The new month began just as every day does, with a joyous reunion of the blanket babies. Illuminated by the rising sun, the youngest orphans padded quietly out of their stables. As usual, they had the area all to themselves for a few minutes, before the big boys and girls joined them. Shujaa toddled around as Nyambeni and Mzinga trunk hugged Pardamat and Talek. Taroha and Mokogodo greeted each other as if they had been separated for several days, rather than mere hours.
As the sky lightened, the orphans padded quietly out of their stables. As usual, the ‘blanket babies’ emerged first and had the area outside the stockades all to themselves for a few minutes before they were joined by the big boys and girls. Shujaa toddled around looking for browse as Nyambeni and Mzinga trunk hugged Talek and Pardamat. Taroha and Mokogodo greeted each other as if they had been separated for several days rather than hours. Once the older orphans had joined them, the herd set out to the forest led by Sileita and Latika.
After a wander in the bush, the orphans returned to the mud bath for their mid-morning milk feed. They downed their bottles and spread out around the wallow, picking up pieces of lucerne and hanging out in small groups. No one was keen on swimming as it was a cloudy morning, although Mukutan had a brief paddle. When the Keepers whistled, they obediently ambled back out to the forest.
By the afternoon, the sun had come out. Although many were still reluctant to get wet, some members of the herd paddled into the wallow. Kerrio was the first to stroll in, lie down and roll around in the muddy water. She was soon followed by her little friend Mokogodo who stood next to Kerrio with the water up to her tummy. After some deliberation, Nyambeni and Mzinga also paddled in and hosed themselves with water. Meanwhile, Kitich stood on the edge and made enormous splashes with his big pads. Taabu did not swim, preferring to play the pushing game with best friend Choka. The two bulls were clashing heads and twisting around quite close to the wallow. Nearby, Tingai and Rafiki were having a wrestling match. Soon, the herd walked back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
When the orphans headed out to the forest this morning with their Keepers, one or two stopped to greet Maxwell as they padded by his enclosure. The rhino was browsing on pellets but interrupted his breakfast to walk over to the gate. He stood quietly as Nyambeni and Mzinga put their trunks through the gaps to say hello before continuing on to the bush. Maxwell returned to his pile of pellets, knowing where to find them even though he is blind.
Out in the forest, the orphans wandered around, either on their own or in small groups, looking for green browse. Some approached the Keepers with trunks outstretched in greeting as others kept to themselves. Ahmed was looking after Talek and Pardamat. Ahmed was only rescued last year and, until now, has exhibited few maternal tendencies, preferring to keep to herself. As she grows in confidence, she is choosing to look after these two babies. This morning, she stood between them, trunk touching them regularly as they browsed together. Ahmed and Talek were inseparable for much of the day.
Later in the morning, the Keepers sent the orphans down to the mud bath in two groups before shepherding them back out for the afternoon. In the forest, Sileita was fussing over Mokogodo. The current mini matriarch — who, like Ahmed, used to be quite reserved — looks after the youngest members of the herd, but she is happy to share the responsibility with other females, like Kerrio. Today, Sileita was so focused on sweet Mokogodo that she was initially reluctant to drink her afternoon bottle of milk.
As dawn approached, the Keepers fed the orphans their early morning bottles of milk and opened the doors of the stockades. The elephants padded out to drink from the troughs and play with their friends. Meanwhile, Maxwell was eating his breakfast of pellets. This morning, he was sharing these with several warthogs who nibbled happily around him. Later in the morning as it was a sunny day, the rhino plodded into his mud wallow and submerged himself in the cooling water. Clambering out, he lay down on the dry earth to relax and cover his body with red soil.
After wandering in the forest, the orphans arrived at the mud bath for their mid-morning milk feed. The first group ambled down the slope, trunks aloft in anticipation. After drinking their bottles of milk, they spread out around the wallow. Newbie Pardamat is emerging from his shell as he becomes part of the herd. Today, the friendly little boy toddled slowly along the rope cordon, lifting his trunk to greet the visitors. He walked all the way along, deliberately saying hello to many. In contrast, Talek, who was also rescued recently, hovered next to the wheelbarrow full of bottles of delicious milk. Filling her tummy rather than playing was her priority. The Keepers gently urged her away, but back she came to stand in hope next to the wheelbarrow, opening her mouth to make her request clear.
Later in the morning, the orphans returned to the forest where they foraged far afield in search of green browse, something that is increasingly hard to find.
The herd ambled out at first light this morning, remaining in a cluster on a cloudy day. As it became warmer, they spread out to browse and play. Kitich and Mageno played several rounds of the sparring game as Ahmed and Mukutan gazed at a Keeper while he drank his tea. They stood close to him, occasionally lifting their trunks as if requesting a taste. Once the cup was empty, Ahmed walked over to see Talek and Pardamat. She positioned one small elephant on each side of her — the two babies occasionally give each other shoves — as they browsed together in the forest. After a time, Sileita scooped up Pardamat and Ahmed was left on her own with Talek, who can be quite a loner but happily accepts the attention of this particular female. Nearby, Kerrio, Nyambeni and Mzinga were entwining trunks in between mouthfuls of browse and Mokogodo was toddling along after caring Taroha as usual with her trunk keeping contact with his rump.
Later in the afternoon, the herd meandered down to the mud wallow for another milk feed. It was a hot afternoon and many were feeling playful. One by one, the orphans paddled into the cooling water — some splashed the water with their forelegs as others lay down and rolled around. Taroha stood watching from the sidelines for a time before slowly dipping a pad into the water. For the first time since his rescue, he paddled! After dipping his trunk in the water, he popped back out onto dry land, wary of being pushed by other elephants. He was so weak when he first arrived at the Nursery but is growing in strength.
Out in the forest on a sunny morning, most of the orphans wandered around quietly in small friendship groups, searching for green browse. Loldaiga, however, was feeling playful! He darted around after Kamili and Mageno, trumpeting occasionally as he chased them between trees and around bushes. Gentle Kamili played the game happily, waving her trunk as she wiggled between the shrubs. When she had had enough, she pottered over to join Mokogodo, Talek and Taroha, three of her favourite babies. Loldaiga went back to foraging and Mageno walked over to see Kitich.
Little Raha was also feeling lively today. When the baby rhino arrived at the mud bath this morning, rather than marching slowly, she jogged along the rope cordon. She ran towards the rope and then away from it and then towards it again. Thereafter, she gave the water trough a funny shove with her tiny horn before lying down for her daily dust bath. A Keeper carefully shovelled wet mud and then dry soil all over her body as she rolled around, rubbing her back against the ground.
Intrigued by her behaviour, Shujaa walked towards Raha. Before he had taken a few steps, Mzinga darted in front of him and blocked his path, making high-pitched trumpets and flaring her ears. She was being protective of her little friend. Mzinga likes spending time with the rhino. In contrast to the rest of the herd, she often wanders away from the other elephants in the forest to greet Raha and stand with her for a short time. Raha accepts Mzinga’s presence but, if any of the others approach her, she kicks up soil with her stout legs, makes an urgent squeaking sound, and charges.
Kitiak was in a feisty mood in the forest this morning. If any of the younger orphans came close to him while he was browsing, he pushed them away. The young bull’s message was clear: Leave me alone! When sweet maternal Kerrio ambled up to him, the grumpy boy pushed her completely over. Tingai and Taabu reacted immediately — as Kerrio got back up onto her feet, unhurt, they sprinted at Kitiak and chased him away. Even though they are close friends, they would not allow his behaviour. The youngest orphans sensibly wandered away from the confrontation, not wanting to run any risk. Young bulls Taabu, Choka and Tingai are all protective of the blanket babies, chasing away any elephant they consider rowdy so the little ones can feed in peace.
The orphans headed down to the mud bath a few hours later for their mid-morning milk feed before returning to the forest and then back to the wallow in the afternoon. On a cloudy day, no one got wet. Instead, they stood quietly around, feeding on the supplementary lucerne and drinking from the water trough. One or two thought about paddling as they stood close to the edge but not one orphan took the plunge. When the Keepers whistled to them, they obediently followed the men out to the forest and back to the stockades for the night.
As the sun rose in the sky, the orphans bustled out of their stockades, greeted their friends and gathered in groups. Sileita led the herd out to the forest with Kerrio and the babies bringing up the rear. On a sunny morning, the elephants spread out as they wandered through the bush. Sholumai was standing peacefully on her own when two impalas darted past her, posing no threat but giving the skittish girl a fright. She turned tail and disappeared into the bush, tail aloft and ears flared. Immediately, a Keeper ran after her, whistling and calling to calm her down. Half an hour later, Sholumai and her shepherd returned to the herd.
Later in the morning, the orphans arrived at the mud bath for another milk feed. Most drank their milk and then strolled away, accepting that there was no more. But not all. In the first younger group, Pardamat tagged along behind one Keeper or another, determined not to move away until he succeeded in wheedling a second bottle of milk. Talek tailed along after another Keeper while Mzinga refused to move a metre away from the wheelbarrow and Mokogodo gave a Keeper a very small shove. In the second older group, Rafiki and Sileita darted back to the wheelbarrow when the Keepers turned their backs and also stubbornly followed the men around.
It was a hot afternoon and many of the orphans climbed into the mud bath to cool down. To the Keepers’ surprise, Taroha was one of the first to pop in. He paddled to the middle, lay down for a short time and then climbed out before the pool filled up with older orphans. Some orphans knelt along the edge waving their trunks as others splashed around in the muddy pool. Loldaiga took Taroha’s place in the middle and submerged his whole body.
The orphans headed out in a long line to the forest this morning, padding silently past the gate to Maxwell’s enclosure. He was standing at his gate with his mouth wide open, rubbing his hooves along the ground. He was waiting for his special watermelon snack! He gobbled it down, turned and ran around his enclosure several times before settling down under the shade of a tree.
In contrast to Maxwell, Raha was subdued today. On a windy morning, she walked slowly out of her stable and reluctantly plodded out to the bush. In the morning, she did not play or run around or suck on a Keeper’s trousers. She stood quietly. Down at the mud bath, she toddled around but did not lie down for her daily dust bath. The Keepers were not worried as she was still eating normally but they remarked on the change from her usual behaviour. To their relief, she perked up by late afternoon, becoming her lively little self, marching into her stable for the night and gulping her bottle of milk.
The orphans enjoyed a peaceful but uneventful day. They wandered in the forest, visited the wallow and wandered some more in the forest. Tingai and Rafiki enjoyed an energetic wrestling match in the late afternoon as their friends looked on from the sidelines. Mushuru, Muridjo, Sholumai and Elerai browsed contentedly at a distance.
The orphans remained close to the stockades this morning, choosing not to venture far afield. Young bulls Taabu and Tingai browsed together, standing close and touching trunks regularly. Nearby, Nyambeni and Kerrio were following each other and then lying down to roll around and massage their bodies against the dry earth. Kitich and Mageno browsed and then played several rounds of the pushing game.
Mid-morning, the Keepers shepherded the orphans down to the mud bath for a milk feed and some time around the wallow. Shujaa was in an assertive mood today. When he first arrived at the Nursery, he was a reserved little elephant but no longer. He has grown into a naughty toddler who does not always do as he is told. He gulped down his bottle and then dashed over to Taroha in the hope of pinching his bottle. A Keeper pointed at him sternly and he reluctantly toddled away to browse on the supplementary greens spread around the mud bath. Rescued just a few months ago, Taroha is growing in strength but cannot yet hold his own with older boys. He finished his bottle quietly and ambled over to be with Mokogodo.
The herd spent much of the rest of the day in the forest, returning to the mud bath again in the afternoon and then ambling back to the stockades for the night.
After heading out in a line this morning, the orphans wandered off in different directions to look for green browse in the dry forest. They browsed and then played and then browsed some more. Rafiki had a great time playing on his own with a branch, picking it up and twirling it around expertly with his trunk. Mukutan was hanging out with Loldaiga and Muwingu. Elerai is still shy and somewhat of a loner but today he was playing with confident Taabu. They clashed foreheads and clanked tiny tusks as they sparred with each other. Taabu is a strong young bull and Elerai did well to stand up to him.
Later in the morning, the first group of 12 younger orphans headed down to the mud bath. They drank their milk and spread out around the wallow. Several wandered along the rope cordon, greeting the visitors, as others drank from the water trough or browsed on lucerne. Soon, they left and the second group of 15 took their place. Taabu was full of mischief today. Striding down the slope, he gulped his milk and immediately accosted Weka, hoping she would relinquish her bottle to him. Trumpeting in indignation, Weka stood up to him and sprinted away with her trunk curled around her bottle. He abandoned his quest and she finished her milk on the other side of the mud bath.
In the afternoon back out in the forest, Ahmed was again looking after little Talek. Ahmed is blossoming into a nurturing nanny and Talek was standing almost between her forelegs, rumbling happily. Today, the two friends were joined unexpectedly by older bull Rafiki. Ahmed and Rafiki both touched Talek regularly, laying their trunks along her back or round her head.
It was cool and cloudy in the early morning and the orphans settled down to browse in the forest in a cluster, smaller ones in the middle and older ones around the edges. Although they are still reserved, Mushuru and Sholumai remained within the herd rather than wandering off on their own.
Meanwhile, back at the stockades Maxwell was having a lovely time. He was browsing on pellets with two warthog friends. Sometimes he chases them away but today he was happy to share his breakfast. When the sun came out, Maxwell chased the two pigs around and around his enclosure, lumbering along behind them. When the warthogs popped into the rhino’s mud bath for a cool down, he waddled in after them and lay down, whereupon they began scratching his back. At his most tolerant, he put up with the massage for a few minutes before chasing them out of the water and his enclosure. Although he cannot see them, he can sense the pigs. Thereafter, he clambered back into the water for a long wallow.
In the afternoon, the orphans, as always, wandered around in the forest. Sweet caring Kamili was spending time with some of the blanket babies. She stood with them in a huddle and then headed off to browse in an open area with Talek, Pardamat, Mokogodo and Taroha toddling along trunk to tail in a straight line behind her. They stayed together until the herd returned to the stockades for the night
The orphans hung out around the stockades this morning, in no hurry to head out. Naughty Weka and Muridjo were darting in and out of their friends’ rooms, searching for leftover lucerne. Soon, the Keepers led the herd out to the bush where they spread out in friendship groups. This morning, Nyambeni and Mzinga were spending time together, touching each other affectionately – nearby, Sileita and Kerrio stood surrounded by Mokogodo, Taroha and Pardamat. Muridjo was playing with Muwingu. Little Talek stayed close to a Keeper and was in a subdued mood after a night of bad dreams. She would not go near the older boys and girls and remained with a Keeper until later in the morning when she perked up. Talek is still recovering from the trauma of losing her mother. She was found without her family but surrounded by bull elephants.
As always, the Keepers shepherded the first group down to the mud bath and then the second. Today, they decided to send Taabu and Mukutan down after everyone else. Great friends and growing up fast, the two bulls play noisy rough wrestling games and also do their best to pinch extra bottles from the wheelbarrow. The Keepers kept them back until all the others had finished their milk. The big boys marched down, emptied their bottles and began playing. Tingai and Rafiki were also sparring against each other. Soon, it was time for the orphans to return to the forest.
After browsing in the forest for several hours, the first group of 12 younger orphans padded down the path to the mud bath for their mid-morning milk feed. As it was a cloudy morning, they spread out around the wallow. Big sister Kerrio and little sister Mzinga were full of energy this morning. Kerrio lay down on the large pile of dry soil and rolled onto her back, massaging her body and waving her legs in the air. Spotting an opportunity, Mzinga toddled over to join her. The two rolled around together and then, as Kerrio lay on her side, Mzinga knelt on her friend’s tummy while balancing on her back legs.
Kitich watched the game calmly from the sidelines (after trumpeting loudly for milk as he arrived at the mud bath) and then challenged age-mate Mageno to yet another wrestling match. Muridjo and Muwingu waited until the two girls had had enough and then took their place on the pile, hosing themselves with soothing soil. The second group of orphans soon took their place before rejoining the little ones in the forest.
It was a hot afternoon. Several orphans plunged into the water for a wallow, including Kamili who does not usually like to swim when the pool is crowded. Ahmed and Pardamat stood together on the edge of the mud bath but did not get wet. Instead, they enjoyed a dust bath, carefully squirting soil all over their bodies. Ahmed was fussing over her little friend, trunk touching and dusting him. Refreshed by their baths, the herd headed back out for a final wander before bed.
As the sun rose in a clear sky, the Keepers opened the gates of the blanket babies’ stockades first, as usual. The little ones toddled out and greeted their friends. Nyambeni and Mzinga popped over to see Mokogodo and Taroha, fussing over them like responsible big sisters. The two newbies responded to the trunk hugs with small rumbles. As soon as the Keepers opened the doors of the older orphans, mini matriarch Sileita strolled out and made a beeline for Mokogodo’s stable. On her way, she stopped to greet little Pardamat and the two elephants entwined trunks with the younger one standing almost between Sileita’s forelegs. Continuing down the path, she burst into a series of rumbles on encountering Mokogodo, Taroha, Nyambeni and Mzinga. In contrast to most of the other females, Sileita displays a maternal attitude to all the young ones. Trunk hugs over, she led her bevy of babies out to the forest for their morning wander.
Heading back to the mud bath mid-morning, the orphans padded down the slope in small groups, drank their milk and settled around the wallow. Muwingu and Mageno tried (unsuccessfully) to share a water trough. Muwingu was drinking from the bucket when Mageno strolled up and gave her a little push, indicating that she should make room for him. Rather than budging along, Muwingu (who has rather a serious character) overreacted and a squabble ensued. Mageno abandoned his quest and toddled off to play with Kerrio. The two friends lay down on the edge of the wallow for a rub and a roll around with Kerrio laying her trunk along Mageno’s back.
Back in the forest in the afternoon, several orphans were in playful moods. Choka and Kitiak chased each other around through the bushes before Kitiak did his best to mount Choka and then the two young bulls enjoyed a sparring match, entwining trunks as they clinked their tiny tusks together.
Sholumai has settled in well to her new family but, as with many older rescues, she is still shy. She keeps to herself, allowing the Keepers to come near her when they are holding bottles of milk but otherwise remaining at a distance. She also chooses to browse on her own and to swim alone after the others have climbed out of the wallow. Today, her behaviour was different. On a hot afternoon, she decided that she could not wait and padded slowly into the water and lay down to wallow near the edge. She did not remain in the water for long – as soon as Taabu tried to clumsily climb onto her back, she trumpeted her annoyance and got out of the wallow.
After swimming it was time for dust bathing. Weka and Choka were having a lovely time together on the pile of earth. Weka lay spreadeagled on her belly, trunk waving happily, and then Choka lay down next to her and they rubbed against each other and the ground. Weka lifted herself to a kneeling position as Latika ambled over to join in the fun.
Later in the afternoon, the elephants wandered far in search of green browse in a dry forest. Several orphans, including Mzinga, Taabu, Elerai and Mushuru, stretched their trunks up into trees, carefully feeling around for anything edible.
It was another hot dry day. While the orphans wandered in the forest, little Raha toddled down to the mud bath behind her Keeper. She visits the wallow briefly every day before the orphans. She trundled confidently along the rope cordon, occasionally greeting a visitor by trying to suckle a trouser leg. Lap of honour completed, she paddled in the tiny pool which her Keeper had dug especially for her, lay down and rolled around. After her dip, he shovelled soil onto her body and then the two left the area as the first group of elephants padded in to take their place.
Green browse is far from plentiful at present and the orphans sometimes walk deep into the forest as they forage. Nyambeni was with little Pardamat in the forest this morning, fussing over her happily as they watched Tingai and Taabu play several rounds of the pushing game.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans gathered around the wallow after enjoying their bottles of milk. Latika drank from the water trough as several climbed into the water. In a grumpy mood, Talek gave Taroha a small shove, pushing him into the wallow. Rather than climb out, the little boy paddled around as Mzinga darted over to discipline Talek, sending her to stand under a bush. Meanwhile, Weka and Sileita moved over to check on Taroha and stand protectively on either side of him.
Maxwell was not in the mood for sharing this morning. When, as often happens, several warthogs trotted into his enclosure in the early morning to eat pellets with him, he did not welcome them. Instead, he chased them up and down. The pigs darted away from the enormous rhino with ease but were reluctant to leave him in peace. Eventually, they got the message and left him to eat and then wallow in his mud bath.
After the first group of orphans had ambled out, the second group of older orphans sprinted down the slope for their mid-morning milk feed. Naughty big boys Taabu and Mukutan were giving the Keepers a hard time today, roaming around the wheelbarrow of milk and refusing to move away — until Tingai got involved. As the dominant bull of the herd, he strode over to discipline the boys, sending them away from the milk. Usually, he is gentle with the little ones but stern with his age-mates.
Many of the orphans went swimming on a hot afternoon. As some paddled and others wallowed, Kerrio relaxed with her front half in the water and her back half balanced on the edge. Minutes later, she crawled properly into the water and rolled around with Nyambeni. Muridjo was playing with Mzinga on the edge of the mud bath – the two girls entwined trunks and rubbed up against each other. After a quick dip, Taroha was engrossed in rubbing his head and then his belly against a water bucket. He pushed so hard that he squashed the bucket and the water ran out!
Sileita is the current mini matriarch of the Nursery herd, caring for all the orphans and often leading them out in the mornings. She has, however, several budding or assistant nannies who also care for the little ones – Ahmed, Kerrio, Latika, Weka, and Nyambeni.
This morning in the forest, Latika was sticking closely to Mokogodo and Taroha. Although she may prefer Mokogodo, she tolerates Taroha most of the time and today she was trunk hugging the little boy as they ambled around together. Mokogodo and Taroha remain inseparable friends. Meanwhile, feisty Muridjo was running around in circles as many of the others browsed.
Soon, the orphans returned to the mud bath for their mid-morning milk feed. Today, they did not get wet but stood around the wallow in small groups. Several, including Elerai and Weka, decided instead to hose themselves with soothing soil.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans were in playful moods. Kitich and Latika sparred in one clearing as Kitiak and Choka played together in another. The big bulls chased each other and then Kitiak did his best to mount Choka and then they had a wrestling match, trunks entwined and little tusks clinking. In contrast, Loldaiga, Elerai, Sholumai and Mushuru chose to continue browsing rather than indulge in rowdy antics.
It rained during the night and, in the morning, the forest was wet and muddy. Because of the weather, the Keepers decided to leave the youngest orphans — Talek, Pardamat, Mokogodo and Taroha — in their stables. They opened the gates of the other stockades and the orphans ambled out. Led by Sileita, they set out to the freshly wet forest. Everyone, that is, except for nanny Nyambeni! She stood outside the babies’ stockades, trumpeting stubbornly and refusing to leave without her four small friends. The Keepers persuaded her to leave them and she caught up with the herd. Two hours later, once it had dried up and warmed up, she was reunited with the babies.
The orphans padded down to the wallow for their bottles of milk later in the morning. Everyone behaved well in the first group apart from Mzinga. She was in one of her greedy moods and kept nipping back to the wheelbarrow in search of a second as soon as the Keepers’ backs were turned. Eventually, Kerrio took her in hand and shepherded her away from the tempting wheelbarrow.
The herd stayed close together in a clearing on a cloudy afternoon in the forest. Latika and Muwingu were hanging out as Mzinga massaged her face against some wet rocks. Amid showers of rain, the Keepers sent the orphans back in groups of three or four to the warmth of the stockades for the night.
This morning in the forest, Taabu and Choka were on their naughtiest behaviour. After playing the pushing game for some time, they strolled around annoying older females like Kerrio, Sileita, Muwingu, Mushuru and Sholumai by trying to mount them. The big girls saw them off with loud trumpets and shoves and the boys returned to their games. Soon Taabu was playing with Elerai, sprawling on his belly as his friend stood over him. Choka decided to challenge Tingai to a noisy wrestling match. Nearby, Ahmed was having a lovely time with newbies Talek and Pardamat, standing with one on either side of her and hugging them regularly.
The Keepers have kept Muridjo in the second group of older orphans visiting the mud bath in the morning, even though she should be in the first group of younger orphans. Full of energy, Muridjo cannot resist running around and teasing the babies. However, she behaves beautifully when she is with older elephants like Tingai, Elerai, Weka, Ahmed, Sileita and Rafiki. She does not dare to be cheeky towards them. Several big boys and girls were swimming in the wallow this morning. Loldaiga rolled around in the water and then knelt on the edge next to Taabu and Rafiki. Choka stayed in the water for a long time, but Mukutan had a quick dip and then stood tall on the edge with his back legs still in the wallow.
At first light, the orphans emerged from their rooms and headed out to browse and play in the forest. After filling her tummy, Kerrio lay down on her side so that Mzinga and Shujaa could climb all over her, using her as an enormous toy. Nearby, Sileita and Mageno were chilling on a cloudy day – they lay backside to backside and then trunk to tail in an open area of the forest. Weka was being a caring nanny rather than a disobedient toddler, looking after little Mokogodo in her blue blanket as they browsed on small shoots and branches. Ignoring the other orphans, Talek was toddling around after a Keeper. Meanwhile, Loldaiga was content to squat on his rump, waving his trunk in an aimless manner.
Later in the morning, the orphans returned to the mud bath for their mid-morning milk feed. Since her arrival at the Nursery, Talek has calmed down as she has learned to trust the Keepers and, to an extent, her fellow orphans. She is still recovering from her trauma and can be unpredictable. Today, when Shujaa surprised her by approaching from behind, she reacted instinctively by charging at the unsuspecting boy. The Keepers intervened to separate the two elephants and restore calm.
It was a sunny afternoon and several orphans plunged into the mud bath for a wallow. As Kerrio, Weka, Mukutan, Choka and Nyambeni rolled around in the water, Elerai paddled and rubbed her face against the edge and played with Mzinga.
Today, it was Sileita’s turn to behave like an enormous cushion. She lay down to relax in a forest clearing in the early morning. Minutes later, she was joined by Muwingu, Shujaa and Taabu who stood next to her for a time before taking it in turns to clamber on top of her and roll around next to her. At one stage, Shujaa rested his forelegs on his obliging nanny. Tiring of the game, Taabu ambled away to challenge Kitich to a wrestling match. Not far away, Weka was doing an impressive imitation of a mini matriarch, squashed up between Mokogodo and Taroha.
In the afternoon, the orphans padded down the path to the mud bath for another milk feed. Being as protective as Kerrio and Sileita, Latika was looking after Mokogodo, Talek, Pardamat, Taroha and Nyambeni. She stood surrounded by the babies, moving from one to the next as they browsed and touching them affectionately. She was perhaps taking her responsibilities a little too seriously. When Sholumai made the mistake of getting close to the mini herd, Latika overreacted, giving the innocent female such a shove that she fell. Immediately, Sileita came over to protect Sholumai and reprimanded Latika. Peace was restored as Muwingu and Muridjo continued to paddle in the pool.
Soon, the Keepers shepherded the orphans back out to the forest for a final wander before bed. Independent Kitiak went walkabout again today, ambling deep into the forest just before the time to return to the stockades. Two Keepers set off after him and escorted him home.
This morning, the orphans headed out trunk to tail in a line of laidback soldiers to the forest. They spread out to wander and browse and play. As always, Taroha and Mokogodo were glued together. Taroha is a quiet boy who is unusually caring to his best friend Mokogodo. Today, he was being so protective that he would not share Mokogodo with Mzinga, pushing her away when she walked over to join them. Not far away, the older bulls were in playful moods – Rafiki was rubbing trunks with Taabu as Tingai sparred with Choka and then rested his bulk against his friend’s back.
As the day became warmer, the elephants headed back to the mud bath for a milk feed and a wallow. Today, Kitich enjoyed a solitary swim. He paddled around in the muddy water, making splashes with his trunk, and then lay down for some time before rubbing his trunk along the edge.
Mageno had a busy time in the forest in the afternoon. Finding a small dip in the ground, he lay down to massage his body as Nyambeni and Mzinga stood watching from the sidelines. Soon, Sileita wandered over to see what he was doing. The older female touched him and rubbed her side against him and then lay down. Minutes later, the two elephants were on their knees as they continued to explore the dip with their trunks. Standing up, Sileita ambled over to cuddle Nyambeni who was by this stage lying down in a nearby clearing.
The orphans enjoyed their first bottles of the day in their rooms before emerging to drink from the water troughs and play in the area outside the stockades. Soon after dawn, they set out to the bush. It was not long before Raha too toddled out of her stable. This morning, she made small squeaking sounds of excitement as she ran out to the forest in front of her Keeper. Trundling down to the mud bath later in the morning, she completed her customary round of the visitors before enjoying her daily dust bath. She lay on the ground with her legs in the air as the Keeper covered her with soil.
Meanwhile, out in the forest, Weka, Mzinga, Taroha and Mokogodo were browsing, sharing the spoils from one bush and then moving on in a mini herd to the next. Some boys were sparring as others ambled around peacefully while Kerrio and Sileita kept a close eye on the other babies.
By the afternoon, the sun was shining and many orphans enjoyed a wallow in the mud bath. The older ones splashed water or submerged their bodies in the cooling mud as the younger ones stood by. When the big boys and girls climbed out and wandered over to the pile of earth for a dust bath, the babies had a turn in the wallow. Shujaa lay in the water for a long time, stretching his trunk along the edge as he relaxed, while water babies Nyambeni and Kerrio rolled around together in the middle. As the sun sank towards the horizon, the herd ambled back to the stockades.
Rumbling to their friends, the orphans pottered out of their stables and headed to the forest with their Keepers. They settled close to the stockades to browse and play. Older female Ahmed was once again looking after newbies Talek and Pardamat. Ahmed used to be too shy to show love and affection to the babies but no more. She is blossoming. This morning, she stood between Talek and Pardamat, fussing over her adopted babies as they ambled around together. When they toddled off, she followed along behind. The change has surprised and delighted the Keepers. Not far away, Raha was walking with her Keeper in the early morning sunshine. She stayed close to her carer, suckling his trouser leg in a gesture of affection whenever she got the opportunity.
As always, Raha was the first to visit the mud bath mid-morning. She impressed the guests with some dramatic rolling around on the dusty ground before returning to the forest. The first group of 12 orphans then padded down the slope for bottles of milk and time around the wallow. When they left, their place was taken by the second group of 15 older orphans. This morning, the Keepers whistled at Kitiak, Mukutan and Rafiki to stand a short distance away as they were in rowdy moods. The big boys obeyed somewhat reluctantly.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans wandered further afield in the forest. Many enjoyed dust baths in dry clearings. Others played – Sileita and Nyambeni entwined their trunks and then Sileita massaged her face against the ground as Nyambeni rubbed hers against her friend’s body.
As most of the orphans browsed peacefully in the forest this morning, Taabu, Choka and Tingai were playing, behaving like very large puppies. As Tingai squatted on his backside in a clearing, Choka and Tingai padded over to join him. Choka playfully sat on Tingai while waving his trunk in circles until Taabu decided that it was his turn. He bent down to push Choka off Tingai and took his place, resting his bulk on his obliging friend. Choka then turned around and put his head down to remove Taabu from Tingai. And so the game continued!
It was extremely hot in the afternoon. The orphans gulped down their bottles of milk and headed for the mud bath which was soon full of splashing elephants. Almost all the older ones went swimming today, including Tingai, Taabu, Loldaiga, Mukutan, Choka, Elerai, Rafiki, Ahmed, Mzinga, Nyambeni, Weka, Sileita, Mageno, Sholumai, Mushuru, Kitich, Muwingu and Kamili. The little ones watched on from the sidelines, sensibly not risking being squashed by their large friends. Kamili is always mindful in the mud bath, aware that she is not strong enough to bump against the others. Thus, she was content to stay at the edge while splashing mud on her body. Kitich was the star of the mud bath today as he was the last to leave the pool.
Up in his enclosure, Maxwell was also cooling off. He clambered into his mud bath, stood there for a time and then rolled onto his back, lying with his stout legs in the air before rolling back onto his belly.
The orphans set out in a straight line to the forest this morning and spread out to browse on new green shoots following the rainfall a few days ago. Mushuru and Muwingu were ambling around together as were Elerai and Loldaiga. Kitich was wrestling with Taabu, doing his best to hold his own against the older bull. Kitich is keen to join the senior boys’ wrestling club made up of Taabu, Tingai, Rafiki, Kitiak, Choka, Mukutan and Elerai. At present, he still belongs to the junior boys’ wrestling club made up of Mageno and Loldaiga!
In another clearing, Nyambeni and Weka were babysitting Mokogodo and Taroha. Nyambeni was sticking like glue to little Mokogodo, giving her frequent trunk hugs as they browsed on the same bushes. Weka – formerly known as the naughtiest girl in the Nursery – was looking after Taroha. She was following the little boy around, also trunk hugging him at every opportunity. Taroha and Mokogodo have been best friends since the day they arrived at the Nursery. They are often to be found under Latika’s protection, but today, Nyambeni and Weka stole their hearts!
Later in the day at the mud bath, no one was interested in swimming. Instead, they settled down to feed on the supplementary greens scattered around the wallow by the Keepers. Today, Tingai was not in the mood for sharing. When he insisted on pushing Kitiak and Rafiki away from the area, the Keepers took the situation in hand and sent him for a time-out session behind a nearby bush.
Today, the orphans woke up in subdued moods. They pottered out of their rooms and set off quietly to the forest. No one was playing games or showing off. Instead, Taabu, Tingai, Choka, Rafiki, Kitiak and Elerai – the big boys who are most fond of playing games and showing off – were ambling around, looking relaxed as they selected tasty green shoots, twisted their trunks around them and popped them into their mouths.
The peace did not last long. Suddenly, Muwingu Mageno, Loldaiga, and Muridjo sprinted up to the herd, trumpeting and bush bashing in alarm. They were reacting to some eland who had cantered past as they were browsing. Their reaction led to a massive overreaction! Flaring their ears, Ahmed, Sileita, Rafiki, Tingai, Taabu, Mukutan, Elerai, Sholumai and Mushuru mock charged, trumpeting loudly as they darted around in different directions, head-bashing and kicking bushes.
At the mud bath later in the morning, close friends Nyambeni and Mzinga had a toddlers’ squabble over greens. As they browsed next to each other, Nyambeni tried to snatch a bunch of tasty greens from Mzinga. Mzinga refused to hand them over and a fight ensued. The Keepers separated the two elephants and they were soon buddies again. Meanwhile, many of the others were paddling or swimming in the mud bath. Mageno paddled in the middle drinking the water as a wet Kamili stood on the edge, also drinking from the pool.
In contrast to yesterday, the orphans woke up in playful moods today, especially the big boys. As soon as Rafiki, Elerai, Tingai, Taabu, Choka and Kitiak set foot outside their rooms, the games began. Jovial greetings were followed by wrestling challenges as Rafiki took on Elerai, Tingai took on Taabu, and Choka took on Kitiak. The contests lasted all the way out into the forest. As nannies and babies browsed all around, Kitich and Loldaiga were also enjoying a sparring session, clashing heads and trumpeting in excitement. The younger boys’ game was interrupted by Taabu and Choka who ambled up and then chased after them, doing their best to play-mount their friends.
Soon, the Keepers shepherded the orphans into small groups in preparation for their milk feed at the mud bath. When Muridjo and Shujaa were put in the same group, rather than standing quietly, they began fighting over who would be the leader, pushing each other out of the coveted first place. When Shujaa lost the contest and was forced to stand behind Muridjo, he craftily grabbed hold of her tail and bit it hard. Taken off guard, she screamed and ran away to squeeze herself between Sileita, Muwingu and Kerrio. Naughty Shujaa padded in first with his head held high.
Later in the afternoon when the orphans returned for another milk feed, most spread out to browse on greens or to paddle in the pool. Taabu and Muridjo, however, were hoping for an extra bottle. While the Keepers were busy feeding other orphans, they darted at the wheelbarrow, doing their best to pinch one. The Keepers chased them away and turned their backs and they tried again. Taabu was especially smart. He pretended to walk into the bush and then ran back quickly when he saw Keepers holding up milk bottles. He picked up a bottle, ignoring the shouts of a Keeper, and darted back into the bush with his trunk wrapped around it. Mission accomplished, he drank down every drop!
As always, in the early morning, the orphans drank their milk and emerged from their stables. Today, Tingai was in a mischievous mood. While his friends greeted each other, he nipped over to Taabu’s stockade and closed his gate, just after a Keeper had opened it. When his hostage pushed against the gate, Tingai pushed back hard so that Taabu could not escape. Taabu pushed again and Tingai held firm until, eventually, a Keeper freed the hostage!
During the mid-morning milk feed at the wallow, several orphans paddled into the mud bath for a cool down on a sunny day. Loldaiga was the star of the show. He darted around in the water, wiggling between the others while making enormous splashes with his big feet and spinning his trunk around in circles. After his exuberant swim, he climbed out and hosed himself down with dry soil.
Later in the afternoon, the herd returned to the mud bath. They downed their bottles and headed for the water. Today, little Taroha — who is becoming a mud bath lover — led the others into the water and rolled around in the middle of the pool. When Weka and Sileita saw him in the deepest part of the wallow, the two females paddled over and stood on either side so that he could not get stuck in the mud. They kept their forelegs under Taroha so he was safe when he rolled over and able to stand with their support. When it was time to get out of the wallow, Weka and Sileita went down on their knees as Taroha placed his forelegs on the edge, thus enabling him to pop out with ease. The little boy is melting their hearts!