The Tsavo Conservation Area had good rains from November through to December. Tsavo therefore has adequate pasture and water for wildlife. Cases of downer elephants were encountered towards the end of November and at the beginning of December.
The change of weather and forage during this transition period is thought to have triggered this syndrome. The Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 3 cases in December, these comprised 2 elephant cases and 1 snared zebra. One of these cases was a male orphan elephant called Oldope who fell ill shortly after graduating from the Nairobi Nursery to the Ithumba Rehabilitation Centre with his friends – Roho and Neshashi – at the end of November. Sadly, despite our best efforts to restore his health, he passed away on 07th December 2022.