Category: Hyenas, Poachers, Wildebeest, Zebras | Date: Jun 03 2008 | By: Kimojino

The zebras are still coming across the Mara River in large numbers from the Musiara Plains in the North. With them there are a few wildebeest, and slowly but surely the Triangle is starting to fill with animals. Yesterday we managed to capture a video of an early morning crossing, which you can watch by clicking here watch by clicking here. You will see that the crocodiles have been eating so well these past few days that they are becoming too lazy in their attempts to capture the crossing animals.

Zebras crossing the Mara River.

As I mentioned in my last post, poachers are also preparing for the big day when the wildebeest will be arriving in their thousands, coming Northwards from Serengeti. We can be sure that poachers have spent the last few months acquiring new arsenals of wire snares, which are indiscriminate in who they choose to catch.

Zebras in the Savannah Grasslands.

On Sunday at around 4pm, one spotted hyaena was found near Olpunyata at the central plains of the Mara Triangle. He had a serious wound around his neck inflicted by a wire snare which was still cutting deep into his flesh. He was feasting with other hyaenas on the carcass of a zebra, which had been injured by crocodiles when crossing the Mara River and then finally killed by the hyaenas. As the hyaena with the snare around his neck was feeding on this zebra we could see food spilling out from the open wound of his oesophagus. It was so sad to see.

Hyaena with snare around neck.

Three days ago, Rangers from Kokatende Rangers Post seized 107 wire snares on a single patrol in the Northern Serengeti, along the wildebeest migration route. This is now the beginning of a long battle that we rangers must fight, and will continue until next year in February when the wildebeest and other herbivores will once again leave the Mara Triangle.

Zebras massing at the river’s edge.

I am pleased to be able to give you all an update on Ranger Leyian’s progress, who was shot when chasing rustlers. He came back from Nairobi on the 31st and immediately went to his home to recuperate. Doctors said that if it had taken just one more hour for him to reach the hospital then he probably would not have made it, but thankfully now he is expected to make a full recovery. We thank God for his survival and we are planning to visit him at home.

William tells me that their will be a full donation report for the month of May shortly, and I thank all of you for continuing to support the Mara in this crisis. We truly hope that these are the last weeks of this crisis and that the tourists will soon return.

12 responses so far

Category: Hippos, Lions | Date: Apr 28 2008 | By: William

On April 15th we reported that two lions had died within the Mara Triangle. Here is an annotated version of the findings from the investigation, the original written by Brian Heath CEO & Dr Asuka Takita:

The history of the case reveals that three out of four affected lions had fed on a hippo carcass found on the river bank on March 31st. The first signs of sickness appeared three days post-ingestion, when a sick lion (Male #1) was found to be weak, staggering and sitting under a thicket.

The following morning, Male #1 was unable to walk and showed clear signs of front limb paralysis; where the animal could not stand and walk in a normal posture. He used his hind limbs to “hop like a rabbit” in an attempt to move forward.

3.4.08 Paralysis sets in.

The condition deteriorated rapidly within the course of a day, and Male #1 was no longer able to ‘hop’ by the early afternoon. On the same day, another young male (Male #2) from the same pride began showing a more severe form of paralysis and was recumbent by afternoon. This was followed by a lesser degree of paralysis in two more males during the next five days.

The first paralysed lion was euthanised by a KWS vet for post-mortem and sample collection. The post-mortem did not reveal significant pathological changes suggestive of infectious disease, and all of the organs looked normal except for slightly hyperaemic small intestinal mucosa.

The brain sample was submitted to Kabete Vet Labs for rabies testing, in which the results came out negative. Tissue samples (liver, kidney, small intestine) together with stomach contents, were submitted to Government Chemist Toxicology Lab to test for possible poisoning. The results showed that the stomach contents revealed a high concentration of Carbofuran. The stomach content of a second hippo found dead on 13.4.08 subsequently tested positive for Carbofuran.

Hippo found dead on 13.4.08

An environmental survey was undertaken by Mara Conservancy staff from habitats in the vicinity of both lions and hippos. Water and soil samples were taken from the area, including water samples collected from a tributary where another dead hippo was found. All of the water samples tested negative for insecticides, while some of the soil samples showed traces of Carbofuran.

Based on a history collected from rangers, clinical signs manifested by all four affected lions, post-mortem findings and toxicology results, the paralysed lions are suspected to have suffered from secondary poisoning. It would appear that the hippos died as a direct result from ingesting Carbofuran contaminated plants, and that lions were then affected by feeding on the hippo carcass. It is believed that the severity of paralysis could be correlated with the amount of contaminated hippo meat consumed by each lion.

Due to feline susceptibility to chemical toxicosis, similarity in the mechanism and action of Carbamates and Organophosphates, the tendency of some Carbamates to initiate delayed neuropathy through NTE inhibition, and the absence of other alternative explanations identified for the paralysis, it is believed that Carbofuran-induced neuropathy can occur in animals.

7.4.08 Tests being done on sick lion by KWS.

The Mara Conservancy recommend an immediate ban of the use of potentially toxic chemicals (insecticides, pesticides, acaricides, molluscicide, especially Carbofuran and Organophosphates) inside conservation areas.

Based on the findings and the location of the affected animals, there is no reason to suspect the involvement of the local communities surrounding the Mara Triangle.

Thank you to everyone for both your support and your patience since our report of the lions deaths on 15th April. We ask new visitors to our website to click here to find out more about our Urgent Appeal, and also ask you to consider making a donation to help maintain basic park operations during this time of financial difficulty. Thank you.

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29 responses so far

Category: Lions | Date: Apr 16 2008 | By: William

Thank you everyone for your comments of concern, we will try now to answer what questions we can at this time.

The first lion was euthanised on the 4th April, 2008, and an autopsy was done by KWS, along with blood samples taken for tests. On 8th April, tests were carried out on the sick lion by KWS. His condition had been deteriorating, but he was treated for dehydration and seemed to improve slightly.

KWS carry out tests on 8th April, 2008.

The decision was taken by KWS to feed the lion each day in the hope that he would recover. The only other lion to fall ill from this pride, the third one from a pride of seven males and five females, had by now mostly recovered without any human intervention.

The recovered lion yesterday morning, he still has the slightest of limps.

Immediately after the lion died yesterday, samples were taken and then sent to the KWS laboratory in Nairobi.

Mara Conservancy has also carried out environmental tests in the surrounding area. You can read more over on Asuka’s blog.

Lions are territorial animals, and the killing of the sick lion by the older male yesterday would have most likely been because of this.

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8 responses so far

Category: Lions | Date: Apr 15 2008 | By: William

This morning we went out to check on the progress of a male lion who has been sick for almost two weeks. Although his senses were fully alert, within 24 hours of first showing signs of illness, paralysis of the limbs occurred which meant that he was unable to look after himself.

The lion at the beginning of the illness.

Fully alert, yet almost completely paralysed, despite all our efforts there was very little improvement in his condition. Under instruction by KWS we have been keeping the lion alive by feeding him each day and also bringing water. We have continued this for ten days until this morning when two male lions found the sick lion. One of the lions gave a bite to the back of the head which killed him instantly.

This morning, after the attack. More photos at Flickr.

At the same time this lion fell ill, two other lions from the same coalition also fell ill. Their senses were fully alert, yet paralysis occurred in the limbs. One of the lions was fortunate to recover, however the other lion was so acutely affected that it was decided by KWS to euthanise the male.

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27 responses so far

Category: Cheetahs | Date: Apr 14 2008 | By: Kimojino

Honey, from BBC’s Big Cat Diary fame, died in the middle of February, 2007, and for the following weeks we were unsure if her cubs were going to survive the ordeal. I monitored their progress every day for almost a year, and since this time I have always had a strong attachment to them and instantly recognise them whenever I see them.

The last time I saw them was at the beginning of March, when I took this picture and since then they completely disappeared from the Mara Triangle.

Yesterday, early in the morning I left Oloololo Gate where I had spent the night, and proceeded to Olchorro Conservancy to pick up some of Anne K. Taylor’s scouts who had been doing de-snaring patrols in the area. On our way back from Olchorro, about 15km from Oloololo, I saw three cheetahs by the side of the road. When I drove closer to them I recognised that these were Honey’s cubs.

Three sons of Honey, from BBC’s Big Cat Diary.

I was astonished to see how far they had traveled. They looked very healthy, and were lick cleaning, which indicates that they had within the last hour eaten a kill.

Two of the brothers lick cleaning.

Their mother was always a very good, good hunter. It was very rare to see her hungry. I am pleased to see that her three sons may have inherited these good hunting skills, and I hope to see them back in the Mara Triangle some day soon.

More photos at Flickr, where you can also see the lions and their recent hippo kill.

Another interesting thing I saw this morning was a troop of baboons who had killed a Thomson Gazelle. It was a young tommy that I had seen being born just a couple of days ago, and it seems that the baboons were able to steal it away from it’s mother.

Baboon eating a Thomson Gazelle

I know it is currently not possible to make donations online, but please please send an email to William, wdeed@wildlifedirect.org , who will notify you once the situation with Paypal has been rectified, so that you can then make your donation.

We still very much need your help at this time.

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16 responses so far