Waterbuck runs into electrical fence, collapses after shock

Waterbuck runs into electrical fence, collapses after shock

On this date I was called by private citizen (Mark Vanderwalle) about a waterbuck at Mowana. On arrival we found wardens including Mr. Khan were already on location. A large Male waterbuck had apparently shocked itself on new elephant proof fence installed around Mowana Lodge. There was a lot of traffic and children had been throwing stones at the animal.  The Waterbuck was in partial shock.

I darted it with .50 cc M99 and 1.5 cc Xylazine. We had some anxious moments as animal ran along fence line and we were concerned it was going to cross street. It succumbed to the tranquilizer. We rapidly loaded it on the back of my truck and drove to the parks first waterhole.

I treated lacerations on lip and muzzle as it had traumatized itself of barb wire fence. 20 CC penicillin and 20 cc Dexamethasone and 5 cc Findyne were injected. Lip trauma was cleaned and disinfected and antibiotic spray administered. Antidote was given and waterbuck awoke and ran off into bush no worse for wear.

Wounded Buffalo a danger to tourists at Ihaha Campsite

Wounded Buffalo a danger to tourists at Ihaha Campsite

On this day called by Dr Masunga to attend injured Buffalo at Ihaha. I spoke with him and was authorized to make a veterinary decision on spot. I was accompanied by Moses and assisted by Ihaha Staff

On arrival found buffalo 20 meters from Ablution block. A tourist was very surprised that no one had advised her of sick animal. According to wardens Buffalo had started to become aggressive toward campers.

Unable to evaluate animal on hoof. I darted with 1.1 cc Etorphine (M99). On inspection it was obvious that this old bull had a broken left hind femur mid fracture. It had apparently been fighting with another bull a few days previously. It was euthanized with a single bullet to head.

Wardens were advised not to eat tainted meat due to drug injected and instructed to burn the carcass. The campsite appeared clean and orderly contrary to a report in Ngami times.

On return investigated vultures off main road and found a baby Zebra still in its birth sac.

BUFF WAS 20 METERS FROM ABLUTION BLOCK THESE CAMPERS WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED

STILLBORN ZEBRA SPOTTED BY VULTURES IN TREES

Buffalo treated 8 days ago shows up by my house

Buffalo treated 8 days ago shows up by my house

I was Called out by parks a week ago to attend  an old Buffalo bull with a snare on its leg. This old guy must have been in agony as high strength wire was almost down to bone. Fortunately wound was not too old and blood supply was good. In Kasane we live in close contact with wildlife this Buff was only 30 meters away from a major road and eventually he would have got sicker and meaner and would have  ended up hurting an innocent walker by. 

The look of relief on his face after having this terrible injury as he walked away is all the thanks I needed. We will patrol the area for other snares. I wish I could stop this rubbish Update on wounded Buffalo… I received a call this morning of a wounded buffalo. Believe it or not it was just behind my house. As I investigated it’s my buddy that I cut a snare off last week. He had walked over 10 kilometers to be here and he was fit and well his wound was healing and he was putting full weight on his leg. He even ran away as I got closer. I feel this is a good omen as he could have gone in any direction. It’s as if he was thanking me

Sometimes we get it right....

WOUND IS HEALING VERY WELL, HES STILL OUT OF CONDITION, HE CAME TO THANK ME

HE IS PUTTING FULL WEIGHT ON LEG AND EVEN RUNNING

Another elephant poached

Another elephant poached

I was called by private citizen as she heard gunshots and elephants and people shouting. I immediately responded to call that was on farm near Chobe Chicken in Kazangula.I saw people at gate and asked if they had shot and they responded they had killed an elephant that was eating their crops. He said he had called parks 2 days previously and that they said he should take care of the problem himself.

We went to area were elephant was shot and it was in his field and I followed blood spoor to were elephant had died. I called Mr. Khan just to confirm this had happened and that man was within his legal right to do so. I suggested to him to please call me in future before he shoots elephants to see what we could do without having to injure innocents.This is the second episode at this farm.

I suggested that he should request assistance to put up a electrical fence so this does not happen again. I believe there should be a law that if you are farming in a wildlife area that you are required to have a elephant proof fence.

I dread the day that they wound an animal and it then kills some innocent bystander. I was very diplomatic and there were no bad feelings I suggested that the village butchers the carcass and that he was to retain the tusks for me to collect the next day.

The next day I arrived to collect the tusks. The owner of the farm recognized me from an episode I had with him 6 months previously were I had caught him after he shot another elephant and in fact he was not on his property when I arrested him. He decided to become belligerent with me calling me racial slurs and saying that we do not want white people in his country and refused to acknowledged I was a game warden.

I returned with 2 uniformed officers and they would not speak in English until I requested so. The farmer then accused me of pulling a gun on him and threatening him. I told him he was talking rubbish and all hell broke loose. Apparently that is a very severe insult. He was trying to frame me and get me in the court system. Coward.

We retrieved the tusks....

2 weeks later he shot another elephant. This time tusks were neatly staked in the department office . He knows the laws. I have suggested we put Chili plants around his farm as these are reported to deter elephants. Now he is in the spotlight. I hope the plants work but I am skeptical. This not to smart farmer is going to go down. I like an elephant have a very good memory...

NO REMORSE AT ALL

OPEN FIELD USED AS BAIT REST OF FARM FENCED IN

ELEPHANT TRACK IN FIELD

THIS BUTCHERING PROCESS TAKES LESS THAN 2 HOURS, VERY PROFESSIONAL

Buffalo with Snare in Chobe Farms

Buffalo with Snare in Chobe Farms

On this day I was called by private citizen of buffalo with snare near Chobe Farms. I went and located the Buff and then went to parks for assistance. Mr. Khan and Slash immediately responded to my call along with 3 other wardens. I had pre prepared a dart with 12 mg Etorphine and all equipment required.On arrival we darted him and he went 40 meters before going down. There was a vet thick wire snare on its right hind leg. With much difficulty wire was cut and wound disinfected.
Antibiotics and painkillers were administered and animal reversed.

I believe his prognosis is quite good and he should survive as plenty of blood supply to leg still present. He was so close to human habitation than in a few days he would have become very ill and aggressive and probably would have injured a innocent passerby.

I was very happy with assistance and response from parks we worked efficiently and without fault. Entire procedure took less than 40 minutes to complete.

Wounded elephant found on routine patrol

Wounded elephant found on routine patrol

On July 5 I had the pleasure of being accompanied by Mr. Gadimang and Mr. Khan to go on patrol. We met with wardens from Ihaha and inspected carcass of elephant they burned at Hatab1 and also the elephant that was dragged from river the day before We thanked them for their good work.

On the way back we had a report of sick elephant that appeared to have a snare on its leg at Water cart. On arrival we noticed a wound on its hind left leg and noticed that it was very depressed and obviously ill.

We darted it with 14 mg of Etorphine. Elephant moved off into bush. After one hour of searching for elephant we finally found it. It had fallen on its chest and was comfortable and breathing properly. We attempted to pull him on his side with my car winch but winch failed and broke.

We noticed wound on top of its spine that was weeping with infection. I treated him with antibiotics and pain killers. On administering antidote elephant awakened but could not raise up.

On movement of animal in its attempt to rise the wound on its spine opened up and about 6 liters of Pus exuded from here. It was then obvious that this wound was made by an AK-47 bullet as they had attempted to spine shoot it. This is second elephant in 2 days poached so anti poaching was put on alert

We left elephant and returned the next day. It still was unable to raise up as the wound had been very close to the spine. I had  to euthanize it.

The following day we attempted to remove tusks with help from 5 wardens. It was my belief that a chainsaw would make the job easy but discovered that this was not the case. The Axe I provided broke so we had to abandon that project and return in a week to remove tusks after decomposition.

Personnel at parks complained they had no basic equipment such as masks, axes and knifes to be able to complete such tasks.

                                          ELEPHANT SEDATED

                        GIVING ANTIBIOTICS AND PAIN KILLERS

WOUND FROM AK BULLET THAT OPENED UP AFTER ANIMAL STARTED TO MOVE TYPICAL SPINE SHOT TO CRIPPLE

                     MR GADIMANG AND MR KHAN FROM DWNP

Elephant dead in river, we removed, found it had been poached

Elephant dead in river, we removed, found it had been poached

I had a report of elephant dead in water by Chobe Game lodge. I met wardens from Ihaha and they had burned elephant carcass in morning and were tired and hungry. I thanked them for their help and told them to leave as we could handle it ourselves.

I attempted to pull it with my boat but it was not strong enough. I called people from  Zambezi Queen and they promptly arrive with a large boat and helped me drag elephant to Elephant sands. The manager from Chobe Game lodge Johan met us there with their tractor and managed to drag elephant out of tourists view. Clive Butler also assisted us.

On returning by vehicle to take blood samples there were already 4 lions on the carcass. I chased them away and had some complaints from observers as they did not understand what we were doing. I later explained it to them and they were thankful.

On taking blood samples and moving the elephants ear I noticed a very obvious gunshot behind ear. It appears to be an AK-47 wound. This would be the probable cause of death.

Blood samples were dropped off at office.

Wardens from Ihaha burned the carcass the next morning as we had requested. They did not remove the tusks but in all fairness theses were very small.

                  CHASING LIONS AWAY WITH BLANKS FROM DART GUN

                                TAKING BLOOD FOR ANTHRAX TESTING

        THIS WAS NOT ANTHRAX, THIS IS A GUNSHOT WOUND BEHIND EAR

                                              EASY MEAL TONIGHT

Elephants murdered behind my house

Elephants murdered behind my house

As going to office I noticed many people in bush behind my house. On investigating I saw 2 elephants had been killed one was very young about 8 years old and other was about 15.   Both were unrecognizable as the people had already cut up the meat.  My neighbor  had shot them as he said it was in his yard. The shots came from behind my house so it was impossible for him to have shot theses elephants in his yard. I sincerely hope he will be prosecuted. Community acts as if they have never seen meat before. I agree with policy of not allowing people to eat meat as it encourages poaching I don’t know why elephant was not burned but in all fairness there probably was no time to do so.

I left instructions on shooting a bait and how to drag the scent and hang it thereafter to build a blind. I asked a local farmers to assist them tomorrow as he is experienced in these matters and I would go out and dart the lions once they are on the bait.  Wasted afternoon and evening along with fuel etc.  I hope they can manage on their own until I am needed. It is my understanding that these lions have not caused any problems as of yet.

As a follow up. Lions were never captured and they did not cause any problems to local population. I assume they moved on. Its a high possibility that they were poisoned or shot. Neighbor was never persecuted.

                                                       THIS WAS A BABY

                                                 ITS A BIG PARTY NO REMORSE

THIS GUY THREATENED ME THAT I SHOULD PAY HIM MONEY BECAUSE I TOOK HIS PICTURE HES LUCKY HE DID NOT GET A BACKHAND