Many parts of the Tsavo Conservation Area received good precipitation throughout November. At the end of the month, natural water pans had enough water for wildlife and forage for browsers and grazers was in plenty.
The Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit attended to 6 cases over the reporting period, these included 3 rhino cases and 1 elephant case. At the beginning of the month, the team conducted autopsies on 3 black rhinos in Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary. The rhino carcasses were found less than 3 Km apart with both horn intact. The dry conditions within the sanctuary and the decrease in quality and quantity of browse is believed to have contributed to their death. In Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, the Veterinary Unit successfully de-snared a buffalo and successfully treated an Oryx with an abscess on the neck. Additionally, the team successfully treated Sonje, a 14-year-old female ex-orphan elephant, at the Umani Elephant Reintegration Centre for multiple small wounds in her oral cavity believed to have been caused by an allergy to ingested food. We are happy to report that she has since fully recovered.