01 February 2014

Newcomer Kauro, who has been born big, is taking his milk well, and has adapted to his new home, showing interest now in Olodare, the Nursery’s other baby boy. Kamok and Ashaka, although a lot older that Kauro, seem somewhat wary of his size!

02 February 2014

When Sonje came to greet and collect her favourite, Oltaiyoni first thing in the morning, she became aware of the presence of the new baby, Kauro, who was fast asleep in his stable. She came to the door and rumbled to him, but he did not wake up, so she waited outside the stable for sometime until Oltaiyoni joined her, and then together they moved on out to browse along with the others. Sonje loves the small babies.

03 February 2014

Kamok was in a playful mood today, running around the other small babies, expressing her joy at feeling better now that she is through teething. She bumped into a warthog with some small piglets, and threatened to charge, but then backed off because the mother pig did not retreat. Blood samples were taken from the 3 small babies today. That of Kamok and Ashaka showed an improvement, but Olodare remained fragile despite having cut his first four molars. Newcomer Kauro had a high white cell count, and being a well victim, was put on a course of injectable antibiotic to counter what could be the first signs of pneumonia.

04 February 2014

Following the poaching of a young female Black Rhino in Nairobi National Park last month, apparently shot from a vehicle, there has been concern over the safety of Solio, who has not shown up back at the Stockades for some time now. Much to everyone’s relief and joy, she came back this evening, KWS having notched her ear for identification purposes and implanted a tracking device in her horn to assist with monitoring and secrity. For the past week the KWS Helicopter has been overflying the Park everyday, in order to ear notch all the rhinos, Solio now being among the resident rhino community of the Park. Solio was tired, but looked in good health, enjoying a handout of Lucerne and the presence of Maxwell.

05 February 2014

Lentili has emulated Limalima and Vuria who are very greedy at milk feeding times As soon as she hears the radio signal regarding milk feeding venues out in the bush, she rushes to the Keepers impatiently bellowing, and does not want to wait patiently like the others! Also, at milk feeds, like the other two, she tries to snatch the share of the others, causing disruption, and bellowing when the Keepers refuse her!

06 February 2014

Lemoyian also was a little “dull” today, suffering from a slight upset stomach, which hopefully his natural immune system will be able to cope with.

07 February 2014

Lemoyian’s stool was much better today, but he seemed a little stiff when we woke up. However, he is feeding well, and as the day progressed, the stiffness disappeared.

08 February 2014

Lemoyian is better now, but is beginning to become greedy over his milk feeds, rather like Ngasha.

09 February 2014

Lemoyian was up to a Pushing Match with his best friend Kithaka today, and this is a sure sign that he is feeling a lot better.

10 February 2014

There was an unseasonal downpour of rain during the 3 p.m. Private Viewing hour, which was greatly enjoyed by all the orphans, particularly Kithaka, who was up to his usual trick of trying to bump the visitors and make them all muddy in between plunging into the mud himself. Meanwhile Lemoyian enjoyed playing in running rainwater, splashing it with his forelegs, and trumpeting with excitement. Meanwhile, the visitors ended up soaked, but unseasonal rain in what normally is a very hot dry month was most welcome!

11 February 2014

Athough Bomani is now at an age when his tusks should begin to appear through the lip, he has yet to show any such signs. Perhaps he will be lucky and have none, which will spare him from the Poachers, although it will inhibit his standing as a dominant bull when he grows up!

12 February 2014

As soon as the orphans emerged from their Night Quarters early in the morning, Rorogoi, Mashariki, Tundani, Vuria and Balguda embarked on a rowdy Bush-Bashing display, rushing playfully around the compound with outspread ears, downing small shrubs in passing, and trumpeting their joy. It is always good to see the baby elephants playing and happy.

13 February 2014

Today a new orphan arrived in the Nairobi Nursery, having been rescued from the Shimba Hills near the Coast, and after spending a night at the Voi Stockades before being airlifted to Nairobi. The calf was aged about l0 months, and was in an advanced state of emaciation having obviously been without his mother’s milk for some time. He had been on life support upon arrival at Voi, and again during the flight to Nairobi and was able to stand for only half an hour upon arrival in Nairobi, before collapsing again. Intravenous life support was again put in place, and we all prayed for his survival, but sadly he could not be brought round from the coma, and died during the night. He had been named Mwalolo, the name of a small stream near where he was found.

14 February 2014

It was with great sadness that we buried poor little Mwalolo this morning, who had been too far gone to be able to retrieve. He now rests in peace in the Park forest with others that failed to make it, behind the Trust’s H.Q.

15 February 2014

Little Oltaiyoni is now spending a lot of time with Suswa, whom she loves. Suswa is a quiet, gentle girl, who is not greedy like Lentili, Limalima and Zongoloni at milk feeding times, but who is always very well behaved. However, Sonje has emerged the main Nursery Matriarch, and Oltaiyoni also loves her.

16 February 2014

Little Kauro is very adventurous and loves exploring, running back to his Keepers in between such sessions. He even tries to chase the warthogs but only if they retreat, after which he then runs back to play with his Keepers’ dustcoats and suck their fingers. He loves the Keepers more than the other three babies, Kamok, Ashaka and Olodare, who tend to stick together and are not quite as outgoing as Kauro, who is still doing well, but has yet to begin his teething period.

17 February 2014

There was high drama early this morning when everyone woke up to find that blind Maxwell had walked out of his Stockade during the early hours of the morning, the bolt device that secures his Gate having been loosened after the knocking action of his horn being sharpened against it. He then followed Solio’s scent trail to the Orphans’ mudbath, where he took a wallow, as had she before him, and caught up with her just below Angela’s house, where, judging by the footprints, the two had obviously enjoyed a romp before Solio broke off again and headed into the Park, Max still trailing her scent trail until he lost it near the road at the bottom of the hill. There he took a rest, and when found by the Keepers at 5 a.m. was browsing peacefully. The Keepers managed to entice him back up the hill with fruit handouts, at the same time laying a trail of his dung to show him the way through scent. All went well until he reached the spot where he and Solio had interacted earlier, and there he stuck, refusing to be diverted from that spot, continually revolving around testing the wind to try and establish where she was, by which time he had had enough of fruit handouts, and was not interested in his scent trail either – only hers! Eventually, the small drone buzzing behind him plus a rope behind him drove him from that spot and onto the rocks, where he again stalled, having picked up the scent trail either of Solio or another rhino again. It was only with great difficulty, and with the help of 3 vehicles that he was eventually corralled near his Stockade, and finally pushed into the Gate, but not before having “dinged” one of the vehicles! Since then, all the Gates to Max’s Enclosure have been firmly secured with chains and a padlock. Being blind, Max would be at great risk from other wild Rhino Bulls, and even the females, and we cannot risk another “great escape”. It was l0.30 a.m. by the time he was back in his Stockade, just before the public began turning up for the Public Viewing Hour! There were smiles all round as Max settled back in Home Territory again, after which he rested for the rest of the day! Solio returned again to the Stockades on the 21st when she enjoyed her usual sparring match with Maxwell through the bars of their adjoining Stockades, and took a rest in her old Stockade before heading out again.

18 February 2014

Soon after the orphans walked out this morning, as all were busy greeting one another, and checking up on the four small babies, Ziwa and Bomani engaged one another in a Pushing Game, indicating that Ziwa is now happily settled into his new family. The game lasted until Teleki came to interrupt them, after which they separated, both Ziwa and Bomani respectful of Teleki’s long tusks!

19 February 2014

Big Girl Murera has become intolerant of the boys when they start pushing one another and in so doing hold up the herd at milk feeding times, or when heading out in the mornings or back in the evenings. She only targets the boys – Orwa, Bomani, Teleki, Nelion, Jasiri, Faraja and Ziwa who now tend to avoid being close to her at such times, especially more gentle boys such as Nelion, Ziwa and Bomani. Being the oldest female in the Nursery elephant family, Murera has control and likes to maintain law and order, instilling discipline among the growing boys who sometimes forget their manners!

20 February 2014

As the orphans were waiting for their 9 a.m. milk feed, Garzi and Tundani enjoyed a Pushing Game, but as soon as the milk arrived, Garzi, being one of the greedy boys, forgot his game and rushed to the milk wheelbarrow. Garzi is never content with just his ration, and always tries to snatch the share of others. When denied it, he takes his anger out on gentle Tundani, who retaliates, so then Garzi targets little Oltaiyoni before settling down.

21 February 2014

At the 3 p.m. Private Viewing, Teleiki, Faraja, Jasiri and Quanza put on a spectacular wallowing session for the guests, sliding up and down the slippery banks and rolling in the mud. Faraja and Jasiri then enjoyed a Pushing Match actually in the wallow during which Faraja fell, so Jasiri took the opportunity to sit on him, which left Faraja bellowing for help. Sonje instantly came to the rescue, pushing Jasiri away so that Faraja could get up again. At around 6 p.m. Solio came back to the Stockades, having been absent since leading Maxwell astray earlier in the month when he managed to escape. She enjoyed her usual sparring match with Max before settling down to enjoy the Lucerne provided for her in her old Stockade next door to that of Max. As she age, Max stayed as close as possible in the adjoining compartment, just enjoying her close companionship.

22 February 2014

At 8.30 a.m. the Keepers prepared a dustbath for the four little babies – Kamok, Asanja, Olodare and Kauro. All enjoyed rolling around in the soil, Kauro climbing onto Kamok as she lay down. Olodare stood beside the others watching them play. He is not as playful as the other three, and prefers to be an onlooker.

23 February 2014

It was interesting to see Orwa, who is the oldest boy in the Nursery, take on Big Girl Murera in a Pushing Game, the first time this has happened, since Murera is usually somewhat intolerant of the boys.

24 February 2014

Little Kauro, the youngest but the biggest of the four tiny newborn babies, is beginning to look good and healthy, although he has yet to undergo the teething period which is always a problem amongst the tiny newborns. Kauro is now 1 month old, and will soon begin teething. He has fresh dung from Big girl Murera in his stable every night, which will help him get the correct stomach flora to cope when his teeth begin the trouble him.

25 February 2014

As the orphans were approaching the 11 a.m. – 12 noon Open Viewing hour, they had to divert from their usual course, because they encountered 8 lions on the way, who were on the lookout for the resident warthogs. The orphans sensed the danger, and all kept as close as possible to their Keepers, and were clearly nervous when they arrived at the mudbath area. The Big Cats patrolled around the compound all morning hoping to meet up with a warthog, but eventually headed back into the bush during the night.

26 February 2014

Mischievous boy Kithaka is unwell today, refusing his 9 a.m. milk feed, and looking “dull”. A sample of blood from him indicated a bacterial infection, so he will undergo and course of injectable antibiotic.

27 February 2014

Kithaka is much better today – back to his usual mischievous self, enjoying playing with his best friend Lemoyian and entertaining all the Public Viewing visitors.

28 February 2014

The orphans had their weekly treatment of coconut oil. Arruba, Mashariki and Zongolini had a good scratch to relieve their itches.