This is the last report this year, as the Unit will break for the annual leave in December and resume back in January 2006. In our absence, the Veterinary/Capture Unit of KWS will handle all emergencies from Nairobi.

The number of cases has been going down following the rains that started early this month. There were only three cases. Two of them involved snares; the first one was a male adult waterbuck

and the second a 6-7 years old elephant. The last case was of an arrow injury also in an elephant.

The waterbuck was near the Voi gate in Tsavo East while the elephant was at Mgenyo ranch. The snare in the waterbuck was loose around the neck

and had not inflicted any injury while it was deeply embedded on the right fore leg in the elephant. The body condition of the elephant was poor due to the inability to move to feed and water. The animal disappeared from the general area where it was sighted and treated a day after, and efforts to trace it for evaluation have been fruitless.

The elephant with the arrow injury was of the same age as the one above and was reported by rangers on patrol at Maungu area in Tsavo East. The injury which was on the left fore leg was already healed and only a small swelling was remaining which was interfering with gait and posture.

This was what made the rangers to call the Unit. Our observations were that the injury was sustained long time ago and was in the recovery process. We nevertheless immobilised it to confirm these observations and clear any doubts.

The Mobile Veterinary Unit operated by The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust working with The Kenyan Wildlife Service and funded by Vier Pfoten