01 April 2014

As usual, the orphans left the stockade early and settled down for some lucerne. Once they had fed enough, the group was led away by Mutara. They enjoyed feeding at Kone area. At mud bath time, the weather was chilly so none of the orphans participated in wallowing. It was lovely to see Yatta and her group as they showed up at the stockade in the evening.

02 April 2014

The orphans had a peaceful morning whilst eating their lucerne as only Kinna, Mulika, Mwende, Tomboi, Lualeni and Ololoo showed up. They later parted ways leaving the ex-orphans at the stockade. At mud bath time, they were joined by Olare and Murka and later by the rest of the ex-orphans along with one wild bull. Missing in the ex-orphaned group was Napasha. Soon after mud bath, the groups parted ways. The juniors headed to the slopes of the Ithumba hill while the ex orphans headed towards Kanziku area.

03 April 2014

Soon after leaving the stockade, the juniors were joined by Lualeni, Ololoo, Kalama, Murka, Olare, Kitirua and Kibo. They shared the lucerne for half an hour before the milk dependent group left for browsing. Shortly after the juniors had left, the rest of the ex orphans showed up at the stockade. Once again Napasha, who, for the last four months has not shown up at the stockade, was missing. The orphans settled at Kanziku area where they browsed until it was time for the mud bath. The orphans drank both milk and water. Only Shukuru, Bongo and Mutara participated in wallowing. In the evening, the ex orphans with a wild bull showed up at the stockade.

04 April 2014

Early in the morning soon after leaving the stockade, the milk dependent group was joined by Mulika and Yatta’s groups with one wild elephant. The herd shared lucerne for half an hour and later parted ways. Shortly before eight o’clock in the morning Suguta and her group in the company of Lualeni, Ololoo and Kenze reported at the stockade. Missing was Ishanga. The orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area. At eleven o’clock in the morning, Shukuru led the first group to the mud bath. The sun was hot but only Shukuru, Bongo, Mutara and Sities splashed around. Later, Laragai led the way back to the browsing field.

05 April 2014

Lualeni, Ololoo and Kamboyo decided to spend last night just outside the stockade and as soon as the juniors were released from the stockade, Lualeni joined them. Lualeni’s main mission in life is to smuggle the babies away from the keepers! But this time round we are not sure which baby she is targeting? Shortly later Mulika and Yatta’s groups in the company of a wild bull came to the stockade. Suguta and her group in the company of Buchuma showed up at the stockade an hour later. The juniors settled to browse at Kone area. At eleven o’clock in the morning, Shukuru led the first group to the mud bath. It was hot at that time and all the orphans got stuck in, fully participating in the wallowing. After which they had a soil bath and thereafter Bongo led the way to the browsing field. In the evening, only Yatta’s group returned to the stockade, in the company of a wild bull.

06 April 2014

Lualeni, Ololoo and Kamboyo were at the stockade again this morning. They joined the juniors soon after they came out from the stockade. Shortly later, the other ex orphans began pouring in and by the end of it; Napasha was the only one missing. It was certainly a busy, social lucerne session! The orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area where they were joined later by Mulika and Yatta’s groups. It was a fun affair at mud bath time for Bongo as he enjoyed wallowing with the ex orphans. Soon after mud bath, the entire herd jointly headed for browsing but parted ways an hour later. In the evening Mulika and her group passed by the stockade, quenched their thirst and then headed towards Kalovoto.

07 April 2014

Soon after leaving the stockade, the juniors settled for their lucerne. A great deal of rock scratching went on this morning, the main participants being Sities, Shukuru, Laragai and Bongo. Later, the orphans were joined by Naisula, Tumaren, Melia, Kibo, Kalama and Murka. But the groups parted ways soon when they arrived at the browsing field. The juniors settled to browse at Kanziku area whilst the others headed to Kalovoto. At mud bath time, the weather was rather chilly and only Shukuru and Bongo dared the cold water. Later the group headed to the slopes of the Ithumba hill where they settled to browse. At three o’clock in the evening, the weather changed as the heavy clouds obscuring the sky released their burden to the ground. By the end of the storm, 10mm of rain had been received and even as the orphans returned back to the stockade, it was still drizzling.

08 April 2014

It was a bit wet in the morning following the down pour received yesterday. The orphans had no lucerne to feed on and therefore kept themselves busy by scratching on the nearby rocks. Shortly later, Shukuru led the way to the browsing field whilst the rest streamed on behind her. At around nine o’clock in the morning Kora and Loijuk joined the milk dependent group and browsed together the entire morning. They attended the mud bath session together and later headed to Kanziku area where they parted ways with the juniors. In the evening, Kinna, Kora, Lualeni, Loijuk, Taita, Galana, Meibai, Ololoo, Challa and two wild boys arrived at the stockade.

09 April 2014

The milk dependent group left the stockade early at six o’clock in the morning. Since there was no lucerne to keep them busy they instead enjoyed scratching on the nearby rocks. Shortly later Kanjoro led the way to the browsing field and the orphans browsed calmly right up until mud bath time. Shukuru led the way to the mud wallow where the juniors were joined by Yatta’s group with two wild elephants. They mingled for some time and thereafter parted ways. Mulika and Suguta’s group didn’t show up. Towards two o’clock in the afternoon the air pressure dropped, the clouds condensed and by three o’clock a light rain started to fall. The orphans found this extremely exciting and loved frolicking and rolling around, smearing themselves with red soil.

10 April 2014

This morning the sky was clear as the orphans left the stockade. Tomboi and Kamboyo joined the juniors for a while and as there was no lucerne to feed on, the orphans led by Mutara headed straight to the browsing field. The orphans browsed at Kone area up until eleven o’clock when Laragai led the first group to the mud bath. There, only Bongo entered the muddy wallow; the rest only drank water before returning to the browsing field. Shortly after the orphans had gone, it was lovely to see a lone wild bull arrive at the mud bath water trough to quench his thirst. After which, he disappeared the same direction he had appeared. In the evening, we moved Bongo into Mutara, Kanjoro and Makireti’s stockade as he was being unnecessarily rough with Laragai and Narok.

11 April 2014

It was a cold morning following 8mm of rain received over the night. The orphans left the stockade and settled for lucerne that had been delivered the previous day. As they were about to finish the lucerne, Yatta’s group, consisting of twelve ex orphans checked in. The orphans led by Kanjoro decided to leave since they did not want to compete with the ex orphans. Only Bongo remained behind for a little time before the keepers came back for him. The orphans browsed calmly up to eleven o’clock in the morning, when Shukuru led the first group to the mud bath. Once again it was only Bongo who took part in wallowing. The rest drank water and then retuned back to the browsing field. Bongo followed them later.

12 April 2014

The sky was clear as the orphans left the stockade. Soon after finishing lucerne, Shukuru led the way to the browsing field. It was a quiet day as no ex orphans or wild elephant appeared all day. Not surprisingly, Bongo was the only orphan to enjoy the water hole today.

13 April 2014

Another clear sky this morning as the orphans left the stockade. They settled for lucerne and shortly later were led away by Shukuru. In the field, the orphans browsed serenely until eleven o’clock when Shukuru led the way to the mud bath. As the babies were taking milk, Wendi emerged from the nearby bushes and joined them. Laragai sniffed at Wendi and enjoyed spending some quality time with her. Shortly later Kamboyo also came to enjoy the mud bath. As the juniors were leaving a lone wild bull came to the mud bath to drink water. He was joined briefly by both Wendi and Kamboyo. Later Kamboyo left with the wild bull while Wendi chose to head in the direction of the juniors.

14 April 2014

Tomboi, Lualeni, Ololoo, Lenana and Kenze were sleeping outside the stockade when the juniors were let out early in the morning. The noise of the gate woke up the slumbering ex orphans! They joined the juniors in feeding of lucerne and half an hour later, the groups parted ways with the ex orphans heading to Kalovoto while the juniors settled to browse at Kone area. At eleven o’clock in the morning, the orphans enjoyed wallowing at Kone dam. They also came across some standing water along the roadside and thoroughly engaged themselves in a wallowing and splashing session. By the time they arrived at the real mud bath venue, the orphans had enjoyed enough of mud and bathing and therefore declined to do anything apart from drinking their milk and water! In the evening, the same five ex orphans from this morning again showed up at the stockade but left shortly after dark.

15 April 2014

Mulika, Mwende, Chyulu, Nasalot and Wendi joined the juniors in the morning. They shared lucerne for almost one hour before the ex orphans disappeared into the bush. During the morning the orphans browsed at Kone area and at eleven o’clock in the morning, Shukuru led the first group to the mud bath. Shortly later, the orphans were rejoined by the same group of ex orphans that was at the stockade in the morning, after an hour they parted ways with the juniors and headed towards Imenti.

16 April 2014

It was a quiet morning whilst the orphans left their stockade and settled down near the compound to eat lucerne. Soon after finishing, the orphans ambled of to Kone area to browse. Later on in the morning, the orphans, as usual, headed for the mud bath. The weather was chilly at that time and only Mutara, Kanjoro, Sities and of course Bongo, participated in wallowing. Later in the evening as the orphans were on the way back to the stockade, it started to drizzle. The showers went on for nearly ten minutes which had a pleasant cooling effect on the orphans.

17 April 2014

Lualeni, Ololoo, Lenana, Kenze, Tomboi, Madiba, Makena, Buchuma, Zurura and a wild elephant, reported at the stockade early before dawn today. They quietly relaxed outside the stockade until six o’clock when the juniors were let out and joined them. There were rumbling of greetings to be heard all around as the juniors and the ex orphans mingled together. Kanjoro the boy with an attitude learned pushing tactics from Lenana and Lualeni. Shortly later, Mutara led the orphans away leaving the ex orphans at the stockade. At mud bath time the weather was chilly and none of the orphans were tempted into the muddy, cold water.

18 April 2014

Mulika, Wendi, Chyulu, Mwende and Nasalot joined the juniors in the morning. After sharing lucerne, Mutara led the group away from the stockade while Mulika and her small group remained at the stockade. The orphans settled at Kone area where they browsed happily until Laragai led them to the mud bath at eleven o’clock. On the way the orphans passed at Kone dam where they engaged in a mini mud bathing session which deterred them from further frolicking at the official mud bath. Once the orphans had taken their milk and water they returned back to the browsing field.

19 April 2014

It was a quiet day as the orphans strolled nonchalantly out from the stockade. The milk dependent group settled for lucerne and shortly later Tomboi joined them. After finishing the lucerne, the group headed to the bush for browsing. An hour after the orphans had left, Suguta and her group in the company of Mulika’s group showed up at the stockade. The orphans settled at Kone area where they browsed till eleven o’clock in the morning when Laragai led the first group to the mud bath. At mud bath, only Laragai and Narok enjoyed the mud whilst Shukuru stood nearby, watching. Later, the group returned back to the browsing field.

20 April 2014

It was cold in the morning following 4mms of rain received during the night. As usual the orphans settled on lucerne and later headed for browsing. The orphans settled at Kanziku area. At eleven o’clock in the morning, the orphans led by Shukuru headed for mud bath. Soon after mud bath, the orphans returned back to the browsing field. No ex orphan showed up at the stockade for the entire day.

21 April 2014

As the orphans were feeding on Lucerne, Kainuk, Shukuru and Sities were busy scratching on the nearby trees. Shortly later, it was time to leave and therefore Shukuru led the group to browse. At eleven o’clock in the morning, the orphans attended mud bath as usual and thereafter returned back to the browsing field. In the evening Mulika, Mwende, Naserian, Wendi, Kora, Taita and Nasalot showed up at the stockade. Nasalot had a wound on her trunk.

22 April 2014

It was a quiet morning with no ex orphan showing up. Soon after finishing feeding on lucerne, Mutara led the way to the browsing field. The orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area before heading to the mud bath at the usual time. Soon after the mud bath, the orphans headed to the slopes of the Ithumba hill where they settled to browse. Whilst returning the stockades in the evening, Bongo dodged the keepers and could not be traced. The keepers eventually had to call off the search as it became too dark - Bongo spent the night out!

23 April 2014

A safe Bongo reported at the stockade early at dawn. He waited for his colleagues just outside the compound until six o’clock in the morning when the juniors were let out. There was rumbling and trumpeting as the group greeted the ever independent Bongo. Having spent the night out there was much excitement and many stories to be told! Later, the orphans ate their lucerne and were finally led away by their keepers to browse. At mud bath time, the orphans only took milk then water before returning back to the browsing field. In the afternoon, it drizzled again and in the end we enjoyed 4mm rain.

24 April 2014

Sadly, an injured wild elephant wandered up to the stockade early, around six o’clock in the morning. The elephant was limping badly and it appeared to be losing condition. Soon after drinking water from the trough, he slowly ambled a little distance away from the stockade compound but we lost sight of him soon after. The orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area and in the evening we welcomed another 6mms of rain.

25 April 2014

It was still wet following the rains received yesterday. The orphans settled for lucerne and later headed for the bush. The injured wild elephant sighted yesterday was found four hundred meters from the stockade, lying down and in a poor state. It appeared that the elephant had fallen during the night and had struggling to stand up as he was too weak and in a great deal of pain. He did not survive and it is very sad to report that we have lost another wild elephant as a result of poaching. Stringent measures ought to be taken to deter these poachers from carrying out their heinous acts otherwise we might end up losing all the elephants in the near future.

26 April 2014

A quiet day, mourning the death of the wild poaching victim of yesterday. No elephants visited the stockade so the orphans settled at Kone area where they browsed till eleven o’clock when Laragai led the first group to the mud bath. After which, the juniors settled to browse at the slopes of the Ithumba hill.

27 April 2014

The orphans left the stockade early around six o’clock in the morning. They settled for lucerne at their usual place and Kainuk and Shukuru had a wonderful time of scratching on the nearby rocks. Shukuru soon left to drink water as she waited for the others to finish the lucerne. Soon after she headed for the bush rumbling to the other. The rest of the herd responded quickly and followed her. They settled to browse at Kone and at eleven o’clock in the morning Shukuru led the first group to the mud bath. Whilst Bongo participated in wallowing and Kainuk scratched on a nearby tree, the rest took water and then returned to the browsing field.

28 April 2014

Mist covered the tip of the Ithumba hill as the orphans settled for lucerne. It was another quiet day with no disturbance from the ex orphans. Soon after finishing lucerne, Mutara led the way to the browsing field. At mud bath time, the sun was hot but surprisingly none of the orphans took part in the wallowing. In the evening, only Tomboi made an appearance at the stockade.

29 April 2014

Whilst Sities opted for a scratching exercise on the nearby rocks, the other orphans settled down to eat some lucerne. Half an hour later, Shukuru led the way to the browsing field, later at ten o’clock in the morning, Mulika and Yatta’s groups showed up at the stockade. Missing were Napasha and Suguta’s group. After mud bath, the orphans headed to the slopes of the Ithumba hill where they settled to browse. At three o’clock in the afternoon Mutara came across some standing water that she couldn’t resist and so opted for an impromptu afternoon mud bath before she resumed browsing.

30 April 2014

The sky was clear as the orphans left the stockade this morning. The orphans settled for lucerne for half an hour before heading out to browse at the Kanziku area. They browsed calmly up until eleven o’clock when Shukuru led the first group to the mud bath. It was extremely hot at this time and therefore all the orphans participated in wallowing. They really had a wonderful time rolling and splashing around. The rest of the day was spent on the slopes of the Ithumba hill where the orphans browsed until the evening when Laragai led the way back to the stockade.