Ithumba Reintegration Unit

April 2020

Daily updates

April 2020

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April 3rd

After drinking water at the stockade water trough in the morning, the orphans proceeded to feast on a fallen tree just close to the stockade compound. Malkia moved to scratch her belly on the trunk of the fallen tree. Kauro and Mundusi decided to use rocks to scratch against and later Mundusi teamed up with Kuishi to browse. 

Later Naseku, Malima, Malkia, Olsekki, Maramoja, Rapa and Ndiwa came across some loose soil that they played on. On the way to the mud bath, Mundusi picked a root of an acacia tree that had been dropped by a wild elephant and continued to enjoy feeding on what was left of it. Pare and Rapa, who saw Mundusi pick the root up, came close to him and demanded to share it with him. Mundusi had no option but to allow the two older bulls to have the root. 

After mud bath time, Olsekki engaged Tusuja in a strength testing exercise that ended in a draw. In the afternoon, Barsilinga as usual dodged his younger friends and the Keepers. The Keepers tried to look for him but they didn't succeed. Later in the night around nine o'clock, Barsilinga showed up at the stockade compound all by himself and was let in to join his friends. Of late Barsilinga does not appear to be enjoying the company if his junior friends and has been preferring to feed on his own.

Malkia scratching

Mundusi & Kuishi browsing together

Barsilinga scratching

April 6th

The orphans left their stockade in a happy mood as expressed by the swinging of their trunks. On their way out to browse, Oltaiyoni, Karisa and Kuishi did a scratching exercise on some rocks while Barsilinga and Kamok scratched their bellies on a fallen tree. Mapia and Enkikwe passed by the fallen tree and broke branches off it to enjoy as they walked. Tusuja pulled grass up by its roots and shook the soil from the roots as he followed his friends. 

The orphans settled to feed in the Kone area up to mud bath time when Kuishi, Jotto and Malima formed the first group and headed to the mud bath. The sun was hot and the orphans really enjoyed swimming in the main waterhole. After having enough of wallowing, Mundusi led the way out to browse again with Olsekki, Tusuja and Barsilinga leaving the water last. The afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated mostly on browsing. 

Mapia

Barsilinga wallowing

Tusuja carrying grass

April 11th

Soon after having her milk bottle, Malima decided to keep herself busy by scratching on the water trough inside the stockade as she waited for the gate to be opened. Karisa led the way out as soon as they were. 

Out in the Park, Mapia, who loves scratching, led Malkia, Sana Sana, Mundusi, Kamok, Olsekki, Ambo and Kuishi to perform a scratching exercise against some rocks and trees. There was a small conflict between Namalok and Sana Sana when Namalok tried to get some food from Sana Sana’s mouth. Sana Sana protested bitterly by rumbling loudly and walking away from Namalok. Later, Sana Sana met with Jotto and had a light strength testing exercise that helped her calm down. 

Later in the day, Galla played with Tusuja and thereafter had a game with Kauro. At mud bath time, the orphans started with soil bathing, then later decided to go into the water for a swim after all, and after went back to soil bathing to dry themselves. 

For the rest of the afternoon the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill. In the evening, Karisa and Sana Sana led the way for an evening cooling-off exercise. When they were done they dusted themselves and Naseku took the opportunity to scratch on Oltaiyoni who was rolling on the ground. Ambo, Kamok and Barsilinga were the last ones to finish soil-bathing. 

Malima scratching in the early morning

Ambo, Kamok and Barsilinga dust bathing

Sana Sana scratching

April 12th

Karisa led the way out after the morning milk feed. The orphans passed by the water troughs to drink before proceeding out to the bush. Namalok and Sapalan were the last to finish drinking. Shortly later, a wild bull visited the stockade but left moments after having a drink. 

Kauro and Tusuja had a brief strength testing exercise. As soon as it was over, Tusuja decided to have his own game of playing on the ground. His game attracted Sana Sana who joined him to roll on the ground. Olsekki was not left behind in terms of performing games; he picked a roll of dry vines and started tossing it up in the air until it landed on his back. Sapalan and Malkia used the same tree to scratch their side of their bellies. 

At mud bath time, the orphans started with soil bathing soon after having their milk bottles, then shortly later headed to wallow in the main mud bath. It seems they like doing things the other way around these past few days; they usually dust after having a swim in order to dry their bodies, but they have been starting with dusting before swimming recently. Ambo, who normally escapes wallowing in the main water hole, walked over to his usual place, a small water pan to the side with warmer water. After having enough, Ambo came back to join his friends who had now left the main water hole and were dusting themselves dry again. Malima spotted some birds close by and decided to chase them, charging and trumpeting. The charging and trumpeting scared the birds away, but also drew the attention of Tusuja who joined without knowing the reason behind Malima's charging. Tusuja charged at the bushes knocking them down until he got tired and resumed browsing. Naseku and Oltaiyoni were the last ones to quit the soil-bathing exercise. In the evening, the orphans were briefly joined by ex-orphan Zurura.

Karisa leading

Kauro playing with Tusuja

Zurura

April 21st

It drizzled in the morning shortly before the orphans were let out and this meant the weather was chilly as well. The orphans headed straight out to browse soon after leaving the stockades. Galla, Barsilinga, Naseku, Malkia, Karisa, Maramoja, Ambo and Jotto started their day activities by scratching against some trees. Mundusi had a brief chat with Esampu but this ended up in a disagreement when Mundusi tried to take some food from Esampu's mouth; the two then parted ways. Esampu and Enkikwe took a break from feeding to have a wet soil bathing exercise. Later, Mundusi played with Pare while Karisa played with Mapia, and Olsekki had his own game of rolling on the ground. 

At mud bath time, Mapia led Malkia and Malima in the first group to have their milk bottles. The weather was still chilly and as soon the orphans had their milk they walked over to the big pile of loose soil for a dust bath to keep warm, before making their way back out to the bush to browse. 

In the evening the dependent-orphans were joined by ex-orphan Challa who was last seen in March when we treated him for a spear wound. There was still a small area which looked a little sore, so we decided to call him to follow us back to the stockades so we could treat it a bit further, and Challa duly followed! Later in the evening it was a bit warmer and the dependent-orphans passed by the mud bath and had an evening cooling-off session. 

Jotto and Ambo

Ukame browsing

Challa comes to visit

April 25th

Orwa, Bomani and Chemi Chemi reported early at the stockades and waited for the orphans. Amazingly enough the three ex-orphans lined up along the wall as the junior orphans did with their trunks up, expecting to get each a bottle of milk as well! They were disappointed when the orphans were fed and they failed to get any, but we think they knew they were trying their luck – they have not had any milk bottles for quite some time! Shortly later, the three boys accompanied the orphans and Barsilinga out to browse again. 

The temperature was moderate and the orphans concentrated on browsing. Malkia settled to browse with Malima and had a brief chat before parting ways. Malima proceeded to scratch on a nearby rock and later gave way to Roi, Mteto, Orwa and Chemi Chemi who used the same rock to scratch. After mud bath time, the orphans settled to browse east of the stockades. Barsilinga didn't attend the mud bath as he dodged the Keepers again, but joined up with them later in the day. The orphans had a quiet afternoon. Olsekki settled to browse with Enkikwe as they seemingly engaged in a lengthy chat. In the evening, Orwa Bomani and Chemi Chemi escorted the orphans back to the stockades again. 

Orwa and Bomani

Malkia and Malima

Oleskki and Enkikwe

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