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As usual, as soon as the Big Girls were let out of their Stockades in the morning, they rushed to the Night Quarters of the babies to check up on them, Mutara and Turkwel homing in on Kithaka while Sonje and Kainuk were busy with Lemoyian. Meanwhile Balguda and Kwale enjoyed a Pushing Strength Test game, which was interrupted when Orwa turned up and also wanted to be involved. Orwa then took on Bomani and the game continued until the Keepers led the elephants out to browse.

During the Open Public Viewing hour, Kithaka entertained the public showing off his football skills, occasionally falling over as he kicked the ball, which made the audience laugh! At 4 p.m. there was a soft rain shower which prompted Lemoyian to run back to the shelter of the Stockade but others like Faraja, Kwale, Kithaka, Quanza, Orwa, Narok and Teleki enjoyed rolling in the mud. Nor was Murera excluded, who also mud wallowed. She has reason to smile now that her serious injuries have healed and are no longer an inhibiting factor.

The older elephants enjoy teaching the younger members of the herd skills that they themselves have learnt. Today Bomani has focused on Barsilinga, training him gently in wrestling techniques. Barsilinga, like Orwa, is a gentle and polite boy, who a few months ago preferred the company of the Keepers. Now this is changing, and he is very fond of Bomani.

It has been a fun day for Orwa and Teleki, who spent almost the entire day wrestling playfully together. Whereas previously Teleki preferred to be alone, he is now much more outgoing and becoming much happier. Orwa and his other Elephant friends have been crucial to his healing.

Upon exiting the stockades Orwa and Kihari started playing pushing games which quickly ended when Orwa tried to mount on Kihari who was having none of it and chased him away. Teleki’s shoulder wound is healing well which makes us all very happy.

Last night Oza collapsed and had to be put on drip. Sadly he died at around 3am. The keepers were very upset as he seemed to be rallying and had been taking his milk and feeding well on greens. Later in the day we received a call about another orphaned elephant in the Maasai Mara. The calf had been on its own for about two weeks. The rescue team left together with a KWS vet as the calf was over two years old and would likely need to be immobilized for the rescue. The calf arrived at the Nursery at around 6pm and was greeted by Orwa and Kihari. The calf was in poor condition with a bloated belly and maggots coming out of its trunk. Sadly the calf died at 8:30 pm.

Orwa, who is usually very gentle, has become somewhat pushy with the other orphans especially during milk feeding times. At the 11am visiting time he charged Faraja who was drinking his mil and knocked him to the ground. The keepers reprimanded him and separated him from the rest of the group until he calmed down.

Lately Orwa and Bomani have been engaging one another in strength testing and pushing games with Orwa always emerging the victor. Today they once again went at it with Bomani refusing to concede defeat. Sities ended the game when she came between them separating them as it was time for their milk feed.

As the orphans were waiting to head out for the day Balguda and Kwale began a pushing game that ended when the keepers led the out to the field. It was a hot day and the orphans all enjoyed a mudbath. Quanza, Narok, Orwa and Ishanga had a lengthy wallow and a lovely time rolling in the mud bumping into one another.