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

Latest Updates on MUNDUSI:

• 6/29/2018 - Esampu, Mteto and Mundusi move to Ithumba
• 9/22/2017 - The Rescue of Mundusi

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

6/30/2018 - It was a quiet morning with a clear sky when the orphans were let out. No single wild elephant or former orphans showed up that morning. Namalok settled for a scratching game on the nearby rocks, a game that also attracted Rapa, Kauro, Esampu and Roi. As soon as the orphans had enough lucerne, Maramoja, who has all the characteristics of becoming a future matriarch, rumbled as she walked out southwards. This was a sign of letting everyone know that it was time to head for browsing before it got too hot.

Out in the field, the orphans were joined by Orwa and Bomani who were wondering when the time will come for Laragai and her small group to join them out in the wild so that they might have some company and grow their herd. Galla seized the opportunity to have a strength testing exercise with Bomani. Their game didn't last for long as Orwa warned them by taking too much time playing it would cost them time feeding, and they needed to get enough food to eat.

At mud bath time, the orphans had a spectacular wallowing session and later, Siangiki and Olsekki took their friend Enkikwe to drink water and thereafter escorted him slowly back out to browse. Galla developed an itchy chest and looking around he couldn't find a suitable rock or tree to serve him. He then picked a stick that he used to scratch himself with, and when he was satisfied he went back to browsing. Kauro and Wanjala settled under a tree to relax and when they got bored of standing under the tree, the two boys decided to keep themselves busy by scratching against the tree as they waited for the temperatures to drop. Kamok and Roi, who came together from Nairobi, embraced the spirit of sharing when they teamed up to feed on the same shrub. Maramoja spend time feeding with Esampu as Mundusi always sticks with his friend good friend Mteto. In the evening, four wild bulls in the company of the senior ex-orphans showed up at the stockade and left immediately after having enough water.

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

Mundusi dustbathing photo taken on 8/29/2017	Mundusi photo taken on 8/26/2017

ORPHAN PROFILE FOR: MUNDUSI (foster now)

Zoom / Enlarge This young calf was first spotted alone on the 20th of March reported by the Masai community to the Kenya Wildlife Service and Big life Scouts. In the hope that he would find his natal herd again they decided to observe him from a distance for a few days to see if he would catch up with other elephants, before assuming he was an orphan. Sadly as the days passed he cut a very lonely figure, increasingly vulnerable to predators, and visibly losing condition. After three days the decision was made to contact the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to come to his rescue. Aerial support from the DSWT Airwing was called in to help find the calf that morning, and thankfully early in the morning of the 23rd of March we found the calf. It did not take long to spot him from the air, as he was the only elephant for miles, and the ground teams were guided in by radio. Being young the capture was straight forward as being weak he put up little resistance. He was driven by the Rombo Station Kenya Wildlife Service rangers to the closest airstrip in Ziwani, which is quite a lengthy drive in the back of a land cruiser.       In the meantime Angela Sheldrick had been informed of the rescue and plans had been put in place for a DSWT rescue team to depart from Nairobi in a Cessna Caravan, traveling the one hour flight to the Ziwani airstrip. On arrival they found the calf still recumbent in the back of a land cruiser, looking incredibly thin and dehydrated. The team took the precaution of immediately covering his eyes from the unforgiving sun, and placed him on a drip to help with his dehydrated condition before carefully loading him into the aircraft. As this was happening the team was again called by Angela this time with news that they would not be returning immediately to Nairobi with their casualty, but instead they would be flying onto the Voi airstrip located within Tsavo East National Park, this time to collect another young orphan just rescued after being first sighted by a tour driver. It was midday by the time the plane landed in Voi, and the newborn calf was already at the airstrip with DSWT Voi Keepers taking care of him. No time was wasted and he was immediately loaded into the back of the aircraft; now we had two orphaned elephants arranged in the back of the aircraft, each with a drip in place to help hydrate them throughout the journey. The team certainly had their hands full with two elephants on board for the flight back to base, and once there the unloading of their precious cargo required helping hands from various staff members within Wilson Airport, but thankfully everyone close to the plane was eager to help.          Once back at the Nairobi Nursery the older calf was placed in a stockade, and his infant companion placed in a stable, both with attentive Keepers by their side. It was anticipated the older calf was approximately 15 months old and the reason for him being orphaned remains a mystery to this day as no carcass was ever reported. He fed well on milk, but was not initially interested in the freshly cut greens placed in his stockade. He soon settled into his new routine and began to relish the available food, and grew stronger with each passing day.    With a little female called Mteto as his stockade neighbour he was able to draw great comfort from her presence and that of the other elephants when they surrounded him at night, communicating and comforting him with sounds not always audible to the human ear. We could visibly see him responding to their presence, settling down well and tolerating his Keeper, coming to take his milk bottle enthusiastically. During the day when the other orphans would leave for their days deep in the Nairobi National Park he became distressed, calling for them. With all the attention and comfort he received it was not long before we felt he had the strength and had grown tame enough to join the Nursery herd out in the bush during the day, and no longer needed to remain within the confines of his stockade; he was immediately embraced by the others, showered in elephant love and affection.             We have named this brave boy Mundusi, after the area from which he came, and he is a wonderfully calm little bull, who thankfully has settled in beautifully, and is now stout and very healthy with little plump cheeks.

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