SWT/KWS Sky Vets Report for June - September 2022

Published on the 15th of October, 2022

During June 2022 to September 2022 the SWT/KWS Sky Vet program was called to handle 30 wildlife cases involving 17 elephants, 1 lion, 2 rhinos, 2 zebra, 6 giraffe, 1 buffalo and 1 hippo. Over this reporting period the number of poaching cases has drastically increased

Of the 17 elephant cases, 12 were directly related to poaching; 5 snares, 3 spear and 4 arrow injuries. The Unit also attended to one natural case and rescued 3 infant elephants, 2 were taken to the orphanage, but sadly one in Northern Kenya was found with a broken spine and had to be euthanised. A mother and calf were also rescued after they became stuck in a muddy dam in Lunga Lunga, South Coast. This was a huge undertaking involving the aerial units, ground teams and community. One infant Black rhino was also rescued from Ol Pejeta after it was found abandoned and injured by hyenas and an adult White rhino was treated after it became entangled in fencing wire.

The lion was treated for an injury due to territorial fights whilst all the other species (zebra/giraffe/buffalo/hippo) were all treated for poaching injuries.

Out of the cases treated there was an 70% success rate, 12% taken to an orphanage and 12% death due to poaching.

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