This month DSWT has been called upon twice to assist injured animals within the Nairobi National Park.  Both of these cases were spotted by concerned members of the public and collaboratively we were able to respond together with the KWS Veterinary department.

On the  25th of May a collared lioness was observed with bite wounds to the head and neck region and the collar was also of concern as it was interfering with the healing process. The lioness was identified as Nelly.  She is fairly robust lioness with three cubs of about eight months old and was possibly injured in a territorial fight.

KWS Vet Dr. Fred Olianga immobilized Nelly effectively using a dart gun from a vehicle. The collar was removed and handed over to the KWS Carnivore Liaison Office as the wound would not be able to heal with it in place. Dr. Olianga shaved the affected area and cleaned the wounds with water, iodine, then administered antibiotics finally applying the green clay to help facilitate rapid healing. The anaesthetic was reversed and Nelly was up within 15 minutes to rejoin her cubs. Nelly has been given an extremely positive prognosis and will recover fully.

Sadly, the story for a snared hyena also seen within Nairobi National Park did not have the same positive outcome. This elusive hyena had proved extremely difficult to relocate, and a team of KWS and DSWT Rangers searched for days after receiving the first report.  The poor animal was inflicted with a horrendous snare injury cutting into its mouth and head.

Eventually the hyena was sighted by a KWS ranger and together with DSWT the KWS Veterinary Unit responded rapidly as the hour was late and the light was fading.  The animals was darted and the snare clipped away. Unfortunately the damage the snare had caused was very severe and the hyena had been unable to eat or drink for many days, which had left it very emaciated. Sadly, the hyena passed away peacefully whilst under anesthetic and we can only be thankful it was finally free from  suffering.

Snares are the crudest form of poaching and we are all too aware of the suffering they cause as we recall the orphan Mbirikani's horrific injury and of course our recent arrival Mwashoti's snare injury.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is immensely grateful to the members of the public that alerted KWS to these cases and to KWS for working tirelessly to get these animals treated as effectively as possible.