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Alamaya, Quanza and Kiombo were all showing off their swimming capabilities in the waterhole, they were having so much fun playing in the water. Maktao saw them playing and decided to join in, he jumped on Quanza’s back. Enkesha watched from the side, she noticed how happy Maktao was swimming with Quanza. Murera also stayed at the side of the waterhole, she avoids crowded places for her own safety as she worries about not being strong enough. 

After their swimming session, some wild bulls joined the orphans at the waterhole. The orphan herd moved off to browse in the Chyulu area. While on their way some baboons jumped over the trees and scared orphans, especially Enkesha and Maktao. The baboons screamed while running away along the treetops. Enkesha looked back to Sonje and Alamaya for reassurance. 

The nightclubbing boys walked in pairs, Alamaya and Faraja teamed up, then Zongoloni and Lima Lima walked together, Murera with Sonje stayed together, and the final pair was Quanza and Enkesha. Maktao was not happy that Enkesha had not stayed with him.

Later in the day Maktao joined Enkesha and Kiombo while Kiasa was browsing alone, pulling down branches of an Acacia tree. Quanza rumbled, calling little Kiasa away from the tree and to her, Kiasa went to go and see why Quanza was calling her. 

Faraja and Jasiri arrived back and chased Ngasha away from the orphan herd. Ngasha was pushy with Faraja when Jasiri was not with him so now that he had back up, he was giving Ngasha some payback for his bullying. 

Four wild bulls came back with Jasiri and Faraja. They walked to the springs, Jasiri and Faraja know the area well, they were bringing home visitors to show them around and to introduce them to the orphans. Jasiri and Faraja had not seen their little friends for some time, so they were both very happy to be seeing them today. When they saw the orphans at the stockade gate there was very happy loud trumpeting! Enkesha and Kiasa were so happy to see the two big boys back, but they didn’t immediately see the wild bulls just behind the bushes. Lima Lima, Zongoloni, and Quanza raised their trunks when they caught the scent of the wild bulls, they wanted to know who was hiding in the bushes. Lima Lima as usual walked to see who was there, this huge bull with tusks longer than body size came out, he was huge even Murera and Ngasha looked small in comparison. 

Maktao, Enkesha and Murera waked to where Mwashoti was browsing on some fresh vegetation around the springs as the surrounding area is getting very dry. Close to Mwashoti were some crocodiles enjoying the sunshine, they were sleeping, and they were not ready to move. Mwashoti changed his path to one he thought was safer away from the crocodiles. Sonje and Kiombo followed him, but they ended up near the wild bulls, but the wild bulls moved off seeing that the keepers were close behind they became very cautious. The bulls don’t trust humans and don’t understand this human-elephant friendship and communication. 

Sonje had had a boyfriend a long time ago called Osama, he left but they had made an agreement to meet up again one day. This morning Osama arrived in the company of the nightclubbers, they were escorting him back to stockades, treating him like a king. Sonje was at the gate of the stockades with Kiombo and the other babies, unaware that Osama had returned. Sonje spotted Osama and at first was scared but then she realised it was him and they gently whispered their greetings. Then Sonje moved out to the bushes with him, but Osama began chasing Sonje. It became obvious to the keepers that Sonje was in season.

Kiombo, Enkesha, and the other orphans followed Sonje, trumpeting loudly, and running through the bushes, not browsing at all. Murera found it hard to keep up with the other orphans, due to her leg and hip issues, so she separated herself and decided to browse peacefully. She has always struggled with the pushing games and lots of running, she prefers a quite peaceful environment. 

Sonje looked tired after being chased by Osama, the keepers decided it was best to close the orphans back in the stockades and let Sonje calm down. Osama remained outside the stockades waiting for Sonje.  

The Keepers thought today would be like yesterday, chaotic full of running, but unexpectedly it turned out to be peaceful. The orphans had their lucerne pellets as usual, then Zongoloni, Lima Lima, Murera, and Enkesha walked to the Umani hills. 

The keepers were hoping Osama had left and that he would not be back to chase Sonje today, unfortunately a huge bull was seen walking along the Kenze baseline, at closer inspection it was Osama coming back for Sonje. The keepers decided to close the babies in the stockades and leave the nightclubbers and Sonje out. Osama came walking to the stockades and when he smelt Sonje, he started chasing her again. Then it happened, Osama mated with Sonje not far from the stockades. Kiombo with other little babies kept on wondering what was going on as they were still in the stockades. 

Murera and Quanza led the orphans out of their stockades and to the Lucerne pellets, the orphans ate peacefully, later Lima Lima and Zongoloni arrived with Mwashoti to get their share of the lucerne pellets. Little Enkesha and Kiasa ran back trumpeting, they had seen Osama going to join Sonje, but before he could get to her another bigger bull appeared and chased Osama away. Osama was defeated by the newcomer, leaving him looking embarrassed and lonely. Sonje had no choice but to accept that Osama had been beaten and she stayed with the new bull. 

At the milk feeding time the keepers called Sonje to come for her bottle, but she didn’t come, she was preoccupied with the new bull. He was protective of her and didn’t want her to leave him for her milk feed. Especially as Osama was hanging around encase the new bull left. 

It was amazing to see four wild males interested in Sonje, she looked like she was getting tired of the attention. All the bulls were standing guard of her and waiting for a chance that the biggest bull would get bored and leave. Osama was still feeling his loss and was not happy, Ngasha and Jasiri were also not happy, but the wild bulls were too big and they could not do anything to protect Sonje. 

On way back home the keepers came up with a plan to help get Sonje back into the stockades. They Kew that Kiasa and Kiombo were missing her, and that Sonje was tired of the wild bull. The bulls had left Sonje for a minute to go and browse so the keepers got Sonje inside the stockades and closed the gate with the bulls on the outside. Sonje was happy she had time to rest, Quanza and Enkesha were overjoyed to have her back and made lots of happy trumpeting noise. The orphan herd all had a peaceful night together.

Faraja decided to go away with the wild bulls, he headed off and it like the wild bulls knew Faraja from before. Jasiri, Ngasha and Alamaya are the only big boys left in the area. Enkesha and Maktao walked close to Zongoloni, looking to her for directions especially as Lima Lima had left the herd for today. Kiasa saw Enkesha having a conversation with Zongoloni and moved towards them feeling jealous that her friend Zongoloni was interacting Enkesha. Zongoloni was that Kiasa was upset so she went browsing with her for the rest of the day. Murera rumbled to the herd, she wanted the babies to walk slower and to wait for her. They heard her and respected her request. They walked slower for her, and Sonje had come back to walk slowly with Murera. Alamaya also walked back to be with her, leaving Mwashoti up front playing with some butterflies in the bushes. 

Quanza and Kiombo had an argument over some stick that Quanza took a stick from him, and Kiombo was demanding this stick to be given back to him, but Quanza was playing with it. Kiombo trumpeted for Sonje to come and help him. Sonje came to the rescue, when Quanza saw Sonje, she left the stick and walked away into the bushes, not wanting to be in trouble with Sonje. 

Osama and another wild bull came back in the company of Jasiri and Ngasha, they came to check on Sonje. Mwashoti and Zongoloni saw them, and thought the bulls were coming to chase them away so Mwashoti went straight to where Murera, Enkesha and the others were relaxing in the shade. When Murera got sight of the wild bull she didn’t give it a second though, she moved away with Mwashoti so that they wouldn’t be chased. Jasiri, Faraja and Ngasha all stayed and had a good time with the orphan herd. The wild bull was originally interested in Sonje but quickly realised they did not have any business with her and left. 

The orphans had their morning bottles then they met with the nightclubbers by the gate, Zongoloni, Alamaya and Mwashoti were waiting at the gate. They were all ready to spend the day browsing. Sonje and Kiombo waited for Murera to catch up as Sonje was planning to lead all little ones to Kenze area where there was more to browse on, especially on the top of the hills, that’s where there were the best and freshest greens to feed on. The orphan herd had full bellies by the time midday milk bottles came around. Mwashoti and Ngasha came to some disagreement but Mwashoti being a very loyal young boy showed his maturity and loyalty to Ngasha, so he stepped aside and did not fight back. Mwashoti rumbled to signal Murera about what had happened, then Murera rumbled back calling Mwashoti back to her. Murera put her trunk on the shoulder of Mwashoti to comfort him and ask him to stay away from Ngasha.

On the top of Chyulu Hills some crane birds flew over where Kiasa and Enkesha were browsing. Enkesha was not aware of where the sound was coming from and started looking around, she couldn’t figure it out, so she started running away and pushed Maktao out the way. Maktao started running too but he didn’t even know what he was running from. 

There is a middle-aged wild bull that has become very friendly with Faraja and Jasiri. This morning he arrived at the stockades after Faraja and Jasiri. Faraja and Jasiri were having a scratch on the designated scratching rock, the bull went to join them jumping the que in front of Lima Lima and Zongoloni, but they didn’t mind they moved away leaving him space to scratch alone. The keepers called the orphans to walk out browsing, the wild bull joined them, he stayed with the orphan herd all day. The keepers were so happy to see a wild elephant join the orphan herd so peacefully, the orphans excepted him, only Murera was cautious of him, and the bull wasn’t scared of the keepers.

Alamaya and Quanza whispered something to Kiasa, she walked and raised her trunk above her head, then out of the bushes came Zongoloni. Enkesha joined up with Kiasa and they ran charging at the shrubs and trumpeting loudly. Murera and Mwashoti took off to their own directions towards the waterhole as Murera was trying stay away from the rowdy games the other were playing. 

Elephants from outside the Kibwezi area flocked to the Umani Springs looking for water. Faraja, Jasiri, and Ziwa were amongst the group of wild elephants, they have all now turned into mostly wild young bulls. Their wild friends like being with Faraja and Jasiri, because they get accepted by the orphan herd. Sonje was keeping her distance from all the wild bulls; the keepers think she didn’t like being chased by the bulls when she was in season. Now Sonje walks over to where Kiasa, Quanza and Zongoloni are resting in the shade. Murera also stays away from the bulls, she worries about them being rough and pushing her. Mwashoti could not be left without Murera, he always moves to where she is, they are very good friends with a strong bond. 

 A big bull arrived at the mud bath; the orphan herd were already there wallowing in the mud. The wild bull was rough with Maktao and pushed him out of the mud bath. Quanza heard all the loud trumpeting Maktao was making and called all the babies away from the bull as he was not very accommodating, he was cruel. All the orphans ran away from the mud bath and into the bushes to hide. The keepers called the orphans, they didn’t want the herd to get separated, Enkesha and Kiasa led the orphan herd back to the keepers.

There was a little rain in the early hours of the morning before the orphans had been let out. The little ones, Kiombo, Enkesha, Maktao, and Kiasa refused to get out from the under the shelter, they did not want to be rained on. The keepers fed them their milk bottles and waited for the rain to stop. Murera came out of the shelter leaving the little babies inside, Enkesha and Maktao decided to follow Murera instead of waiting for the rain to stop. This forced all the babies to go out into the rain and join the other orphans already eating lucerne pellets in the rain. 

When it was the time for the midday bottles Murera wasn’t there, she was with Faraja, Jasiri and Alamaya on the top of the Umani Hills, she missed her bottle. The keepers gave the extra bottle to Sonje instead because she is very good at bringing the babies back to the keepers and because she has had an eventful couple of weeks, they felt she needed an extra treat, so she was very happy. 

In the afternoon the orphans disappeared under some bushes looking for shade because it was so hot. The keepers could not see all the orphans, they could only hear branches of trees being pulled down by the matriarchs for the little ones. They waited for the hot sunshine to cool off then they spent the rest of the day within Chyulu area browsing. 

After the short rains the Tsetse flies came out in full force! They have been hiding from the heat but today they emerged in large numbers, biting everyone they came across. The orphans had a very hard time, no one was sparred by the tsetse flies. Alamaya doesn’t have a tail, so he suffered the most. The waterhole was their only hope, the orphans ran to the waterhole to swim and cover their bodies in mud to protect themselves. The mud really helped the orphans, keep the tsetse flies off their bodies.

Murera escorted the orphans to where the milk bottles were, then she and Sonje returned to the mud bath to wallow as they were scared of the tsetse flies, they didn’t want to walk into the open field. Maktao and Kiasa moved away to the Chyulu area and into the bushes, they went to rest under the shade of the trees. They waited there until the keepers called them back.

Some baboons walked out from the bushes and Kiasa, who was sleeping, hadn’t noticed them. She opened her eyes and saw the baboons walking past, she got a fright and loudly trumpeted! All the older girls Murera Quanza and Enkesha led by Sonje ran over to see what the problem was. When they arrived, the baboons had disappeared up to the tree tops. The baboons were laughing at how they had tricked the elephants. Mwashoti and Alamaya were left, trumpeting and charging into the bushes still looking for the baboons but they didn’t find any. 

All the night clubbers, except Ziwa, reported back home early this morning. Ziwa is a big boy, and he has turned fully wild, he doesn’t come back to the stockades with the other nightclubbers, the keepers see him out with wild herds and call to him, but he just waves his trunk acknowledging them but not joining them. 

The full house today made the orphan herd look very big, the keepers did a headcount and counted 14 elephants. 

Maktao, Enkesha, and Quanza had a meeting under a big tree, they were trying to decide where they wanted to go next. They all agreed to walk to the Chyulu hills, Sonje and Murera agreed and followed them through the bushed towards the Chyulu Hills. Jasiri and Ngasha walked to where Murera and Sonje were with Lima Lima, but when Murera realised that she was being followed by Jasiri and Ngasha she moved away. Murera does not like being near the boys, they are troublemakers, She chose to walk with Mwashoti instead.

Murera inspects the rooms of all the babies in the morning, she likes to check on them and make sure they have had a good night sleep. Then, again in the evening, she goes to check on them in their rooms, especially Enkesha and Maktao. She needs to know that they are safely in their rooms, and she likes to have a quick catch up on how there day was. 

Jasiri stood by the gate trying to block Murera from leaving the stockade compound, because Murera fears him, she will not walk past him. Luckily the keepers were on standby to scare Jasiri away from the gate so that Murera could leave. Sonje and all the babies followed Murera out and to the Umani springs. 

Kiombo, Kiasa and Zongoloni were not happy about all the crocodile out on the banks sunning themselves, so they turned back to join Sonje and decide on another plan for the day. They decided on going up the Umani Hills. The orphans had started in that direction when they heard some rumbling from the bushes. Lima Lima went to find out what it was, she likes to know everything going on in her area. She found wild females wallowing in the mud bath as their babies were drinking water from the waterhole. Lima Lima had to get closer and convinced one baby to follow her, but the mother came over quickly to get her baby back. 

The battle for leadership among young female orphans was seen today when Enkesha was struggling to find her space and identity within the older females in the orphan herd. Enkesha had no one to lead so she moved away from the herd today taking the young boys Maktao, Kiombo and Kiasa with her and away from where Zongoloni, Lima Lima, and Sonje were looking after the bigger group of orphans. She needed to prove herself as a good leader for the younger orphans, but she needed a chance to have control and lead them by herself. When Kiombo, who is best friends with Sonje, saw that Enkesha was trying to separate them moved back to where Sonje was, he hid behind Sonje for more protection, then all babies followed back to the main herd. Enkesha struggled to get the babies to follow her up to the Umani Hills, Maktao was the only who stayed with Enkesha. Murera and Mwashoti stayed at the base of the hills while all the orphans were on top of the hills. while on the top of the hills some wild elephants visited Sonje. When Sonje saw the bull, she went to say hello as she thought it was one of her boyfriends, but he was a friend of Ngasha and Jasiri’s he was too young, and Sonje was no longer interested.