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It was a very cold morning as there had been light rainfall throughout the evening. Some of the orphans such as Musiara, Kiombo, Maktao and Mukkoka refused to leave their rooms and head out to the forest. It was quite amusing for the Keepers because when they opened the doors to Mukkoka and Musiara’s stables both the young bulls trumpeted loudly as if in protest to their doors being open and hid right at the back of their rooms waiting for the rains to stop. 

Other orphans such as Dololo, Sattao, Kiasa, Maisha, Larro, and Tamiyoi were very happy outside their stables making their way out to the forest to start their morning browsing activities. Due to the cold weather, they all enjoyed a long dust bath and Larro could be seen happily rolling around some of the dust mounds. Maisha, Enkesha, Kiasa, and Tamiyoi were all busy rolling around and posing next to each other. Musiara and the others eventually came out of their stables and joined the rest of the Nursery herd. 

Recently Maktao and Dololo have become good playmates as they are often seen wrestling one another. This morning, shortly after the orphans had settled out in the field, the two bulls were busy in a strength testing match, and the two bulls were seen charging around after one another. When the one bull would catch up to the other they would then run off in opposite directions, and Maktao could be seen running flat out through the bushes, with his ears held high and trumpeting loudly showing his strength off to Dololo. Dololo, on the other hand, would mock charge, demonstrating his strength in his own way. Then they would charge at each other again before running off again, it was all so entertaining to watch.  

Luggard woke up in a very happy and playful mood today, when he was let out of his stable he went charging off to meet the other orphans. Maisha and Enkesha were waiting for Ziwadi and Larro who were making their way up the path. As Luggard was charging out to the field he kept playfully pushing at any of the other orphans that would come near him. He seems to love any strength testing match he can start up with any of the other orphans. 

This morning, he got the attention of Maisha and the two began a pushing game, their game continued far into the forest. Luggard would kick about and trumpet loudly as he would charge around with Maisha, he appeared to be very pleased with the game. Maisha knew not to push too hard back at Luggard so she would really enjoy locking trunks with him. 

The two were eventually joined by Sattao who also loves to play, but Luggard seemed to get a little rough with the young bull who decided to move away. Sattao went off and started to play with Dololo who was browsing nearby.

It was an extremely hot day, and the temperatures were soaring during the midday milk feeding time and mud bath. Some of the younger orphans like Kiasa, Musiara, Larro, Maktao and Dololo immediately made their way to the mud bath after finishing their milk bottles. It was funny watching the orphans roll around in the mud, Kiasa and Musiara were rolling all over and around thoroughly enjoying themselves. 

As Kiasa and Musiara were still busy in the mud bath, Ziwadi and Larro had moved away to have a drink of water. It is always amusing to watch the two young girls drinking as they dunk their entire heads into the water and drink through their mouths as opposed to sucking up the water into their trunks and then squirting it into their mouths like the others. The two young girls are still learning to use their trunks, especially when it comes to drinking. 

The orphans were very calm today as they made their way out to the bush. Even once they were out in the field they all calmly browsed together, including the playful bulls such as Sattao, Maktao, Dololo, Musiara and Mukkoka. Even other orphans such as Tamiyoi, Kiasa, Kiombo, Larro, Nabulu, and Maisha who often insist on walking further into the forest, today were quite happy to slowly browse along the route, moving in their own pace. 

Their relaxed morning was, however, interrupted by two fighting warthogs that came barreling out the bushes. This caught the orphans unaware and they all got a fright and began to trumpet and run off in different directions. Poor Ziwadi got confused by all the commotion and went running off in the opposite direction of the Keepers. The Keepers immediately noticed that she was confused and went running after her calling her to stop. They quickly caught up to her and got her to calm down for a few minutes before leading her back to the rest of the herd. Ziwadi is a very calm little girl who doesn’t like to be pushed during games, so she is often seeing happily doing her own thing and always remaining close to her Keepers. 

Kiombo and Nabulu sometimes get mixed up at milk feeding times. For example, Nabulu sometimes prefers to go down to the mud bath with the younger group but even after being told to wait by her Keepers, as she is meant to go down with the older group. Kiombo has a habit of finishing his milk and then starts heading off back into the bush, not bothered to wait for the other orphans. The Keepers must keep a close eye on him some days, making sure he doesn’t wonder too far off whilst the other finish their milk. Nonetheless, the two have adapted well to life at the Nursery and are growing to be healthy young elephants. 

Mukkoka and Dololo are the best of friends and they both have quite the appetites, as they are constantly trying to get more milk and are always racing to be the first to have their bottles. If they by chance fall behind some of the other orphans, they start to push the others to get to the milk. The Keepers often have their hands full keeping them away. These are all signs that they are growing into strong young bulls. 

It was another cold morning as the orphans were browsing out in the field. When it was time for their 9am bottles of milk, Mukkoka as usual tried to be the first to come charging down to the milk feeding point ensuring that he gets his bottle before the others. He continues to trumpet in protest if any of the other orphans are ahead of him. This morning, Dololo and Maisha were ahead of the rest of the herd, and Mukkoka had to try his very best to catch up them. Once the three had finished their milk they all headed off together to continue their morning browsing activities. They had decided to browse close to Maxwell’s stockade. Maxwell who appeared to notice he had some company began to stomp around and kick up the dust as though he was marking his territory, ensuring the orphans didn’t come too close. 

Kiombo is really getting used to his milk bottle these days and likes the formula so much now he has started bullying Dololo during feeding times. Dololo used to be quite active during feeding times but now he has become quiet as he fears Kiombo might try and bully him for his milk. Kiombo likes to try and run to be first to the milk bottles too. Dololo never shows any signs of revenge however and just accepts that Kiombo is becoming pushy at feeding times.

Maisha is showing off good matriarchal duties these days and shows the responsibility of taking charge sometimes. She likes looking after Ziwadi and a lot of the time they can be spotted browsing together out in the forest. When it comes to the end of the day however and the orphans run home for their milk, Ziwadi is happy to leave Maisha behind and run in as fast as she can for her milk bottle in her room. She is another baby that likes to try and run the fastest for her bottle.

It has been quite chilly for the past couple of weeks now but the forest is quite dry as we have not had any rain for some time. Kiombo is a shy and quiet boy so he is still looking for that very special friendship in the Nursery. He tends to spend time with the other younger orphans like Dololo. Dololo has become very active around milk time and always acts like he wants more milk after his bottles. He has acquired the habit of hanging around the milk wheelbarrow holding all the bottles, trying to suck up all the spilled milk inside, until he is moved away by the Keepers. Maisha is very close to Tamiyoi still and the two girls were spotted playing a fun pushing game when they reached the forest after the 11am public visiting hour where they had their milk.

It was a chilly morning today when all of the orphans came out of their stables. Luggard and Musiara came out of their rooms which are next to each other and decided to go a different route behind the empty stockades, to meet up with the others on their way out to the forest. When they reached the forest, Sattao started a pushing game with Musiara, and eventually they were running up and down in excitement. Mukkoka loves running and swiftly joined in their game, but he got carried away and started blowing trumpets which scared his two friends who ran off to find the others who were browsing. Mukkoka found himself next to Dololo who was busy eating greens. Mukkoka decided to start a pushing game with him but Dololo wasn’t interested as Mukkoka can sometimes be a bit of a bully towards him so he wanted to avoid him, and walked off to where the older girls were busy browsing. The elephant orphans realized that it was soon to be their next milk feeding time so they started gathering altogether in preparation to run down for their milk bottles.