The following is information on the Elephant Orphan named: OLOLOO  (foster now)

Latest Updates on OLOLOO:

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Most Recent Keeper's Diary Entry: (view all the latest entries for OLOLOO)

1/17/2018 - This morning Kauro was happily enjoying a pile of lucerne on his own. Dupotto on the other side was scratching her bottom vigorously trying to be rid of the insects that were annoying her. Barsilinga, Laragai, Kithaka and Siangiki came to join the dependent group after a long night browsing outside the compound on the hill behind. The orphans later walked to the water trough to drink water in preparation to leave for the bush. They met with a wild bull there and the wild bull was friendly enough for them to interact with him. Namalok was busy scratching his neck on the wall.

In the bush, Galla was busy browsing with his friends as they played. Namalok and Roi were browsing away from the rest of the group. Dupotto found herself alone and decided to walk towards her friends. Pare and Maramoja were standing under the shade from the hot sun. Later on, Ukame and Wanjala led the group to the mud bath for their milk.

After their noon mild bottles and a mud bath, all the orphans chose to keep themselves busy browsing despite the hot weather. Sapalan flapped his ears to keep cool whilst he browsed and Galla watched him. Naseku was browsing higher up the hill. Later on, the orphans walked back home in the evening for their milk.

Lenana passed by the stockade today with some wild bulls in hot pursuit as it seemed she was in season. Nasalot’s group also passed by and they drank some water and left. Nusu, Nasalot’s baby, was being very playful and charged around with her ears held wide and aloft, having a lot of fun with the keepers and the other orphans.

Later in the evening, Wendi’s group of Ex Orphans this time including Nasalot, Kinna and Sunyei with their babies and other nannies also arrived. They had some water and left not long after. Laragai arrived later in the evening with Siangiki, Sirimon, Sokotei, Boromoko and Enkikwe. They had some water then went into their old stockade, eating all the food inside before coming out again. Kilaguni started a serious play fight with Ololoo near the water trough and interacted with two wild babies who arrived for some water with their mother. Their mother just watched on and they later all walked back into the bush.

The Two Latest Photos of OLOLOO: (view gallery of pictures for OLOLOO)

Ololoo with Ishanga.jpg photo taken on 6/23/2011	Ololoo with Kalama and Peter photo taken on 6/23/2011

ORPHAN PROFILE FOR: OLOLOO (foster now)

Zoom / Enlarge A young elephant calf was spotted alone in high grass on the opposite bank of the Mara river at the beginning of June 2011 by a Research student, Cecilie Willumsgaard based at the Karen Blixen Camp. During the afternoon of l8th June the same Researcher and her fiancé again came across the calf, who was still alone and at the same location, secretion from the temporal glands evidence of stress.    It was then that they contacted the necessary authorities who in turn contacted the Nairobi Elephant Nursery in Nairobi, who arranged for an aircraft to be on standby the next morning, should the calf be able to be captured. It was a young bull, with tusks visible, aged between 2 and 3 years of age, and therefore still dependent on milk for survival. After a three hour search the next morning, the elephant was spotted in thick bush and kept under surveillance pending the arrival of the KWS Vet attached to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit, and some Rangers to help capture the calf. Once the Vet arrived, the calf was darted with Stressnil, since he still had strength and was too big to capture without being sedated.    Once the drug worked, he was easily overpowered and driven to the nearby airfield, where the rescue plane was already waiting. However, by this time, the elephant was beginning to revive, but having had his legs bound, he was powerless and loaded onto the plane for the flight to Nairobi.       He arrived at the Nursery at about 5.30 p.m., and carried into the Taming Stockade, and was then untied. He had obviously been without his mother for sometime, because he was weak and very emaciated, and also passing a great number of worms in the dung. Understandably, he was initially quite aggressive, but took water from a bucket. Anticipating a possible collapse during the night, we had all the life support aids at hand. This is usual in orphans of this age, who have undergone the stress of losing their elephant mother as well as that of being captured. The other Nursery elephants were brought back early to be fed their 6 p.m. milk feed within sight of the newcomer, so that he would know he was not alone, and gain confidence by seeing the established babies interacting with the Keepers, and taking their milk from a bottle. This had the desired affect, and amazingly, by morning the newcomer, who had been named Ololoo was taking milk from a hand-held bottle, and even sucking on the fingers of the attendant Keeper. After being enclosed for four full days, he was de-wormed and allowed out to join the other Nursery elephants. Incredibly, Ishanga, who has hitherto been a troublesome member of the herd, instantly battened on to him, showering him with love and concern, and has remained glued to his side from that moment on. Although warmly embraced by all the females, it was Ishanga whom he took to most, and this incredible friendship has changed Ishanga’s temperament over night. From being “pushy” and a disruptive member of the herd, she has been instantly transformed into a contented and happy one. It was “love at first sight” and a miracle that has astounded us all. Perhaps, as a wild elephant, she adored an older brother of that age, whom the newcomer resembles!

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