SWT/KWS Sky Vets Report for February - May 2025

Published on the 15th of June, 2025

During February to May 2024 the SWT/KWS Sky Vet program was called to handle 27 wildlife cases involving 21 elephants, 3 giraffes, 2 rhino cases and a buffalo with poaching being the most common cause for treatment.

17 elephants suffered poaching injuries; 6 with arrow wounds, 2 for bullet wounds 7 with spear wounds and 2 with snare injuries. There were also 2 that were attended to due to Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) and 2 for natural causes. One of the juvenile elephants with a severe spear injury was taken to the Voi Stockades as he was vulnerable with no herd nearby and would need several treatments. He is doing well despite being an older elephant. An elephant with a bullet wound and another with a spear wound were given guarded prognosis whereas the others were successfully treated with a good prognosis for recovery.

There were three HWC involved relocation of a Black rhino that escaped from Nairobi National Park into community land and relocation of an elephant bull that had wandered into Community land in Tsavo. Another elephant was also treated for a spear wound most likely caused by HWC. Other cases attended to included 3 giraffes (1 snared, 1 speared and 1 for natural causes), a snared buffalo, and another rhino for natural causes.

Out of the cases treated there was an overall 89% success rate.

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