The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), in conjunction with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) operate six Mobile Veterinary Units. Within the quarter, the Units attended to a total of 106 wildlife cases involving 153 animals. Most of Kenya has been blessed with ample rainfall which has rejuvenated the vegetation, providing plentiful forage and water for wildlife, livestock, and communities. Many areas have seen a reduction in poaching and human – wildlife conflict cases as there have been less competition over resources.
There were 36 elephant, 16 predator, 10 rhino, 22 plains game, 11 giraffe, and 3 buffalo cases as well as treatment of two security dogs, one vervet monkey, removal of a snare from a porcupine and a waterbuck, and the relocation of 10 bushbuck. Following the assessment and habituation of hippos after they invaded a Sewage Plant and attacked 2 people, 6 hippos were successfully captured and relocated. Other Human – Wildlife Conflict cases included the relocation of 11 waterbucks that had repeatedly attacked farm workers and raided crops and relocation of 4 elephants that posed a clear danger to people in Ngiluni area of Tsavo. Three lions were treated for spear wounds and two elephants were treated for arrow/spear injuries linked to conflict with the communities.
There were 38 poaching cases involving 14 elephants, 3 hyenas, 1 leopard, 1 lion, 1 rhino, 9 herbivores, 5 giraffes, 2 buffalo, a waterbuck and a porcupine. 27 of these cases were treated successfully treated whilst 1 elephant with a bullet wound was given a guarded prognosis. Sadly, nine of the cases succumbed to their injuries including a black rhino with bullet wound injuries, an elephant shot with a poisoned arrow and five animals with severe snare injuries.