Ithumba Reintegration Unit

August 2016

Daily updates

August 2016

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August 2nd

The orphans had a quiet morning. As soon as they were through with feeding on lucerne, under the leadership of Shukuru they headed to Kalovoto area where they settled to browse. Only two bulls showed up at the stockade to drink water. At mud bath time, Half Trunk in the company of five wild bulls showed up early before the orphans. Boromoko led Sokotei and Sirimon in the first group as they came for their mid day bottle feeds. Soon after drinking his milk, Boromoko headed straight into the water to wallow. Then he walked up to the loose soil where he lay down to play. Sirimon, who was all this time following Boromoko, took advantage of the game to climb on Boromoko. As mud bathing was going on, Kainuk, in the company of a wild mum with her two daughters and another older girl, reported to the mud bath. Kainuk, used to belong to Mutara’s group and where she met this wild cow we are not sure but it must have been whilst they were walking far away from the stockade over the last few days. If this happens to be the case, then Turkwel might also quit Mutara’s group to join Kainuk as they are so close; only time will tell what the Ex Orphans will do this dry season. Half Trunk joined the orphans to mud bath as Vuria tried to block one of the daughters belonging to the wild female from accessing mud bath. The girl retreated to her mum as Vuria pursued her. Vuria got a rude shock when he was warned off by the wild mother though and he had no option other than to surrender and walk away. The orphans settled for soil dusting soon after having enough of wallowing. Bomani took advantage of climbing on Teleki who was rolling on the ground. Just as the orphans were leaving, Yatta’s group consisting of Yatta, Yetu, Sidai, Loijuk, Chyulu, Meibai, Ololoo, Lualeni, Kinna, Nasalot, Wendi, Wiva, Ishanga, Kenze, Madiba and Sunyei showed up at mud bath. Orwa challenged Chyulu for awhile before deciding to follow his friends. Kainuk joined the juniors to browse for rest of the day. In evening, Makireti, Kilabasi, Kasigau, Chaimu, Kilaguni, Naisula, Kitirua and Murka came for water at stockade and shortly before dark left with Kainuk.

Half Trunk joins the orphans to mud bath

Vuria playing with a wild girl

Vuria with wild mother and daughter

August 4th

Four wild bulls were drinking water at the stockade water trough this morning. After feeding on lucerne, the juniors headed to Kalovoto area where they settled to browse. Kainuk, who seems to have severed links with her group for now, emerged from the bushes and joined the juniors. Her old group headed by Mutara, was last seen on first this month. Kainuk, although she arrived with a wild herd, has refused to join any other group apart from the orphans which is lead by Shukuru at the moment. On the way to the mud bath, the orphans were joined by Makireti’s group that had eight members instead of the usual three members. The extra members were Chaimu, Kilaguni, Kitirua, Naisula and Murka. Its original members were Makireti, Kilabasi and Kasigau. Kitirua, Murka and Naisula appear to have left their group which is headed by Olare; we will see if this is temporary or permanent! Six bulls showed up at mud bath and amongst them was Limpy, a wild elephant that was treated several months ago with a snared leg. Four warthogs also tried to access the mud bath but without success as Narok spotted them and signaled her friends by trumpeting that there were intruders who wanted to access their mud bath. Narok then charged and ran towards the warthogs who ran and hid on the northern bank of the mud bath, only to reappear when Narok had gone for soil dusting. Lemoyian spotted them and tried to scare them away as well but the warthogs stood they ground; so as not to face any further embarrassment Lemoyian pretended that he hadn't seen them. He picked a dry broken branch and carried it off in his trunk as he headed back to the bush. Bomani and Teleki couldn't understand why Lemoyian had given up in chasing the warthogs and so offered to help. The two boys ran towards the warthogs and warthogs kept on running round the mud bath which made Bomani and Teleki also want to surrender! Teleki was frustrated and decided to take this out on Kilabasi by engaging her in a pushing game. Vuria ‘the warthog chaser’, who never gives up easily, was the one who was able to bring to an end the game of chasing the warthogs away. Vuria pursued the warthogs until he made sure that they had completely disappeared into the bushes. With his head high, Vuria returned back to join his friends after succeeding in accomplishing the mission. Boromoko led the way back to the browsing field as the rest of the herd followed behind him. Two hours later, Makireti and her group left leaving Kainuk with the juniors. Olsekki spent some time soil dusting and around five in the afternoon, Sokotei led the first group back to the stockade. In the evening, Kainuk found her group at the stockade waiting for her. It was a happy moment for Kainuk to see her friend Turkwel again.

Four bulls at the stockade this morning

Kilaguni walking in

Lemoyian leading

August 14th

The sky was clear in the morning and this was an indication of a hot day a head. Shukuru was lively and jovial and since she doesn't like lucerne, she settled under the only acacia tree in the stockade compound picking up the fallen acacia pods. She later led her herd to the browsing field where Barsilinga and Kithaka sorted out their differences through a pushing game. Their game ended when Garzi intervened and pushed the two away. Barsilinga walked away and happened to bump into Laragai and decided to vent his anger out on her. Laragai the ‘no nonsense’ girl, did not take any rubbish from Barsilinga and pushed him out of the way. Barsilinga had no other option than to surrender and walk away. Orwa picked a stick off the ground and started twisting it in the air as if he was the choir master of the herd. The peaceful Boromoko entwined his trunk with Garzi. At mud bath, prior to the arrival of the orphans, twenty four wild elephants were busy mud bathing and drinking water. When the orphans arrived, they drank their milk then headed for the mud bath. One of the junior wild bulls disrupted the orphans the wallowing exercise by trumpeting and charging at them. The orphans did the respectable thing by withdrawing from the mud bath leaving the junior wild bull on his own. Later, Orwa came back to watch a huge bull that was scratching on the walls of the mud bath. Orwa watched the bull for a long time, as if wondering when he would ever grow to the same size! Probably in twenty years time, which is a long way still. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area. In the evening, Bongo and Vuria wound up the day's activities by engaging each other in a pushing game. Makireti’s group consisting of Makireti Kilabasi, Kasigau and Kilaguni showed up at the stockade in the evening. It appears that Kilaguni has now temporarily settled on Makireti’s group while Chaimu has joined Olare’s group.

Barsilinga with best friend Kithaka

Laragai playing with with Barsilinga

Garzi and Boromoko

August 17th

The orphans were joined by Makireti and Mutara’s groups in the morning soon after they settled to eat lucerne. Vuria tried to challenge Kilaguni who for some time now has stuck with Makireti’s group. A few minutes later, Olare brought her group to the stockade for water and later joined the juniors to feed on lucerne. Orwa, who likes challenging his seniors, engaged Kibo in a strength testing exercise. Laragai challenged Kalama while Teleki played with Kanjoro. Later, Narok played with Kilaguni as Kibo played with Olare. Mutara and her group escorted the juniors to the browsing field leaving Olare and Makireti’s groups behind. Vuria and Orwa had brief strength testing exercise that ended when Mutara intervened and separated the two boys. Kainuk settled to browse with Kithaka as Boromoko settled to browse with Suguta. At mud bath time, the sun was really hot making the orphans head straight for wallowing soon after drinking their milk. After having enough of wallowing, Teleki engaged Kanjoro in a strength testing exercise as Garzi walked to join Mwende and Yetu’s dad in drinking water. Soon more bulls joined in and Garzi opted to walk away so as to give his seniors more space to drink. Orwa had a misunderstanding with Bongo and the two boys decided to settle it physically. In the afternoon, the sun was still hot making Shukuru and Orwa want to relax under a tree until the temperature dropped to a favourable level.

Orphans all feeding on lucerne

Kanjoro coming to say hello

Olare's group drinking water

August 28th

Soon after leaving the stockade, the orphans were joined by Makireti’s group. Orwa was pleased to have Makireti’s group around since he was able to gauge his strength by playing with Kilaguni. Later, Orwa surrendered and went to play with kilabasi. On the way to the browsing field, Orwa came across a fallen log that he used in scratching his belly on. Garzi engaged Ishanga in a pushing a game as Olsekki scratched his neck against a tree. Sirimon settled to browse with Sokotei. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by six wild bulls and in the afternoon the sun was hot, making the orphans want to take a break and relax under a tree until the temperature dropped to a more favourable level.

Kilaguni and Orwa

Shukuru scratching her tummy

Olsekki scratching his mouth

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