ARR-FOUNDATION

Date	Location	Species	Concern	Photo	Notes	Drugs/Notes
1/12/14	Marula Estates	Topi-Female	Postmortem		Found dead in sanctuary. Postmortem revealed that it was emaciated and riddled with ticks. Had pale mucus membranes. On skinning it was established that it had been fought probably by another one because of three broken ribs.	Death primarily was caused by blunt object injury but other factors which could have exacerbated were old age, poor nutrition and tick load.
		Kongoni-Female	Postmortem		Found dead also within sanctuary. It was relatively young but had pale mucus membrane with heavy tick load. Had been predated on posteriorly probably by jackals.	Postmortem revealed that it was heavily pregnant with a female fetus which was within third trimester. Tentative cause of death was respirocirculatory collapse.
	Meta & Sons Cnstruction Site	Buffalo-Male Calf	Lassitude		Had been spotted lying on the floor of cliff over ten hours seemingly abandoned. It was emaciated, pale mucus membranes and weak. It could not get up and was near construction site.	It was euthanized and disposed away from that area due to threat of being converted to game meat.
9/12/14	Kigio Wildlife Conservancy Community Area	Zebra-Female	Snare		Spotted with double plain snare wire around the chest. It had caused severe traumatic wound resulting to ventral edema. Snare wire was severed using wire cutter. Wound was cleaned with Hydrogen Peroxide and iodine.	Darted with 4mgs Etorphine and 40mgs Azaperone. Injected with 30000mgs Tetracycline and 50mls Multivitamin into muscles. 200ml Pyrethrin was applied topically. It was carried and revived inside Kigio WC using 12mgs Diprenorphine into jugular vein.
	“	Zebra-Male	Lameness		Seen limping on left hind limb. Its ambulation was highly reduced as a result. Examination after darting revealed that it had healed from a fracture on lower metatarsus	Immobilized using 5mgs Etorphine and 60mgs Azaperone. It was captured and taken to Kigio Wildlife Conservancy which is safe using land Rover. It was revived using 40mgs Naltrexone into the vein
9/12/14	Naivasha Mobile Veterinary Unit	Intern	Internship-Beginning		The student being a fully trained ranger was placed under internship at Naivasha mobile veterinary Unit by KWS Vet Hqs. He is under training for capture and translocation techniques, Management of darted patients,	Wound treatment, Problematic animal control, Sampling and sample processing, Disease surveillance, Advice/information dissemination to partners/community, Immobilizing drugs-Mode of action and reversals and darting was imparted to him
11/12/14	Sanctuary Farm to Nyeri Farm	Impalas	Capture & translocation		A farm at Nyeri had requested for small animal grazers. 21-3males and 18 females were captured and translocated inside a crate which was placed on a canter.	They were captured at night using net to which they were driven using vehicles. Ear tissue was sampled from each for genetic laboratory
	Naivasha Country Club	Waterbuck-Female	Snare		Reported with a plain wire around the neck dropping down about two meters. It was slightly strangulating. It was quickly taken off neck upon sedation.	Darted using 5mgs Etorphine and 50mgs Azaperone. It was quickly revived using 12mgs Diprenorphine into jugular vein.
	Lima Shamba	Buffalo-Male	Snare		Reported with a wedge snare wire around the neck to which it was anchored on the post. Had gone missing over a month but this time it resurfaced without post. Wedge wire was severed with wire cutter and resultant wound cleaned with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. It was sprayed with Tetracycline wound spray and topically covered with 200ml Pyrethrin.	Darted with 9mgs Etorphine and 120mgs Azaperone. Was injected with 15000ml Tetracycline and 100ml Multivitamin. It was revived using 36mgs Diprenorphine into jugular vein.
	Lower KARI	Zebras	Capture & Translocation		Five zebras among them three females and two males were chemically captured and loaded into crate which was mounted on a canter. The donor farm was lower KARI and recipient was Nyeri Karangi Farm.	Each was darted with 5mgs Etorphine and 60mgs Azaperone. All were darted and loaded into crate and revived once using 24mgs Diprenorphine into jugular vein.
13/12/14	Lower KARI	Thompson Gazelle	Capture & Translocation		Nine Thompson Gazelles were required by Nyeri Karangi Farm which had space for small grazers. Among them were seven females and two males.	They were captured using net into which they were driven using two vehicles. Once entangled by the net they were captured manually and quickly loaded into crate which was mounted on a canter.
13/12/14	Sanctuary Farm	Zebra-Female	Snare		Spotted severely strangulated by a plain snare wire on the neck causing extended neck and ventral edema from submandibular region to perineum area. It was quickly relieved before fully immobilized. 25mgs Dexamethasone was injected into muscles.	Immobilized using 5mgs Etorphine and 50mgs Azaperone. It was covered topically with 200ml Pyrethrin and revived using 18mgs Diprenorphine intravenously
15/12/14	Lentolia	Buffalo-Male	Wound		Reported with a gaping wound on the left flank area. Was suspected to have been horned by another buffalo. The wound was cleaned with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. It was sprayed using Tetracycline wound spray.	Darted using 10mgs Etorphine and 100mgs Azaperone. 30000mgs Tetracycline and 50ml Multivitamin were injected into muscles. 200ml Pyrethrin was topically applied. It was revived using 36mgs Diprenorphine into jugular vein
17/12/14	Soy Sambu Wildlife Conservancy	Rothschild Giraffe-Female	Snare		Reported with a snare on the right hind limb at the fetlock joint. The plain snare wire was tight causing lameness. It was severed using wire cutter. There was no resultant traumatic wound	Immobilized using 10mgs Etorphine and 50mgs Azaperone. Was revived quickly after severing the snare using 40mgs Naltrexone through jugular vein.
18/12/14	Inka Homes	Masai Giraffe-Male	Wound		Spotted limping on the left kind limb which was occasioned by an open wound at the deep digital flexor tendon area posteriorly. The wound was septic with pus. Wound was cleaned using Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. It was liberally sprayed with Tetracycline wound spray.	Immobilized using 10mgs Etorphine and 50mgs Azaperone. It was revived immediately after it was roped down. 15000mgs Amoxicillin, 100ml Multivitamin intramuscular.
19/12/14	Olsuswa Farm	Wildlife	Conflict		Had reported that wild animals had invaded his farm leading to destruction of crop and fences. He was advised to report the matter to area KWS Station so that assessment could be made and be advised accordingly. Meanwhile the management was advised to put up a repulsive fence which could deter animals from gaining access into his property	It was also recommended that the neighboring farms to be consulted so that good measures could be instituted in order to address the fence polarity and cordial demarcation.
24/12/14	Masai Mara	Black Rhino-Karanja	Male		The black rhino has been the oldest in the reserve with over forty years. Had been spotted spending a lot of time lying down with minimal ambulation. Its health had also deteriorated all of which were attributed to its age	It had been treated severally for cubital soles. Surveillance had been mounted over a week preceding its death. Examination after death revealed worn out teeth. It was not done postmortem because the county requested for its desmotomy at National Museum Of Kenya.
26/12/14	Green Park	Buffalo-Male	Snare		Had been reported drugging a stone on which wedge snare wire was anchored. Had gotten out of sight for over a month. The stone remained with a piece while the limb was left with another. It was loosened and taken off. Resultant wound was cleaned with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. It was sprayed with Tetracycline Wound spray liberally.	Darted with 9mgs Etorphine and 100mgs Azaperone. It was covered with 15000mgs Tetracycline and 100ml Multivitamin into muscles. 200ml Pyrethrin was applied topically. It was revived using 36mgs Diprenorphine into jugular vein.
27/12/14	Kongoni Game Valley	Zebra-Female	Wound Treatment		Reported with a longitudinal wound on the mane. It was thought to have been caused by hyena. It was maggot infested. Was cleaned with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. It was sprayed liberally with Tetracycline wound spray.	It was immobilized using 3mgs Etorphine and 30mgs Azaperone. 200ml Pyrethrin was topically applied to repel flies and ticks. It was revived with 12mgs Diprenorphine intravenously
	Green Park	Buffalo-Male	Snare		Reported with a snare on the left fore limb at lower metacarpus. It was tight causing traumatic wound. It was loosened and taken off the limb. It was cleaned with Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine and liberally sprayed with Tetracycline wound spray.	Immobilized with 10mgs Etorphine and 40mgs Medetomidine. Was injected with 15000mgs Tetracycline and 100ml Multivitamin into muscles. 200ml Pyrethrin was applied topically. It was revived using 125mgs Yohimbine and 36mgs Diprenorphine into jugular vein.
28/12/14	Lake Nakuru National Park	2 Black Rhinos-Female & Male	Wound Treatment		Each was reported limping. Female had a penetrating wound on the lateral toe while the male had a wound on the right rump. Each was cleaned using Hydrogen Peroxide and Iodine. Amoxicillin was infiltrated into former and both topically were covered with Tetracycline wound spray.	Each was darted using 4mgs Etorphine and 70mgs Azaperone. Plain anesthesia was lighted using 10mgs Butorphanol into ear vein immediately each was immobilized. Each was revived using 12mgs Diprenorphine into ear vein and also 40mgs Naltrexone into muscles.
30/12/14	Naivasha Mobile Veterinary Unit	Intern	Internship-End		The internship stretched from 8/12/2014 to 30/12/2014. The intern is full of enthusiasm, committed, hardworking, disciplined, clean and ready to take tasks. He exhibited cooperation and self-driven altitude.	He executed his duties with lots of diligence and passion. He is a team player and builder. He understands and has knowhow of his profession as paraprofessional vet. He is an admirable companion who is highly recommended to work with hardly needing supervision.

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