Mwana had two goals this month: To learn how to trumpet, and to banish every single baboon from the Umani compound. While the first goal required some practice, the second was quite easy, thanks to the herd’s worth of support she had. Whenever the orphans saw Mwana chasing the baboons, they would join their tiny general and charge at the primates from all fronts. Needless to say, the baboons prudently made themselves scarce.
This morning, Enkesha and Kiasa seemed to be in disagreement over who took care of Mwana. Enkesha clearly had a plan to take charge, but Kiasa also demanded a chance. Although they are friends, they sometimes bicker over Mwana duties. Humble Enkesha won the fight, as Kiasa gave up when she realised how determined her opponent was. Sonje came over and tried to reconcile the two girls. Meanwhile, Zongoloni took advantage of the distraction to try to claim Mwana for herself — only to find that the baby had already gone with Murera into the bushes!
Mwashoti found a lovely stick, which he used to scratch his chest. Watching her older friend, Amali also picked up a stick and started to do the same thing. We have noticed that Amali is very observant and clever.
The babies rushed out of their stockades this morning, eager for the day to begin. Sweet, gentle Mwashoti realised that Murera was lagging behind and went back to her. He encouraged her to walk alongside her, as Sonje and Zongoloni were leading the other orphans at a quick pace.
At one point, Murera called Mwana back to her, as she knew it was time to nurse. Mwana instead tried to nurse from Zongoloni and Lima Lima, who of course do not have any milk to provide. Even so, they propped their legs forward and stood still — Mwana has trained them well!
Sometimes, poor Alamaya — who is usually very well-behaved — gets chastised by Murera when he gets close to Mwana. We wonder if she might be confusing him with Ngasha, who was not to be trusted around the baby. Whenever Alamaya gets too close, Murera pushes him away. It’s very funny to see Mwana (unnecessarily) defending herself against her ‘big brothers,’ it is as if she wants to fight her own battles.
Today was too hot, forcing most of the babies to seek shade. Whenever a baby attempted to venture out to pick some soft branches to eat, the others rushed back to bring them to the shade. At midday, it was mandatory for all of them to go to the waterhole, and of course they were led by Mwana. Enkesha and Kiasa were the leading nannies at the front, showing the others which waterhole they wanted to swim in. However, today, the larger waterhole was left unattended by the orphans after the Keepers realised that a wild bull was taking a swim in it. The Keepers then persuaded the babies to go to the smaller waterhole, although Mwana was initially reluctant. Eventually, she too got into the water after seeing Amali, Kapei, and their friends swimming.
Faraja and Alamaya moved to the dust bath pile after their mud bath, wanting to cover themselves with fine dust. However, when Lima Lima, Enkesha, and Quanza attempted to do the same, they found that the dust had become too hot, and none of them could apply it to their bodies.
Later, Murera arrived with Mwana and Sonje, but upon realising that the dust was too hot, Mwana decided to forgo the activity. The elephants then moved to the shaded area, with Mwana leading the way, heading directly for the cool dust pile beneath the trees. This cooler dust was a better choice for Mwana to dust herself, and all the others joined their friends in using this cool dust to coat their bodies. When the other orphans discovered that the smaller dust pile was cooler than the previous one, those with long and strong tusks began digging the soil to uncover more dust.
The baboons had a difficult time today. As soon as the orphans came out of their night stockades, they found two baboons already near the gate. This prompted loud trumpeting from all directions to deter the baboons, and they both retreated into the bushes when they realised that Murera and her team were not welcoming their presence.
Young Mwana led the charge in chasing the baboons away. She tried to trumpet like a full-sized elephant by blowing out her tiny trunk. She had already learned most of the things elephants can do, but creating a trumpet sound remains a challenge. Today, despite her very best efforts, she couldn't quite do it.
Ziwa was reported very early in the morning in the company of his adopted wild herd. They accompanied him to prevent him from rejoining his former orphan herd. Faraja and Zongoloni walked over to greet Ziwa, but the matriarch of the wild herd returned for him. Perhaps she worried he would ditch them in favour of his old orphan family! But she needn’t have worried; Ziwa hurried back to the wild herd as they disappeared into the Kibwezi Forest towards the Kenzili area.
Kapei’s morning got off to a bad start. Moments after he emerged from his stockade, Murera confronted him with a slap on his face and pushed him down. This was because Kapei was approaching her baby, and Murera knows that he can be pushy with Mwana. Kapei let out a dramatic yell, but no one responded. The other orphans are well-acquainted with Kapei's behaviour, knowing he has a tendency to push little Amali and Mwana out of jealousy.
Meanwhile, Kiombo and his close friend Maktao were engaged in their usual playful tussle, pushing each other with their tusks, which sometimes led to big collisions. Mwashoti considered stepping in to separate them and restore peace, but Kiombo didn't pay attention to Mwashoti's intentions. Eventually, Kiombo was pushed down by Maktao — he should have heeded Mwashoti's attempts to intervene! Mwashoti stood by and watched as Kiombo bore the consequences of their playful but forceful game.
A middle-aged bull with very long tusks infiltrated the herd, causing discord amongst the orphans. He specifically targeted Faraja, attempting to separate him from the herd. Once successful, he approached Sonje, trying to establish a friendship. However, Sonje anticipated his intentions and refused to befriend the bull.
Witnessing the bull pursuing Sonje, the rest of the herd decided to gather the babies and relocate. Unfortunately, Kapei, unaware of the situation, attempted to approach the bull. He found himself alone temporarily, but Enkesha saved the day and escorted him back to the herd, who was already on the top of Umani hills.
However, the challenges continued as four giant bulls appeared on the hilltop. Murera, along with the other nannies, had no escape route. Sonje, Quanza, and Murera decided to remain with the wild bulls, and everyone browsed calmly together. We believe that Quanza might know them from her wild adventures, and perhaps she communicated to the orphans that there was no need to flee. The relationship between the orphaned elephants and the wild bulls has improved, although Mwana and Amali like to keep their distance from any visitors.
Wild bulls arrived ahead of the herd, knowing they would exit from the stockades after a night of rest. As the elephants prepared to join their ex-orphan friends, two giant wild bulls positioned themselves by the gate. Murera and her baby, Mwana, noticed the unfamiliar presence and halted. Mwana raised her small ears in curiosity and waited for Enkesha to join her.
The female friends trickily pushed the junior boys, Kiombo and Maktao, toward the wild bulls, wanting to see what their reaction would be. The interaction did not go well for Maktao and Kiombo, as the visitors promptly send them packing.
Faraja and Alamaya may seem big to us, but they are tiny in comparison to the size of the wild bulls and unable to match their impressive tusks. Understandably, the boys were hesitant to intervene. Even Faraja, who is constantly trying to assert his size and status, was unwilling to confront the wild bulls. Perhaps he realised that what he had bragged about were merely small tusks in comparison.
By Umani Springs, two male zebras were spotted drinking water. When the Keepers and young orphans came across them, Kapei and Amali were startled. They stood with raised ears, causing the zebras to bolt away. In fear of the unknown, Kapei and Amali also took off, surprising the herd and leaving them in a panic. Lima Lima and Sonje couldn't understand what had frightened them. Seeing Kapei and Amali in distress, Alamaya and Mwashoti rushed to help.
The two zebras reappeared close to where Kiasa, Amali, and Kapei were happily browsing. Although Kapei and Amali seemed scared, the herd followed them to find out the cause. Sonje moved the babies away from the zebras, who were waiting for the sun to cool before heading to the waterhole. The waterhole posed a challenge, as it was to be shared by both the elephants and the zebras. The orphans took their turn first, with the zebras following later.
The impact of climate change has hit the whole world, making life more challenging for wildlife. In the Chyulu Hills, animals are struggling to find enough fresh food due to the prolonged dry spell and the wildfires that ravaged the area last year and this year. The destruction of vegetation has made it tough for all animals.
The Keepers and orphans crossed paths with numerous wild elephants, followed by groups of buffaloes, and antelope families, all of whom were heading towards Umani Springs in search of fresh water and vegetation to browse. Murera seems to be displeased with the higher number of wild elephants in the Kibwezi Forest.
When Sonje, Murera, and Zongoloni, accompanied by Lima Lima, noticed the approaching wild herds, only Lima Lima went to greet them. The others kept their distance, especially Murera, who never likes a larger group of unfamiliar elephants around her and her baby. Murera, prioritising the safety of Mwana, convinced Zongoloni to bring her back to the other nannies, leaving Lima Lima to socialise with her wild friends.
When it was time for the midday bottles, Mwana charged in with the second group of orphans, running energetically and keeping pace with Kiasa and Kapei. The Keepers laughed as they watched Mwana compete strongly with her older sisters, even though she knew there was no bottle for her, as she nurses from Murera. Upon reaching the bottle lines, Mwana headed to the waterhole to drink. After quenching her thirst, she led everyone into the swimming pool to cool off after the vigorous run with the older babies. Murera and Mwashoti were left behind, with Mwashoti refusing to leave Murera’s side until they both reached the waterhole.
The swimming time was enjoyed by Amali, Kapei, Kiasa, and little Mwana. After leaving the waterhole, Lima Lima and Zongoloni headed to the dust pile, but Mwana attempted to put some dust on her back and found it too hot. She then moved towards the shade under big trees, where she knew cooler dust could be found. Sonje, testing the dust, also found it too hot and followed.
Faraja and Alamaya took separate paths today, and Alamaya seemed hesitant to get closer to Faraja. The Keepers speculated that something might have happened between them during the nightclubbers’ outing, leading to Alamaya keeping his distance. He eventually joined Zongoloni and Quanza, sharing his story about what had transpired between him and Faraja during the night.
Within the Chyulu Hills, wild cows with their babies mingled with the orphans, including the nightclubbers' team. The nightclubbers arrived first, followed shortly by a herd of wild elephant females with their little ones. Lima Lima, being fond of tiny babies, moved towards them, leaving Quanza to be with Amali.
As Lima Lima patrolled alongside the wild friends, she showed special attention to the herd’s little babies. One wild female, acting as the matriarch, worried that Lima Lima might be angling to kidnap one of the babies and rushed towards her. Aware that she had overstepped the mark and that there were potential consequences involved, Lima Lima thought on her feet: She swiftly ran away and hid in the bushes before the matriarch could reach her.
Taking refuge with the keepers and the other babies, who were enjoying some shade on this hot day, Lima Lima managed to escape any further confrontation. Meanwhile, Kapei and Maktao engaged in their playful activities, with Kiombo joining them for pushing games. It was short-lived, as Kapei soon realised that Kiombo’s energy was too much for him.
Some of the nannies had a morning breakfast meeting today to discuss their plan to handle baby Mwana. Poor Murera had a challenging night trying to keep up with her baby's demands for milk, and the nannies knew that she needed rest. Kiasa and Enkesha convened the meeting, with Lima Lima and Quanza in attendance. While they looked after Mwana, Murera had a peaceful morning with Mwashoti.
Sonje and Faraja, who were returning from the Umani hills, arrived later. When they reached the waiting area where the other babies were under the shades, Faraja attempted to pull Sonje back using her tail. She screamed for help, prompting the younger girls to demand an explanation from Faraja. Kiasa, Amali, and Quanza stopped and expressed their disbelief at his actions. They decided not to let Faraja join them in the bushes, expressing their displeasure with his behaviour.
After the midday bottles today, the orphans walked to the waterhole to drink while waiting for Murera, who was moving slowly. They wanted to ask her permission on the direction to take. However, before Murera could join them, Mwana, accompanied by Amali and Enkesha, headed to the large swimming pool. The baby was given some time to cool off after drinking water with the other babies.
Murera arrived last and found that the baby and her companions had already left for the dust pile. Amali, Mwana, and Kiasa went to the top of the hills and began rolling downwards, encouraging the older orphans to join in the dusting fun. Play continued until Sonje and Murera came for the babies.
When Murera and Sonje arrived, they both rested over the dust pile to enjoy a relaxing dusting. However, Jasiri approached and touched Murera from behind, prompting her to get up and move away with all the babies to the shade under the big trees. Murera didn't want Jasiri to be with them, as she knows bulls can be rowdy and disruptive.
Today, it rained a bit after many dry months. For some babies, this was a novel experience. Amali and Kapei, having not encountered rain for quite a while, were initially confused as to why it was getting dark and windy. Amali was particularly distressed. She screamed loudly as she sought refuge under Sonje to hide her head. Unfortunately, Kiombo was already secured under Sonje and her big body was not able to accommodate any more little heads. Amali had to find her own comfortable spot or risk being pushed away by the likes of Kiombo.
By contrast, Murera stood in the rain, unfazed, while her baby played joyfully in the loose mud. Despite Murera's slower pace, the other babies slowed down to catch up with her, respecting her speed. After the rain stopped, the herd returned to the forests to find more food and celebrate the much-needed rain.
Mwashoti was initially missing from the herd, but he later appeared with Alamaya and Faraja. When Lima Lima and Zongoloni spotted them, they ran over joyfully, which further created an air of celebration.
A wild herd passed by the orphans while heading straight to the springs for water. Before the two herds could see each other, Kapei, alert and sensing the presence of the wild friends, raised his trunk to catch their scent. Acting on his instincts, Kapei quickly escaped for his own safety, leaving Amali and Kiombo unaware of the potential danger. The Keepers, noticing Kapei's behaviour, understood that something was amiss.
Kiasa also tried to escape with Amali, but Zongoloni intervened, stopping them and preventing the babies from disappearing and potentially causing confusion for the Keepers. Murera and Sonje rumbled, signalling an alert to gather everyone back to the leaders, who couldn't see where some of the babies were. In response to the rumbling sounds, babies from all corners of the bushes began running towards the source.
Amali and Kapei were the first to stop at the feet of Sonje, receiving hugs from Murera and other females who reassured them to calm down and continue browsing. The time for the midday bottles was approaching. Meanwhile, Kiombo and Maktao engaged in play fighting in front of Enkesha, blocking her way. Mwashoti came from behind to push Kiombo away and turned back to face Maktao, allowing Enkesha to lead the line.
The day started on a good note, with all the babies eagerly getting out of their stockades, anticipating the morning treats awaiting them at the gate. Kiasa, however, stayed behind and peeked through the wooden posts to check if Murera and the baby were out. To her surprise, she found Amali and Enkesha with the baby, which left her feeling unsettled.
As we waited and watched the orphans celebrate the new day by the gate, Ziwa and Jasiri joined them after a long absence. Jasiri moved towards Murera's side, which she didn’t like. Sonje also displayed discomfort with Jasiri's presence. Keepers had to ask Jasiri to give the herd some space, but Ziwa was allowed to stay since he was friendly with Murera.
Shortly after, a wild herd arrived, which Enkesha signalled with a raised trunk. The wild herd adopted Ziwa and came to pick him up from the orphans' herd. Despite expectations that Ziwa and Jasiri would both go, only Ziwa joined them, leaving Jasiri behind with the orphans.
We hope that Jasiri is not picking up where Ngasha left off. Today, he was banished from the dependent herd after showing very poor judgement. He attempted to mount several females, including Murera, baby Mwana, and even gentle little Amali, which the keepers deemed unacceptable. It was an uncomfortable scene for everyone, and Jasiri was shown the door. As he left, he turned back, perhaps with a sad expression, but his behaviour had earned him such a punishment. The rest of the herd felt relieved that he was no longer causing trouble.
After Jasiri's departure, Amali climbed to the top of the dust hill, observing him leave. The Keepers waited to see Murera and the other babies would be happier and more relaxed without Jasiri's disruptive presence, and they certainly were.
When the babies arrived for their midday bottles, Mwana took the lead, running ahead of everyone. However, upon reaching the bottles, Mwana kicked down two bottles intended for Kapei and Amali. It seemed like Mwana was playfully asserting that she, too, could take bottles if given the chance.
Today, it rained all morning, which interrupted the elephants' usual activities. The rain caused the pellets to dissolve into water, creating an unpleasant smell that discouraged the babies from eating them. Amali walked out to the dust hill, waiting for directions from Sonje and Murera. However, Murera took longer to make a decision as she was occupied with Mwana, who was nursing and needed some extra time. Sonje stood by in support.
When Enkesha and Amali finally pulled the baby away, Kapei saw his opportunity. He had been watching unhappily, as he didn't want to see little girls like Amali and Enkesha as favourites of the eldest girls. When Kapei approached them, both girls escaped and moved away, leaving Kapei feeling resentful, especially towards Amali, who seemed to be the only favourite after Mwana.
Kiombo then came along with his playmate Maktao and a play fight ensued between them. Quanza rushed to separate them, but they didn't listen. Mwashoti arrived, and it was only after he intervened that they stopped the fight.
After the scuffle, the babies gathered for their midday milk feeding. Seven babies were given bottles. Kiasa, who was planning to have more than her share, was stopped by keepers to prevent any trouble. After enjoying their bottles, all the elephants walked to the waterhole for a drink, but refrained from swimming as the rain had made the weather too cold. Even Mwana wasn’t interested in swimming.
Ziwa made a solo appearance this morning without his usual group, which was a departure from the norm since he was adopted by his new wild family. It seemed like he wanted some uninterrupted time with his Umani family, as his wild group can be quite possessive of him and don’t often give him much time to mingle with the orphans and Keepers.
Sonje approached Ziwa and whispered something to him, prompting Ziwa to place his trunk over her for a sweet hug. It was heartwarming to see Sonje showing affection to Ziwa. When Alamaya tried to get closer, Sonje intervened, asking him to stay away and leave her with Ziwa, strengthening their bond.
Amali found herself without much space to fit in, as this was a big elephant affair. Seeing no one paying attention to her, she took the initiative to move Kiasa and Kapei to the dust pile, leaving Sonje to spend time with Ziwa.
The morning commenced with the usual match between Maktao and Kiombo. The playing field was level, and the two boys were determined to outdo each other. Kiombo, considered the underdog by many Keepers, surprised everyone by standing firm and not yielding to Maktao's attempts to push him down. Despite Maktao's longer tusks, Kiombo showcased his strength and proved to be a formidable opponent. In an unexpected turn of events, Maktao found himself unable to beat Kiombo and had to retreat, running away.
Enkesha, Maktao's neighbour, was displeased to see him on the ground after being pushed by Kiombo. She walked over to Maktao, who was still trying to get up, and attempted to help by holding his trunk. However, Maktao misunderstood the gesture and pushed her trunk away. Enkesha decided to move away, giving him space to suffer his defeat in private. Then, Amali and Kapei approached Maktao, but instead of assisting him, Kapei clambered atop his back. Amali just stood there, observing Maktao struggle. Poor Maktao — it was not his day!
Faraja made a return to the orphan herd after a brief two-day break. His reappearance coincided with Jasiri's departure, and now Faraja was back in the team. As he returned, Faraja immediately reconnected with his great friend, Alamaya, receiving a warm welcome from him. Mwashoti found himself on the outskirts as Faraja and Alamaya resumed their companionship.
During the day, Mwashoti stayed close to Murera, occasionally giving her the space she needed to nurse baby Mwana. When Mwana moved to the nannies, Mwashoti approached Murera and Sonje, keeping a respectful distance. Sonje rumbled to the herd, prompting a quick response from Kiombo, who eagerly rushed to join her on the hills for some interaction. However, Maktao tried to block Kiombo's path, hoping to engage him in their usual pushing game. To everyone's surprise, Kiombo ignored Maktao and continued on his way to Sonje. He clearly wanted to have a more peaceful day.
As the temperature soared, the babies sought relief by heading to the waterhole. Enkesha, Kiasa, and Amali led the way, accompanied by Mwana for a refreshing swim. Afterward, Sonje guided them to the dust pile for more cooling activities. Mwana, followed by Amali, climbed to the top of the hill. However, Mwana decided that she didn’t want to share the space with Amali and pushed her away. Amali, who is very good-natured, agreed to the spoiled baby’s demands. Mwana then enjoyed her time at the summit of the dust hill.
Amali displayed her strength and determination today as she stood firm against Kapei's attempts to push her around. Kapei, who seems to enjoy pushing Amali whenever she is nearby, found himself unable to budge her. Mwashoti came to Amali's aid by pulling Kapei away from behind, holding onto his tail and preventing him from pushing. Amali took this opportunity to escape, showing Kapei that she could defend herself and asserting her own strength. She joined Kiasa and Enkesha, finding comfort in the company of her friends.
Later, a wild bull arrived along with Faraja, Alamaya, and Quanza. He appeared to be friendly, but Murera, being cautious, kept her distance. Sonje and Lima Lima worked together to move the bull away from the herd. Murera's priority was to ensure the safety of her baby, so Sonje and Lima Lima guided the bull in a different direction. The little nannies, including Kiasa, took charge of the baby, leading the team towards Murera once the coast was clear.
After the encounter with the wild bull, the babies headed to the swimming pool to cool off in the hot weather. Mwana, the swimming star, made a splash as the herd enjoyed their time in the water.
Mwana, the little princess of Umani, showcased her playful and protective nature today as she took charge of keeping baboons away from the group. With great determination, she chased and stopped any baboons that dared to approach. Amali and Enkesha joined forces with Mwana to keep the baboons at bay.
A delightful surprise awaited the Keepers when Mwana, in a moment of excitement, trumpeted loudly. This was a significant moment, as Mwana has been working very hard to learn how to trumpet! It indicates that Mwana has reached a stage of development where she could trumpet, just like the other babies. She seemed very proud, as if she had proved her capability of being an elephant.
After the milk feeding, the babies headed to the waterhole for a drink. Amali, Kapei, and Kiasa took the lead, guiding everyone to the swimming pool. Mwana, ever the star, joined the big girls for a swim. Later, Amali and Mwana enjoyed playtime on top of the dust pile. Gentle ‘big brother’ Mwashoti intervened to ensure Kapei didn't disrupt their play.
As the herd, led by Sonje, Zongoloni, Faraja, and Quanza, moved into the bushes for more food, Murera sensed the presence of a wild bull and decided to backtrack, avoiding potential encounters with wild friends, as she is not particularly fond of them.
This evening, the nightclubbers had a taste of their own medicine when a larger and louder group of wild elephants, accompanied by many babies, arrived. The nightclubbers, who were enjoying their lucerne, were not pleased to share their dining spot with the new arrivals. Sonje and Alamaya attempted to join the wild group, but they were not allowed to be part of their gathering.
Then, the situation took a turn when an even larger family of wild elephants arrived at the stockade water hole. The first wild group, which had initially scared away the nightclubbers, found themselves in a similar predicament as the new arrivals were passing behind the stockade. Fearing the larger family, the first wild group ran away, leaving the area just as Sonje and her companions had done.
Today, the Keepers moved all the big girls to the hills where they heard loud elephant noises. The Keepers, Lima Lima, and Sonje went to investigate the source of the commotion. Sonje, eager to find out, walked as fast as she could while Lima Lima, always curious about new friends, arrived ahead of them.
Lima Lima found a female herd with babies. She moved towards the tiny babies to learn more about them. Meanwhile, Sonje was stopped by the wild matriarch female, who inspected Sonje by putting her trunk and touching around her. Although Sonje was initially afraid, she eventually moved back to where Lima Lima was having a good time with the babies and making new friends. Lima Lima remained with the babies until their mothers arrived and stopped her from walking away with one of the small babies. Lima Lima thought she could babysit, as she does with Murera’s baby, but the situation is different with wild elephants.
Faraja and some other wild friends joined Sonje. This time, Sonje was happy to have them in the herd. The Keepers realised that this might be the group Sonje joins when she is not with the orphan herd, as she was welcomed and accommodated by the big males. All the bulls were friendly to Sonje, making her enjoy their company as they hung out from the Kenzili up to Chyulu. Kiasa, along with other little nannies, stayed with Murera and the baby.
The monkeys found themselves with no space to hide or play as the area they usually targeted was taken over by the tiny baby Mwana and the nannies. Unwilling to let the monkeys get too close to the elephants, Amali and her little sister Mwana charged at them, keeping them up in the trees for many hours. The monkeys waited and waited, but the orphans were determined to give them no space.
Alamaya and Mwashoti arrived after a night of partying, only to find the babies about to leave. The vervet monkeys finally had their chance to come down and celebrate, but baboons intervened and forced them to leave the area for the springs.
Lima Lima led the entire herd to safer ground for more browsing and enjoyment on the hills. A pleasant surprise awaited them when Ziwa, who hadn't been with them since morning, appeared with his wild friends. Ziwa remained calm with the orphans until Jasiri approached him. Fearing that his friend would engage him in a rough wrestling match, Ziwa decided to leave the herd and join his wild friends as they moved back to Chyulu Hills.
Most of the boys were notably absent when Lima Lima, Quanza, and Zongoloni arrived at the stockades in the morning. The girls, understanding their duties to support Murera, were the ones who showed up. Among the boys, only Kapei and Maktao were present around the herd that day.
Amali assisted Kiasa in watching little Mwana, while Enkesha was busy elsewhere. Mwana found herself stuck on a tall branch that blocked her way out. When she rumbled for help, Amali quickly came running to assist. She removed the branch, ensuring Mwana was out of danger. Kapei also joined them, seeing that his neighbour was now safe and able to join for browsing on the hills with Sonje and other older females.
Later, two zebras appeared after the orphans had gone into thick bushes. Amali charged at them. Murera and Quanza intervened to prevent any dangerous interaction, creating a barrier between the zebras and the little girls, as zebras can be risky with their strong back legs.
Alamaya and his friend Mwashoti were absent today at the age when others gathered for their morning feeding. Wild friends also joined the orphans in eating pellets. Unfortunately, some of the wild females were bossy and tried to chase the orphans away. The Keepers were unhappy to see their orphans being treated this way.
In response, the Keepers called out Murera, who came with Mwana. The entire orphan herd followed them towards Kenzili and began their new day, but it started differently, without eating pellets.
Mwana took the lead in reaching the bottles today, running faster than others. She even surpassed Kiasa and Kiombo. Upon reaching the bottle lines, she stopped and looked around. Trying to pull up a bottle, she found it too heavy for her tiny trunk. No one offered to help her because the bottles aren’t for her, and no one was willing to share. Bottle feeding is a serious business, and as much as they love Mwana, they are not about to give up their milk. Instead, Mwana had to wait for her mother for nursing.
Again, none of the big boys returned to the orphan herd today. This was most unusual for Alamaya and Mwashoti, particularly Mwashoti, as he is very attached to Murera and Amali. The girls took the lead, reporting earlier by the gate. Sonje moved to the water trough, taking some time before Murera came out with Mwana.
The day took a surprising turn when Murera, who woke up in a bad mood, hit Lima Lima from behind while she was going for pellets. The impact made Lima Lima shout and run to the bushes, confused about why Murera would hit her like that. Quanza, witnessing Lima Lima running away at top speed, went to look for her friend. She found her at a waterhole, swimming to relax and to recover from the shock.
Mwashoti arrived later, but true to his usual self, he avoided the waterhole where Lima Lima and Quanza were having fun. Mwashoti is not a fan of getting wet. Instead, he waited in the shade for the girls to finish their swim.
Wild families with babies smaller than Mwana arrived at the stockade water trough. One tried to leave, but was blocked by the matriarch, who turned her back and guided her back into the herd, preventing her from going. Sneaky Kiombo attempted to join the wild herd, thinking he would be welcomed — but instead found himself running at top speed, after and being chased out by wild age-mates who didn't want him in the herd!
Upon witnessing his friend Kiombo being bullied, Maktao decided to move into the herd to support him. However, he also received a warning that he would face serious consequences if he joined the fight. Maktao backed away, realising the warning was serious, especially with the large wild females who possessed much longer tusks than his own shorter ones.
Murera guided the little ones away, so as to avoid being bullied by the wild herd. Amali faithfully followed Murera's advice, and the others did the same. Later, Lima Lima, Sonje, and Mwashoti joined them from the bushes after walking away from the wild herd.
Today, wild elephants arrived in two groups. To our joy, one group included Ziwa. He has been ‘adopted’ by an older mother with four daughters. The other group, which was larger, had many babies. The strict mothers in this group didn't want our orphans close by, much to the disappointment of baby-loving Lima Lima.
Lima Lima, Zongoloni, and Quanza are well-trained nannies under Murera's guidance. However, when they tried to approach the wild herd, the mothers were resistant. Perhaps they worried that our enthusiastic girls would try to steal their babies.
Quanza soon gave up, but Lima Lima and Zongoloni kept strategically trying to move closer, pulling some good moves. Eventually, the wild herd got fed up and chased them both away. They retreated to the safety of their own matriarch, Murera. Interestingly, Alamaya was with Lima Lima and Zongoloni, but unlike them, he was accepted by the wild herd. Perhaps he knows them from his forest adventures. Still, he did not dare stick up for his girlfriends and was unable to prevent their punishment.
Murera, along with Mwana and Kiasa, Amali, Kapei, Enkesha, and Mwashoti, remained hidden in the bushes. She always knows better than to be part of the pushing elephants. Instead, she wisely stays away from conflict and avoids the challenges her friends face.