Introduction With failure of the May/June long rains in the Tsavo region many areas are fast drying up with pasture and forage disappearing at alarming rate, the usual problems of livestock incursion into protected areas and movement of wildlife into community lands is here with us again. These factors contribute to an increase in human-wildlife conflict in the region of which elephants are the most affected species followed by lions and arrows being the most common weapon used and snares coming in second. Some of the cases which were spotted the same day had to be prioritized due to the vast area covered by the unit.
Rescue of an abandoned lion cub in Satao camp, Tsavo East.4th August. Lions are known to abandon their cubs due to various reasons which include attacks from a rival male, lionesses killed by buffaloes and other factors. This young female cub aged about 6 months old was rescued near satao camp looking very weak, dehydrated and on the brink of starvation. She was rehydrated and fed on glucose then small pieces of meat but succumbed to the condition 5 days later.
The Tsavo Mobile Veterinary Unit operated by The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust working with The Kenyan Wildlife Service and funded by Vier Pfoten.