Nairobi Nursery Unit

April 2020

Daily updates

April 2020

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April 3rd

Luggard is the oldest bull in the Nursery at the moment, but unlike most bulls his age he is very calm and gentle with the new arrivals to the Nursery herd. Unlike boisterous bulls such as Sattao, Kiombo, Maktao and Dololo, Luggard won’t play rough with the little ones and would rather challenge older gentle bulls like Musiara. 

This afternoon, the orphans had their 3 o’clock bottles of milk down at the mud bath. When they all finished their bottles of milk, some of the of the orphans such as Sattao and Mukkoka started to wrestle each other on the dust mound, rolling around and pushing each other up and down the slope. Other orphans such as Luggard, Kiasa, and Maisha were busy throwing dust over their backs. They were soon joined by little Roho, and it was amazing to watch Luggard step aside to let the little bull through so that he could stand next to them all away from the playful bulls. Roho quickly began to roll around in front of Maisha, Kiasa, and Luggard, and had his own little dust game as they watched over him. Luggard seemed to enjoy watching the little bull playing in front of him. 

Luggard is also very loved by the girls in the Nursery herd because he doesn’t play rough with them or the little ones. The older girls such as Maisha, Tagwa, and Tamiyoi are always relaxed when they see Roho and Naleku with Luggard as they know he won’t push them around and they won’t need to intervene. 

Luggard with Roho coming down for their milk

Dololo, Kiombo and Kiasa mud bathing

Roho with Maisha at the milk feeding point

April 8th

Yesterday at the midday mud bath, after the orphans finished their milk bottles, Tagwa led them all down to the big dust mound where all the orphans began to enjoy a long dust bath. They were seen slipping and sliding up and down the dust mound, climbing on each other’s backs. Tagwa could be seen watching Dololo, Kiombo, Maktao and Sattao all playing and pushing each other off the top of the dust mound. Tagwa appeared to get jealous of their game and she quickly went walking over and then lay right on top of the dust mound spreading her weight right across and blocking their game. She likes the feel of the cool soil on her tummy. The boys appeared most unimpressed with her and they moved away so that they could continue their game. 

Maxwell is still a bit slow some days but he looks much better. He continues to thoroughly enjoy his morning Lucerne pellets and a wide selection of greens, giving him the variety of vegetation he would have if he was roaming out in the wild. Over the last few weeks his appetite seems to have increased considerably. For the most part of today he could be seen at the top of his stockade resting in the sun, conserving his energy. 

Maisha, Tagwa, Luggard at the dust mound

Dololo climbing on Kiombo at the dust bath

Maxwell at his pellets

April 12th

Musiara has always been a calm and gentle bull, and because of this he has many friends in the Nursery herd. With Naboishu now spending his time with the Nursery orphans, he is trying to find his place amongst the herd. Some of the orphans, such as boisterous Dololo, are quite naughty and keep pushing the new bull whereas other orphans are welcoming. Musiara has become quite protective of Naboishu and is always sure to keep orphans such as Dololo away from him and push them away should they try and bother him. It is very normal for some of the orphans to be more welcoming of new arrivals than others. 

Luggard thoroughly enjoys Ziwadi’s company but so does Naboishu. This seems to have slightly upset Luggard who is not used to the new bull or sharing Ziwadi’s attention. As Naboishu is always following Ziwadi around the forest and the mud bath, Luggard has sometimes become a bit jealous and tried to separate the two. As all the orphans calmed down though Luggard has begun to relax too, and doesn’t seem to mind the new bull joining him and Ziwadi as they browse. 

Gentle Musiara lying in the dust

Naboishu playing with Ziwadi

Naboishu saying hello to Luggard

April 14th

Roho really enjoys climbing on his friends backs as soon as any of them are lying down; no matter their size he is always eager to have a go. He prefers to play with Tagwa and Maisha as they are both so gentle with him and are more often than not by his side looking after him. When they were finished with their climbing games and dust baths, Tagwa and Maisha began to make their way deeper into the forest with little Roho between them. Roho had a fun morning with Tagwa and Maisha, playing and following them around the forest and grabbing any branches they would drop down. He even grabs the leaves and branches straight from their mouths, sharing what they were eating and learning about what vegetation is good for him to eat as well.

As is to be expected, Naboishu is still trying to figure out the Nursery herd and who his friends are. He has been struggling with Dololo who seems to be growing in confidence and is always trying to test his strength and size against the other orphans. As soon as Naboishu gets too close, Dololo tries to push him away and the Keepers and some of the other orphans intervene and separate them. 

In the afternoon, Sattao, Maktao and Musiara had a lengthy strength testing match and it was great to watch them charge around together in the forest. 

Tagwa, Maisha and Roho having a dust bath

Dololo having a nose scratch out in the forest

Maktao and Sattao having a strength testing match

April 18th

It was a very cold and cloudy morning as the orphans were let out of their stables. As the orphans were making their way out to the forest it suddenly began to rain heavily and they all quickly ran to seek shelter under the trees. They were all trying to huddle under the biggest trees, protecting their heads from getting wet. Naboishu, Mukkoka, Luggard and Larro were the first to find the most sheltered spot but they were quickly surrounded by the others and had to make way for bigger orphans such as Tagwa. 

As the rain stopped, the orphans came out from the forest and made their way towards the grassy openings. Naboishu, with his little tusks, was loosening some soil to throw over his body to help him warm up. Tamiyoi and Naleku came over and joined him in his soil dusting, but he was quickly chased away by naughty Dololo who was trying to play rough. Tamiyoi continued with her dust bath and ignored naughty Dololo. It wasn’t long before all the orphans began to roll around and cover themselves in the soil, warming themselves up.

Mukkoka, Larro, Tamiyoi and Musiara mud bathing

Maktao, Naleku and Tamiyoi mud bathing

Dololo and Tamiyoi dust bathing

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