Choose your region

The Juniors were joined by the Ex Orphans at the compound this morning. Missing amongst the Ex Orphans were Lualeni, Ololoo, Rapsu, Tomboi and Chyulu. Later the entire herd headed to Kone, where the Ex Orphans parted from the Juniors, taking with them the older Juniors who recently have been reluctant to return – namely Suguta, Melia, Tumaren, Kilaguni, Chaimu, Sabachi, Murka, Kibo, Kitirua, Naisula, Chemi Chemi and Ishanga. At mudbath Bongo, Laragai and Narok enjoyed a spectacular wallow despite drizzling rain. In the evening, the Ex Orphans had not yet returned the 12 Juniors they took off with them.

The l0 milk dependent orphans were enjoying their Lucerne when the group that had been taken off yesterday returned and rejoined their colleagues. Kanjoro led the way to the field today while Turkwel led the second group who have been weaned to the mudbath. After the mudbath Suguta, Melia, Tumaren, Kilaguni, Sabachi, Chaimu, Olare, Naisula, Murka, Chemi Chemi, Ishanga and Kalama left the milk dependent group, Suguta leading them towards Kanziku to browse. Shortly before seven Lualeni, Ololoo (who has recently upgraded himself to an Ex Orphan) and Loijuk escorted Suguta’s group back to the Stockades, and having seen them safely ensconced in their Stockade, then left.

Ex Orphans Kamboyo, Tomboi, Challa, Buchuma, Loijuk, Lualeni and Ololoo joined the Juniors in the morning, and having enjoyed Lucerne, left with Suguta, Kilaguni, Sabachi, Chaimu, Melia, Tumaren, Olare, Kibo, Murka, Naisula, Kitirua, Chemi Chemi and Ishanga while Kanjoro led the Juniors to the Kone area to browse. Ex Orphan Kamboyo opted to remain with the Juniors. Laragai led the Juniors to the mudbath and soon after taking their milk, they were joined by Ex Orphan Wendi who watched over Laragai in the mudbath before turning her attention to Bongo, wallowing close to him. When the Juniors left, Kamboyo and Wendi remained in the water, disappearing later. Just before 6 p.m. Suguta brought her large group back to the Stockades, independent of an Ex Orphan escort.

When the orphans emerged this morning, Kasigau had a limp, probably slightly injured whilst playing with Kibo during the night. At the browsing field the orphans had a wonderful time playing in rainwater puddles and smearing themselves in mud, Narok, Laragai and Bongo actually rolling in the mud while the others tossed it over their bodies. Later Suguta led Kilaguni, Sabachi, Chaimu, Melia, Tumaren, Olare, Kibo, Kandecha, Murka, Naisula, Kitirua and Ishanga away, which is what she has been doing throughout the month. The milk dependent orphans went for their noon milk feed, returning to the Stockades in the evening. Suguta’s group returned at 7 p.m.

Ex Orphan Bulls Kora, Meibai, Taita, Ololoo, Zurura, Napasha and a wild male friend came with Ex Orphan females Loijuk, and Lualeni to the stockades. Napasha had an arrow wound on his face close to his left tusk, so we washed the wound and inserted green clay. Later the Ex Orphans left with Suguta’s group, Kilaguni and Ololoo enjoying a Pushing Game as they went. Suguta’s group reported back to the Stockades only at midnight, escorted by Ex Orphan Bulls Tomboi and Kamboyo.

Once at the browsing field, Suguta led her group off as usual (Kilaguni, Chaimu, Melia, Tumaren, Sabachi, Kitirua, Olare, Chemi Chemi, Murka, Naisula, Ishanga and Kasigau) heading for the Kalovoto which is their favourite area. At 9 a.m. Ex Orphans Mulika, her calf Mwende, Chyulu, Naserian and a wild Boy passed by the Stockades passing by the milk dependent group and heading in the direction taken by Suguta’s group. 12 mls of rain fell in the afternoon and at 8 p.m. Ex Orphans Lualeni and Lenana accompanied by Ololoo brought Suguta’s group back to the Stockades.

Christmas Day and an hour after the Juniors had left the Ex Orphans passed by the Stockades. Missing in the group were Lualeni, Ololoo, Kilaguni, Buchuma and Kamboyo. Once in the field Suguta parted with her group of 12 but was back in the evening.

A Splinter Group of Ex Orphans were at the Stockades in the morning without Yatta, and her baby Yetu, as well as Lualeni and Ololoo, Ithumbah, and Ex Orphan bulls Kilaguni, Kora, Meibai and Kamboyo. Having taken water at the Stockade trough, the Ex Orphans left with Suguta’s group of 12 plus two wild elephants they met at the Stockades. The milk dependent group browsed the Kone area again, and at noon only Laragai, Narok and Bongo enjoyed a lengthy wallow. In the evening Suguta’s group of 12 were brought back to the Stockades by a Wild Bull!

Mist again covered Ithumba Mountain on New Year’s Eve as the Juniors strolled out to browse. Once in the field Suguta again parted from the Juniors with her group of 12 older Juniors and at the noon mudbath only Bongo, Laragai and Narok covered themselves in mud, while the rest wandered around. Turkwel scratching herself against the nearby Acacia tree. In the Evening Yatta with a group of Ex Orphans and 4 wild bulls passed by the Stockades, one of the bulls in musth keeping a close eye on Wendi, and the others at bay. Wendi appeared comfortable and even coquettish with this wild Boyfriend, who kept a close eye on her and was clearly disapproving when she came to greet Dame Daphne and her family who were at Ithumba for the New Year. Suguta and her group returned to the Stockade in the evening. The year has seen two of our Juniors upgrade themselves to the Senior Ex Orphan herd – namely Kilaguni and Ololoo. We end the year with l0 elephants still milk dependent, 26 still Keeper Dependent (which include Suguta’s group who will undoubtedly soon also make the transition to independence) and the rest (28) now all Ex Orphans and part of Yatta’s extended Ex Orphan family, making 54 of our hand-reared orphans in all. Assuming Wendi conceives, and we believe that she will since she is comfortable with the Boyfriend, she will give birth to her own baby in the New Year of 2016, so we all look forward to that, since Wendi is an orphan who came to the Nursery still shrouded in foetal material from the remnant population of the Imenti Forest near Meru National Park, herself brand newborn! For us therefore, she is Special and showers love on the only family she knew throughout infancy and childhood which is her human one!!