Tuesday 6 January 2015

NOVEMBER 2014: POSTMORTEM REPORT OF A BLACK RHINO IN LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK


POSTMORTEM REPORT OF A BLACK RHINO IN LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

By DR. E. Ndambiri.

Background Information
The adult female black rhino carcass was discovered on the evening of 14/11/2014 within Kasarani area of Lake Nakuru National Park. Both horns were intact though left ear and eye, lips and perineum area had been predated on by predators. Absence of one ear made identification difficult. The intact right ear had two notches indicating figure 80. Considering territorial range, sightings of the rhino around that area, sex and identification number within the scope of figure 80 it was presumed to be Esther who bares identification number 587, aged 10 years. The same had been sighted within that general area on 13/11/2014 according to OC rhino.

A postmortem was conducted on 15/11/2014 to determine the cause of death.

Important Postmortem Findings
1.     Carcass was found at the center of ‘kasarani’ plain. It was on right lateral recumbence. A seemingly spent 3cc dart was found about 6 meters from the carcass
2.     Both horns were excised and handed over for safe custody to Lake Nakuru National Park rhino team.
3.     The carcass was less than 48 hours old. It had begun to decompose.
4.     Serious considerations were undertaken before postmortem begun necessitated by fact that the death of rhino was ‘sudden’. This is so because the animal was never spotted sick or unwell. Top on the list was any form of poisoning. Immobilizing drugs topped the list by the virtual of presence of the dart within the vicinity of the carcass. In the past attempts of rhino poisonings have been witnessed where concoctions of chemicals laced on pineapples and bread slices were collected and analyzed. Also attempt of rhino darting with improvised faulty darting equipments containing crude ‘drugs’ has also been witnessed when these items were recovered. Second on the list were infectious conditions such as anthrax, black quarter, clostridial enterotoxemia among others. Fatal injuries especially from gunshots and territorial fighting have been witnessed within the region hence they were included in the list. Non-infectious conditions also were not left out and in particular colic because the species is mono-gastric.
5.     Thorough examination begun from outside to inside. The carcass was swollen depicting onset of decomposition. The animal skin was covered with mud showing it had wallowed before death.
6.     There was no obvious point of skin injury except the predated areas. Blood from mauled points had clotted. There were no discharges from nostrils, ears and mouth. Limbs were rigid
7.     Hyperemia was noted under the skin on the right side. This was due to pooling of blood as a result of gravity on the side the carcass laid. There was no point of trauma. The rest of muscles were not congested or hyperemic
8.     The left limb depicted scapulo-humeral joint capsule tear suggesting dislocation possibly suffered as animal struggled.
9.     The abdominal cavity upon opening exposed gut and intestine full of ingesta and a gravid uterus which was within inguinal region. The uterus had no fetal fluids. Their surfaces/mucosa were not congested. There was hardly any peritoneal fluid.
10.  The gravid uterus was poked exposing decomposing fetus which was engaged in the inguinal area. It was anteriorly presented but upside down in relation to dam spine. Its’ tongue stuck out of mouth.
11.  Fetus was pulled out of uterus using hook. It seemed to be fully grown with tough skin, well developed appendages and hairs on the edges of the ears. It was a female fetus.
12.  The whole of the gut was emptied and ingesta examined. There was no foreign body except round worms within the colon.
13.  The spleen, liver and kidney were not congested or swollen. There edges were sharp and had relatively firm consistency.
14.  Chest cavity was opened. Left lung was emphysematous as opposed to right which was slightly reddish due to position of carcass. Heart was within pericardial sac which had straw pericardial fluid. There was no form of congestion both on myocardium and pericardium.
15.  Esophagus and trachea were examined. Both were empty of any exudate with esophagus collapsed and trachea patent but reddish on the right side
16.  At the inguinal region there was a hyperemic area. The area oozed blood when cut.  

 Conclusion and Discussion
After thorough analysis of the postmortem lesions found in the carcass it was evident that the animal was heavily pregnant and that it was seemingly on term. The fetus was fully developed and was ready for calving. It was normally presented anteriorly but had ventro-dorsal malposition. Lack of fetal fluids shows that calving process had already begun because it means fetal membranes had broken off in the process releasing the fluids. The hyperemic area at the inguinal region shows the point where fetus lodged resulting to delivery failure occasioned by abnormal position of the fetus. The stress associated with unsuccessful birth among them respiratory embarrassment is thought to have led to tongue wedging out of fetus mouth as it tried to gasp for air.

        Conclusively the difficulties encountered during unsuccessful calving is thought to have led to death of the dam and eventually that of the fetus.

The presence of dart within the vicinity was seen as incidental finding. The area within which the carcass was found has been used severally during helicopter darting and possibly the dart could have been a stray or faulty one which was never recovered during one of the previous exercises. This is well supported by lack of any lesion on the carcass which could be associated with any form of poisoning. All other considered causes of sudden death were ruled out.                                            


Pictorial Presentation
     
Carcass on right lateral recumbence    
      
Dart found within the vicinity of the carcass


             
Surface of skinned carcass 

                          
Patent empty trachea


       
Gravid uterus   

                                               
Fishing fetus from uterus 


     
Fully grown fetus          

                                  
Empty collapsed esophagus


     
Point of fetus lodging at  hips       

               
Uncongested mycardium


     
Visceral surface of the liver      

                    
Emphysematous left lungs


     
Inner mucosa of grandular stomach     

      
Dislocated left scapulo-humeral joint

    


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