Umani Springs Reintegration Unit

February 2024

Daily updates

February 2024

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February 3rd

Amali came blowing her little trunk as she tried to trumpet while chasing out many white butterflies that were blocking her way to where Mwana was. Mwana also attempted to join her and trumpet, but she couldn't quite manage it. Instead, she charged forward, but reaching the white butterflies proved difficult. As she lagged behind with a stick, Kiasa saw Mwana fall down and begin rolling in an attempt to get up. The Keepers marvelled at how the elephants valued the little baby, as all the nannies and even the boys rushed to help Mwana up from the tall grass.

Amali left what she was doing to be with Murera and Mwana. Mwana insisted on nursing, and her mother had to agree so that she would feel satisfied and happy. Afterward, Kapei came along. When Mwana noticed him getting too close, she tried to push him away. However, she found she wasn't heavy enough to move Kapei. She then reported this matter to her older ‘sisters,’ who promptly came and drove Kapei away. Mwana and Amali were very pleased to see Kapei being chased off by their older sisters, Kiasa, Enkesha, and Lima Lima, who arrived to help when they heard the baby complaining loudly.

Kiasa and Kapei browsing

Enkesha with Amali and Mwana

Lima Lima browsing

February 5th

This morning, there was some in-fighting after the nannies argued over Mwana duties. This led to the group splitting into factions — one led by Amali, Kiasa, and Enkesha, and the other led by Lima Lima, who wanted to assert her dominance. Unfortunately for Lima Lima, the larger faction left with Mwana, taking her to where Murera and Mwashoti were browsing at the peak of the Umani Hills. The Keepers were surprised that they reached the peak before speedy Lima Lima arrived.

Mwana made a brief stop to breastfeed when she felt tired and thirsty. Her mother understood her need and allowed her to stop for a drink before they ran over to join Amali and Kiasa at the foot of the hills to find more soft grass.

Kiasa browsing

Lima Lima enjoying her own mud bath

Mwana with the Umani herd at the dust bath

February 10th

The elephants had a very good night and were up early this morning, eagerly anticipating their morning treats. Both the nightclubbers and orphans came out from their rooms and rushed to the eating points. However, upon approaching Murera, Amali noticed that she was in a grumpy mood. Murera is always this way when eating pellets; she does not want other babies to eat close to her, because she wants to eat all the pellets herself. Sometimes, she makes a special exception for Amali, but that was not the case today. She chased Amali away and did the same when Mwashoti arrived, keeping the eating area exclusively for herself.

Enkesha and her friend Kiasa had to hide because the situation was becoming tense with Murera's behaviour — she was fighting everyone! However, it soon became amusing to see Murera feeling lonely and sorry for her actions. She ended up seeking out the orphans she had chased away because Mwana had teamed up with all the nannies, leaving Murera alone.

When she approached, most of the dependent orphans fled from Murera, thinking she would still chase after them. However, Sonje talked with her she calmed down. Only Amali was still not ready to associate with Murera.

Amali in the Kibwezi forest

Mwashoti enjoying some grass

Enkesha enjoying some fresh shrubs

February 13th

Sonje joined the herd from the side of Kenze Hills, towards the Umani springs. They came from the back of the stockades and found the other babies still enjoying their morning treats. They were followed by Mwana and her mother, Murera, who wanted to meet Mwashoti and Amali. However, Sonje stood between them, trying to block Mwana from going with her. Despite Murera's efforts to prevent her, Mwana, who was eager to meet Sonje, sneaked under her mother's belly and dodged her. Sonje greeted the baby joyfully, and later, Enkesha took her away towards Amali and Kiasa.

Some buffalos appeared again to join the herd very early in the morning. Lima Lima and Quanza were leading the herd in the direction where the buffalos were lying in the tall grass. When they sensed the elephants approaching, they got up and prepared to hide. However, one larger and older bull buffalo seemed to have hostile intentions towards the orphans and Keepers. He was getting ready to charge at anyone who came too close, but fortunately, the Keepers and orphans were several steps ahead of him. They changed direction towards the Chyulu side for more browsing and playing time.

As they roamed, they stumbled upon some wild elephant dung, and Kiombo attempted to follow their trail. However, when he got too close and encountered one of the wild bulls, the bull came back to investigate who was following them. Kiombo met the giant but did not run away. Instead, he stood strong and was prepared to play with him. However, he soon realised that the wild bull was much larger than him and had longer tusks, making it unwise to attempt to push back against him.

Sonje watching Mwana

Enkesha watching over playful Mwana

Mwana with Kiasa, Enkesha and Amali

February 15th

Mwana became very playful with little Amali today. She also tried her best with Kapei, who did not know how to play gently with the baby. He pushed Mwana too hard, causing her to bump into a rock. Her loud screams attracted all the head girls, who came to see why the baby was upset. By the time they arrived, Kapei had already gone into hiding, fearing punishment. Kiasa asked him why he pushed the baby, but Kapei was too shy to respond. He walked to his corner and started browsing. When he tried to approach the baby again, he was rejected. Mwana preferred to stay close to her usual nannies and her mother for protection, avoiding Kapei.

Sonje, Quanza, and Mwashoti separated from the herd after wallowing together. They changed their minds just after the mud bath, as the sun turned too hot. The trio walked to a waterhole inside the Kibwezi Forest, a place they knew about. After wallowing, all the babies rested under some trees. Sonje and her friends then moved away to a direction they knew, leaving Murera dusting in the shade. She watched Maktao, Amali, and Enkesha playing with Mwana. Mwana was jumping on top of them as they continued to play in the shade. Sonje and her team moved away to Chyulu, leaving the herd with Lima Lima.

Kiasa watching over Mwana

Quanza enjoying some fresh greens

Enkesha watching over Mwana

February 16th

Alamaya appeared with the other ex-orphans, much to our surprise and delight. Just moments before, we were talking about them, and then suddenly, they appeared one after the other. First, we saw Alamaya with his beautiful, huge tusks. Behind him was Faraja, who joined the herd and found Alamaya already dust bathing. Faraja followed him to the dust pile. From the other side of the bushes, Lima Lima and her crew arrived. She was on high alert: Amali and Kiasa were playing nearby, so she thought Mwana had been abandoned by her nannies and needed attention. When Lima Lima went over to Mwana, the baby rushed back to Enkesha and Quanza.

The four buffaloes, which had been camping in the usual mud bath area for about two months, arrived just in time for our midday milk bottle session. They were not willing to give us space, as they know they also have the right to be at the mud bath. 

However, little Kapei and Kiombo were not happy with the buffaloes' presence around the orphans. Kapei started to drive them away, and Kiombo decided to help him. Maktao, Kiombo's best friend, then joined them, which boosted their efforts. This made the whole herd join in, and the four buffaloes were cornered with no space to escape. They all ran away into the bushes. Kiombo and Kapei victoriously returned to the herd, leaving the buffaloes alone.

Alamaya already at the dust bath

Faraja arriving in the Kibwezi forest

Kapei playing with Kiombo

February 17th

The beautiful and lovely Faraja showed up very early this morning when no one was expecting him. It was a big surprise to see Faraja back in the herd, as he had been away for some time. He was already at the gate waiting for the orphans while the Keepers were preparing the bottles for the babies. Murera with her baby came out first and greeted him before Enkesha and the others joined them. 

Kapei found himself a trainer in the older Faraja, whom he joined in attempting to push over. However, Kapei was too tiny and couldn't reach Faraja's tusks. He also realised he was too small compared to Faraja's size. Kiombo then came and relieved Kapei, engaging Faraja in a pushback. Kiombo tried hard but found Faraja's tusks too strong to push against. Still, he persisted.

In the afternoon at the waterhole, Kiasa and Enkesha were the first ones to leave the bushes as it was getting too hot. They picked up Mwana and headed to the mud bath. Kiombo and Lima Lima then jumped into the waterhole, followed by the whole herd. When Murera arrived, she found no space for her and decided to wait for the other babies to leave so she could have her own space. Maktao came out last, and then Murera finally jumped into the waterhole and swam alone without any disturbances. Faraja watched from a distance, as the Keepers also helped ensure Murera wasn't disturbed by Faraja and his friends.

Faraja arriving at the dust bath

Murera spending time with Enkesha

The orphans at the mud bath

February 18th

Lima Lima, Sonje, Mwashoti, and Quanza didn't arrive this morning but tactically appeared after the midday bottle feeding. They emerged from the bushes, with Lima Lima leading the way. Sonje and Quanza then joined the babies at the dust pile, followed by Mwashoti who arrived a bit later. Lima Lima stopped at the saltlicking point, where she began digging the soil to loosen it and put it into her mouth. However, Murera came and chased her away from the spot. Lima Lima rumbled in complaint but eventually accepted and moved on to join the babies.

Amali came to the spot with Mwana so that Murera could breastfeed her. Since Mwana trusted Amali, she followed her everywhere. After nursing, Kiasa took over and led Mwana to the bushes. There, they encountered two buffalos watching them. Mwana, along with Amali, decided to defend her friends. The two little babies joined forces and chased away the buffalos. Eventually, Kiombo, Kiasa, and Enkesha arrived to help Mwana chase the buffalos into the bushes until they disappeared into the Kibwezi Forest.

Lima Lima, Mwana and Quanza enjoying a drink

Mwashoti watching over Mwana

Murera breastfeeding Mwana

February 20th

Wild elephants arrived in large numbers in the evening, filling the entire forest with their presence and causing other wildlife to flee. As a precaution, the Keepers decided to leave the orphans with their friends to avoid any potential conflict with the wild elephants. However, Murera and her baby Mwana chose to stay with the Keepers for added safety. When the little nannies realised that Mwana had gone home with Murera and the keepers, they became unruly and decided to go find the baby on their own. Kiasa, Enkesha, and Amali trailed their favourite pair, while Lima Lima, Sonje, and Mwashoti kept an eye on Kiombo and Maktao..

Later, in the late midnight hours, the large herd of wild elephants arrived at the stockade water trough and drank all the water. Some of them were heard scratching on the loading bay wall, possibly attempting to communicate with the orphans inside. However, it was too early in the night for the orphans to be outside, so they remained indoors. Maktao and Enkesha were curious and interacted with the wild elephants through the gaps in the wooden walls, smelling each other. Eventually, the wild elephants left, leaving the orphans in peace.

Murera staying with Mwana

Amali leading Mwana, Lima Lima and Murera

Good friends Maktao and Kiombo

February 21st

As the heat intensified around noon, the elephants eagerly awaited their midday bottles. However, the babies were hesitant to come out and run to the feeding area until the head girls led them to a nearby waterhole where they could cool off. Kapei was the first to jump into the water with Enkesha, followed by Amali and the others. Murera was the last to join them, and they all swam quickly before heading to the bottle feeding point, feeling refreshed.

Once at the feeding area, Kapei once again showed his eagerness by rushing to be the first to receive his bottle. In the past, this role was held by Lima Lima, but now that she had retired from milk bottles, Kapei has taken over as the primary runner.

After bottle feeding, two buffaloes approached the orphans, attempting to follow them to their resting area. However, when the buffaloes crossed a boundary line, Amali, Kiombo, and Kiasa intervened to stop them. Kiombo stood his ground, supported by Amali and later joined by Kiasa and Mwashoti. Seeing the increasing number of elephants, the buffaloes retreated, allowing the elephants to relax and browse peacefully in the Kibwezi forest.

Kapei playing with Enkesha at the mud bath

Kiasa coming out the mud bath

Mwashoti after a mud bath

February 23rd

The weather today made the orphans reconsider their mud bath plans. They hesitated, testing the water with their trunks to gauge its temperature. Kiasa and Enkesha brought Mwana to test the water, but even she found it too cold for her liking. Amali attempted to enter the waterhole but later opted to stay outside with Mwana.

Meanwhile, Quanza, Lima Lima, Sonje, and Mwashoti arrived and headed towards the dust pile. Amali and Kapei approached their old friends Mwashoti and Sonje. Ever the rogue, Kapei grabbed Mwashoti's tail. Mwashoti, feeling it was inappropriate, pushed Kapei away, allowing only Amali to join them in walking to the bushes.

There were also wild elephants waiting for Mwashoti, but it seemed he was aware of them and led Amali and Sonje to where a wild bull was resting under the shade, who was seemingly waiting for Mwashoti and his friends.

Enkesha left with Quanza and Mwana

Quanza watching Kapei digging with Amali

Sonje having a drink

February 24th

Today, the orphans emerged from their stockades in the morning, but the nightclubbers were absent. Yesterday evening, only Mwashoti escorted the milk-dependent orphans back home. This morning, it was Murera, the eldest among them, who took charge as they traversed the Kibwezi forest towards Umani Springs and then to the hills. A big commotion was heard nearby, with loud trumpeting and screaming from wild elephants, causing the Keepers to stop and listen attentively. It turned out to be Sonje and her team meeting some ex-orphans and exchanging greetings.

Amali was eager to see these friends, but Maktao and Kiombo held her back. They didn't want her to stray too far from Mwana. Understanding their concern, Amali returned to where Kiasa and Enkesha were playing with Mwana, while Murera kept her distance from the bulls to avoid any confrontation.

As the Keepers climbed up to get a better view, Quanza and Lima Lima returned, signalling that the wild elephants had left. Relieved, the Keepers descended from the trees, and Murera was called by her Keepers to follow as they moved out from the thick bushes into the open fields.

Mwana and Amali followed, blowing their little trumpets and charging at shrubs as they made their way with the Keepers to the waterhole to cool off.

Murera with Mwana browsing

Kiombo greeting Maktao

Enkesha and Mwana at the dust bath

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