped below that of the opposite hock and the tibiotarsal joint showed excessive flexion.

Immobilization and management

The animal was immobilized for closer examination using 4mg Etorphine hcl and 40mg Azaperone combined in one intramuscular Dan-inject 3ml dart. A physical examination showed a ruptured achilles tendon with hyper flexion of the tibio tarsal joint. These wounds were also contaminated and oozed pus.

Due to extensive injuries the zebra was euthanized to relief pain and suffering.