By
DR. E. Ndambiri.
Background
Information
An adult female white rhino carcass was
found on 24/05/2013 near Naishi in Lake Nakuru National Park. A postmortem was
carried out to find out the cause of death.
Important
Postmortem Findings
1. It was on left lateral recumbence
mouth full of grass meaning it was grazing at the time of death.
2. Both horns were precisely
removed with little surrounding tissue excavation leaving two circular raw
wounds
3. Examination of the carcass
revealed that the animal had good muscle cover scoring 4 within the score of up
to 5 which could mean good muscle cover. The carcass was less than 48 hours
old.
4. There were two skin fenestrae
laterally on the right scapular. One was at the mid scapular posteriorly and
the other one was about thirty centimeters above. The two were evidence of
penetrating projectiles.
5. The dorsally placed fenestra
was tracked into the inside. It hit the right scapular and then inclined up
hitting the 7th thoracic spinous process and exited on the left side
of the animal. This bullet head was never recovered.
6. The mid fenestra was likewise
traced and inclined dorsally from right side to the left side of the animal. It
penetrated through the rght scapular, the dorsal right lobe, the descending
aorta, the dorsal left lobe and on to the left scapular at dorsal third
position before settling at trapezium muscle close to the skin on the left side
of left scapular. This bullet head was recovered.
Conclusion
1. The subject died of fatal
gunshot injuries which caused extensive hard and soft tissue injuries. Both right
and left dorsal lung lobes plus dorsal aorta were punctured resulting to heavy
bleeding which was witnessed by the clotted blood within the thoracic cavity.
Heavy bleeding resulted to insufficient respiration. These two led to cardiorespiratory failure hence
shock
2. Death was as a result of human
involvement because of the use of gun. The recovered one bullet head was handed
over to Lake Nakuru National Park Senior Warden.
Pictorial
Presentation
Fig. 1: Points of fenestrae on scapular
Fig. 2: Points of puncture on the lungs
Fig.3: Fracture on the inside of left scapular
Fig. 4: Bullet head on cut trapezium muscle
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