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Date |
Entry |
8/28/2017 |
The stockade dependant orphan elephants peacefully downed their milk bottle after which they headed to the browsing field with Kihari, Panda and Mashariki passing by to greet Dabassa and Layoni who were browsing on the southern foot of Msinga hill.
In a wonderful noon mud bath, Kenia had a brilliant bathing moment with Kihari, Ndii and Naipoki.
Bada and Ishaq-B showcased their expertise on a buttock rubbing game against the big baobab tree. Lentili admired Mudanda’s rolling games in the dustbath, before rejoining the others as they browsed their way to the middle water hole area which has become their favorite afternoon browsing are.
Upon hearing some wild elephants mudbathing the orphans walked faster to get to the mudbath as quickly as they could. Unfortunately they were not fast enough and missed seeing the wild group.
 | | Ndoria scratching whilst Nguvu waits for his turn |
 | | Tundani and Ajali tusking it up |
 | | Nguvu gets his turn to scratch |
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8/18/2017 |
It was a nice beginning of the day with the stockade dependant orphan elephants coming out of their respective stables and running to their milk bottles which they quickly downed after which they settled down to enjoy dairy cubes and Lucerne grass pellets. Lempaute, Dabassa, Layoni and Kivuko came and joined the juniors at the supplement feeding area. The Lucerne grass pellets and copra cake had been placed in a newly built feeding basin close to the stockade water trough and they all congregated around it accommodating one another so that they could all have their share. Layoni followed the stockade dependant orphans when they left for the browsing grounds, leaving Lempaute, Kivuko and Dabassa feasting on acacia trees around the stockade compound.
The orphans were thrilled to be able to introduce Layoni to the new water hole and trough at the big baobab tree. Layoni had a drink and then played at the end of the mudbath, seemingly very happy to have a new mudbath and water trough close to the orphans favourite browsing area, the northern side of Msinga Hill. Ishaq-B joined Layoni at the mudbath with Layoni extending a trunk in greeting, while at the same time inviting Rorogoi to join them. After the mudbath they enjoyed soil dusting before scratching against the many available trees in the area. Ajali and Bada showcased their scratching game against the big baobab tree to Layoni after which the entire group headed back to the browsing fields. Layoni returned to the stockades with them in the evening where he enjoyed feeding on a bale of Lucerne grass.
 | | Lempaute and Layoni join the orphans |
 | | Layoni catching up with the orphans |
 | | Mbirikani at the new water trough |
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8/17/2017 |
It was a fantastic beginning of the day with the stockade dependant orphan elephants playing happily around the stockade compound after their milk and supplement feeding. They then browsed their way to the eastern side of Msinga hill, moving slowly around to the northern side.
Today the orphan elephants visited the newly built baobab water trough which has a fantastic view of the Yatta plateau. It is a private and beautiful bushy water hole and trough which the orphan elephants loved and they had a lot of fun playing there. Ndii and Panda lay down next to the beautiful new water trough and had a lovely time rolling around in the dirt. There were so many different games taking place with Mbirikani, Mashariki, Rorogoi and Mudanda all securing a perfect scratching spot against a thick baobab tree. Kenia and Suswa enjoyed scratching against some big tree trunks of which there were many to choose from. Araba and Ishaq-B enjoyed rubbing their bottoms against the natural rocks around the trough while Ndoria admired Bada’s swimming games.
Kivuko and Layoni visited the stockade in the afternoon, remaining there for about two hours before heading back to the park.
 | | Ajali hoping to join Lempaute in browsing |
 | | Kenia scratching |
 | | Orphans drinks from the new water trough |
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8/15/2017 |
The morning was beautiful with the orphan elephants concentrating on their normal milk and supplement feeding before leaving for the browsing grounds. They browsed in single file for the morning, moving to the middle water hole in groups of five for their milk and to enjoy a mudbath.
Mudanda was the first one to plunge into the water for a bath. Nelion was quick to follow and spoiled her games when he attempted to ride onto her back when she was lying down in the water. Ishaq-B saw Nelion’s naughty behavior and not wanting to become his victim chose to lie on the muddy walls outside the main water hole. Ajali, who always doesn’t like bathing, engaged Arruba head on in the water for strength testing games, disturbing Arruba’s wall scratching game.
Today it seems that many of the orphans wanted to play rough games as Lentili went and pushed Naipoki away from her wall scratching position so that she could take it over. Embu was the last to leave the waterhole and was crowned the winner of the mudbathing games. When back in the browsing fields Mashariki and Panda enjoyed a scratching session against a tree trunk.
 | | Ajali and Aruba wall games |
 | | Nelion riding Mudanda's back |
 | | Ishaq-B drawing moisture from the walls |
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8/14/2017 |
The orphans came running out of their stockades for their morning bottle of milk. They then proceeded to the supplement area where they enjoyed feeding on copra cake, range cubes and Lucerne grass, before making their way to the western side of Msinga Hill. The orphans knew that there was not much browse on the lower sides of the hill and decided to move further uphill to see what they could find. Mbirikani and Nelion who were leading, moved higher than the rest and rejoined them when it was time to head to the waterhole.
Layoni visited the stockade alone an hour after the juniors had left for the field. He quenched his thirst at the stockade water trough and enjoyed some supplement foods before he left for the park.
In the afternoon, Embu separated herself from the group for some quiet browsing time and a scratching session against a tree trunk. She rejoined the orphan herd about half an hour later. Nguvu enjoyed browsing with Naipoki and Ishaq-B until Rorogoi signaled that it was time to return to the stockades.
 | | Layoni arrives at stockades after orphans left |
 | | Kihari and Lentili scratching on rockcs |
 | | Mudanda sniffing the air |
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