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As usual, we opened the doors in the early morning and the orphans walked out of their rooms at the Nairobi Nursery. Latika headed straight for Wamata’s stable. Finding the upper door open, the adoring nanny stretched her trunk into the stable to touch the little girl. Wamata gave the older girl several welcoming rumbles. A few minutes later, she toddled out of her stable to be greeted and trunk hugged not only by Latika but also by Sileita, Muwingu and even Muridjo. Wamata is still the favourite baby!

The orphans ambled out to the forest and settled down to browse. Mageno and Kitich began their daily wrestling match, pushing heads, twisting around and clashing again. The two oldest bulls in the herd - following the graduation of Mukutan, Choka and Loldaiga - are competing for dominance!

After watching from the sidelines for a time, younger boys Olomunyak and Taroha began playing a gentler version of the game while the big boys continued next to them. Nyambeni interrupted by trying to push Taroha off Olomunyak but she did not succeed and the two little boys carried on pushing. Olomunyak may be small but he is determined to learn about wrestling. Later in the morning, we saw him head to head in a strength contest with Shujaa!

This morning, the orphans settled down to browse calmly in the forest. Today, no one was showing off or playing games, not even Kitich and Mageno. Instead, they ambled through the bush, twisting up clumps of greens or pulling branches down from trees. Big girls Sileita, Muwingu, Latika, Kerrio, Mushuru, Kamili, Sholumai, and not-so-big girls Mzinga, Nyambeni and Muridjo, were busy looking after smallest elephants Wamata, Olomunyak, Pardamat and Talek. They followed behind them, sandwiching them at every opportunity. Sholumai and Mushuru trailed behind Pardamat while the other nannies followed Wamata and Olomunyak.

Later in the morning, the orphans showed no interest in mud bathing. The older group and also the younger group drank their milk and browsed quietly on supplementary greens. Returning to the forest, Muridjo, Shujaa, Taroha, Pardamat and Mzinga happily charged and chased after a family of warthogs. Every time the pigs tried to graze next to the elephants, the five friends ran at them with ears flapping while trumpeting loudly.

Maxwell is thriving. Almost every morning he enjoys the company of the warthogs who visit his enclosure to share his breakfast of lucerne pellets. Little Raha is also doing well. She is eating lot of pellets which she loves and some greens. The muscles in her rectum seem to be strong.

This morning in the forest, Pardamat, Talek, Taroha and Olomunyak had a playful moment of charging and chasing after some baby impalas they found hiding in a thicket. Olomunyak had so much fun. He led the hide-and-seek chase after the impalas, who darted from one bush to the next, completely confusing the little elephant. He trundled in random directions with Pardamat, Talek and Taroha trumpeting along in his wake. As always, the impalas were never at any risk from the energetic elephants!

Sileita, Latika and Weka enjoyed soil bathing together today. Finding a large patch of dry ground, the three friends hosed themselves with dust and rolled around, rubbing their faces on the earth. When Sileita posed happily on the ground, Latika and Weka clambered on and off their big sister, resting their forelegs on her bulk.

Later in the morning at the mud wallow, the second older group of orphans spread out to drink from the trough or browse on greens. Before it was time to leave, Mageno and Weka tried to sneak back to the bush. Mageno did his best to stroll away from one end of the wallow while Weka did the same thing from the other end. They were trying to outwit us but did not succeed - as we were on our guard and shepherded them back to the herd!

Last night, a new rescue arrived at the Nairobi Nursery. The three-year-old boy was found alone and malnourished and was flown to the Nursery. The reaction of the herd showed how family centred elephants are.

In the morning, big girls Sileita, Latika, Mushuru, Muwingu, Kerrio, Sholumai, Weka and Muridjo were greeting younger orphans Wamata, Olomunyak, Taroha, Talek, Pardamat, Mzinga, Nyambeni and Shujaa. As they checked that everyone in the herd was well, Sileita sensed the presence of a new baby. She trumpeted loudly and led Mushuru, Muwingu, Latika, Sholumai and Weka towards the new boy’s stockade. The females gathered outside and rumbled and stretched their trunks though the gaps in greeting. Many other members of the herd were not far away and soon the stockades were crowded with excited elephants. The boy accepted his welcome and we persuaded the herd (eventually) to return to the bush.

The orphans settled down to browse and play. Some massaged themselves against trees while others played pushing and dust bathing games. Mushuru, Muwingu and Weka, however, did not settle down – they kept trying to return to the stockades to see the newbie.

In the evening, we gathered the herd into groups and sent them back to the stockades for the night. They sprinted down the path in anticipation of another delicious milk feed. Most of the orphans drank their milk and walked into their rooms to browse on pellets and lucerne. Except for Mageno and Shujaa – who scooped up a couple of mouthfuls of pellets before drinking their milk. The two bulls love cubes more than anyone!

In the morning as little Raha was plodding past Maxwell’s stockade on her way to the field, he caught her scent. The large blind rhino began trundling around his enclosure at speed, drawing attention to himself and spraying urine onto his side of the fence. Raha carried on walking up the other side of the fence and he carried on running around, knocking his head on the fence. Maxwell went back to browsing when he realised that Raha was no longer there and already in the forest.

Later in the morning, the elephants visited the mud bath for a milk feed. As the others hung out quietly around the wallow, Talek and Pardamat made a beeline for the wheelbarrow – several times! They were determined to pinch an extra bottle of milk and tried every time we turned our backs. We intercepted them and ordered them away. At last, they abandoned their quest. Pardamat accepted the situation but Talek marched away, trumpeting indignantly because she had not been given what she wanted. The little girl was in a big sulk!

The first group soon returned to the forest and the second took their place. After enjoying their bottles, several paddled into the wallow. Shujaa was first to plunge into the pool and he was followed by Kamili, Latika and Taroha. He lay down in the middle while the others rubbed their faces along the edges.

Olomunyak is becoming stouter and stouter! This greedy boy is growing fast but he is still smaller (and rounder) than Taroha, Talek and Pardamat. With his expanding girth has come an attitude of cheeky confidence. He may be 12 months younger than Taroha but this does not stop him from challenging his friend to play the pushing game whenever they meet. Taroha wins most games - but Olomunyak holds his own very well for his age.

In contrast, Pardamat still prefers to spend time with older orphans like Kamili, Mushuru, Sholumai, Mageno and Kitich. These four older orphans venture far into the park to browse on shrubs and trees and enjoy dust baths on patches of dry ground – often with feisty Pardamat in tow. Today, Kamili, Sholumai, Kitich and Pardamat went exploring in the bush for over an hour, returning in good time for the next milk feed.

While most of the herd browsed quietly in the morning, Shujaa and Mushuru played the pushing game with trunks entwined while Kerrio, Muwingu and Sileita played climbing-all-over-each-other games. Predictably, Sileita spent more time lying down and being climbed on than the other two girls. Little Wamata watched on calmly from the sidelines but was not tempted to join the game.

The new rescue is gaining in strength but is still confined to his stockade. Other orphans greet him on their way past his room, but he has not yet been formally introduced. This will happen when we are sure that he is settled and reasonably healthy.

This morning, the first group of orphans spread out around the wallow after enjoying their milk. Kerrio and Mzinga paddled in the thick mud while Shujaa and Taroha covered their bodies with red soil. When a Keeper ushered Wamata away from Nyambeni, the elder girl moved backwards to signal her displeasure. This is a new behaviour for Nyambeni – Mushuru, Muwingu and Kitich also sometimes reverse when they are unhappy with situations.

In the afternoon, some orphans massaged themselves against tree stumps and rocks while others played with their friends. Kerrio, Pardamat and Kamili rubbed their faces against a patch of dry ground and squirted soil along their backs. Not far away, Olomunyak and Taroha played a very boisterous game, tumbling over each other like enormous puppies. Trunks waving in excitement, they climbed on and off each other while the older girls browsed around them.

In a nearby clearing, little Raha enjoyed an afternoon nap. Feeling completely safe with her two Keepers, she lay down on a patch of dry ground, rolled around and went to sleep. Later in the day, she walked back to her stable where a bunch of tasty soft greens was waiting.

Raha was full of energy this morning (she prefers warmer days to cooler ones). She was browsing on greens early in morning and marched up the path as soon as we opened her door. Out in the forest, she grazed some more, rubbed her tiny horn against a tree stump and lay down for a nap on some warm rocks. Waking up, Raha continued looking for her favourite soft grasses.

Today, several warthogs kept Raha company. They often choose to stay close to the rhino so that they are protected from predators like lions. On other days, impalas graze next to her in the forest for the same reason. When Raha walked slowly back to her stable in the afternoon, three pigs followed along behind.

After weeks with minimal rain, the forest is becoming dry and dusty. Although there is still plenty of greenish browse, some of the muddy pools have dried up and been replaced by areas of bare red soil. In the afternoon today, Sholumai, Sileita and Shujaa stood together, rubbing bodies, scooping up any red dust they could find and squirting it along their backs. After browsing together, Mageno and Latika played a pushing game and then opted for face massages. The two friends knelt side by side to rub the undersides of their trunks against the ground with bottoms in the air and tails waving. 

Toddler night-time antics last night! We have two pairs of elephants who may be best friends by day but are rivals by night. Taroha and Olomunyak were first to start shoving their shared partition and doing their best to pinch each other’s greens. Half an hour later, Pardamat and Talek were also pushing their wall, trumpeting and stretching their trunks into their neighbour’s room.

The orphans gathered as usual outside their stockades in the morning to head out to the forest. Today, Muwingu was looking after little Wamata. The older girl twisted up clumps of bush while the younger one carefully pulled up pieces of grass. Sholumai, Mushuru and Kitich browsed nearby. This morning, Olomunyak dared to invite Pardamat to play the pushing game in a contest of strength. Pardamat may be the naughtiest boy in the herd - but he had the sense to play gently with chubby Olomunyak, not risking the wrath of Sileita!

In the afternoon, the herd wandered far into the forest, finding a remaining patch of thick mud that was perfect for playing and bathing. Kitich squatted on the edge, rubbing his backside from side to side while Mageno lay full stretch in the mud, massaging the gloop into every part of his body.

We tend to presume that all our orphans love milk and are always surprised when one refuses a bottle and we are again reminded of how different their characters can be. Shujaa is known for padding down the path to the mud bath, swerving around a Keeper holding a bottle, and opting to eat a mouthful of greens. Today, Kerrio drank her first bottle happily but refused the second, preferring to paddle in the pool rather than drink milk. Meanwhile, Talek and Nyambeni were trying to wheedle an extra bottle from a Keeper.

Many of our older elephants are adept at holding their own bottles, twisting their trunks around the bottles and holding them aloft at just the right angle. They enjoy the independence of walking away from the Keepers to drink their milk. Weka is an expert bottle-holder as are Pardamat (why are we not surprised) and Sholumai. On some days, they tolerate the Keepers’ help but, on other days, they stride away with bottle held tight.

Our orphans know when their next feed is due (they are fed at intervals of three hours). In the afternoon, rather than waiting for the Keepers to whistle, they gathered themselves together in a large group, telling the Keepers that it was milk-time, and they were all thirsty! Then, led by Talek, they headed off in a line in the direction of the mud wallow. A herd on a milk mission!

Today was the day we introduced the newbie – whose name is Tali - to his new family. On a cool and misty morning, we opened the doors and led the herd out to the forest. Once they had settled down to browse, we brought Kerrio, Pardamat, Olomunyak, Talek, Mzinga and Nyambeni back to the stockades to meet Tali. We chose these orphans because we thought they would be friendly to the older bull and we left older boys and girls like Mushuru, Muwingu, Sileita, Kamili, Latika, Kitich and Sholumai in the forest.

Our little group of six were very welcoming to Tali, rumbling and trunk touching him as he walked slowly out of his stockade. Nyambeni and Mzinga led the big boy out to the bush and settled down to browse with him, one sandwiched on either side. The other five rejoined the main herd while Tali remained a small distance away with his two new sisters. When it was time to visit the mud bath for a milk feed, Nyambeni and Mzinga refused to be shepherded down with the herd. The two girls were determined to stay with Tali and to look after the undernourished boy.

In the afternoon, Talek, Mzinga, Kitich and Kamili spent time around a patch of dry soil in the forest. While Talek and Kamili continued to browse, Mzinga and Kitich played a lying-down pushing game.

Taroha and Olomunyak (who sleep in neighbouring rooms) were the first orphans to plod out of their stables this morning. The two friends pushed heads and entwined trunks before walking up the path to Maxwell’s gate. The blind rhino was standing on the other side of the gate. The two elephants stretched their trunks through the gaps in greeting and laid them on the rhino’s head.

In an excited mood, Weka then ran past them, trumpeting on her way to the forest. Taroha, Olomunyak and the others followed along in her wake. Her mood was infectious and many orphans began trumpeting as they lumbered around in the forest. Catching sight of a group of grazing impalas, Sholumai, Weka, Kerrio, Muridjo, and Mzinga began chasing them while the younger babies began browsing.

After they had calmed down, we led Tali out from his stockade to spend time with the herd. In a rerun of yesterday, Mzinga and Nyambeni spent the day with their new friend, browsing with him and refusing to leave Tali when it was time to visit the mud bath!

In the afternoon, Mushuru and Muridjo were on Wamata duty. Wandering in the forest, they enjoyed a dust bath. Standing close together, Mushuru and Muridjo sucked up trunkfuls of dry soil and squirted them along their backs and also over Wamata – as she is too little to have mastered this skill.

After emerging from their rooms this morning, Mzinga and Nyambeni spent some time with their little sister, Wamata. They fussed over the small orphan and walked on either side of her up the path to the forest. But then, when Tali arrived, their focus shifted. Weka took charge of Wamata, browsing close to her, while our two budding mini matriarchs shifted their attention to the new boy.

Mzinga, Nyambeni and Tali stood close in the forest with the two girls walking at his pace – which is slower than the others because he is thin and weak. They remained with Tali for the whole day, refusing to go to the mud bath in the morning and again in the afternoon. Mzinga and Nyambeni, who are both just two years old, are taking on important roles with new arrivals at the Nursery. They are welcoming, caring and protective to newbies, especially it seems if they are weak or unwell. Their behaviour over the past three days reminds us of how they were with Askari.

Latika still wants to be in the first group visiting the mud bath mid-morning. We moved her after our three bulls graduated earlier in the year. On some days, she is happy to be with the older ones but not always. Today, Latika kept sneaking away from the older group to be with the little ones, specifically with her beloved Wamata.

The second group stood around quietly at the mud wallow this morning – and then the situation completely changed. No one could explain why it started. But, for no apparent reason, Sholumai started trumpeting and making low heavy rumbles. The other orphans responded by running in her direction. Mushuru ran frantically around Sholumai while Kitich and Mageno sized up next to her and Sileita and Weka trumpeted loudly. Eventually, we calmed down our herd of very large, excited babies!

New boy Tali was not well this morning so we kept him in his stockade to rest and treated him with medicine. Some of the herd were reluctant to head out to the forest and tagged along at the end of the line. Out in the bush, the orphans settled down to browse in the dappled sunshine. The herd behaved peacefully – not even Weka or Pardamat put a foot out of line. When we whistled later in the morning, the elephants responded, and we sent them down to the mud bath in groups of three or four.

The orphans were in playful moods in the afternoon. Mushuru and Shujaa played several rounds of the pushing game. Sholumai kept an eye on Olomunyak while he rubbed the underside of his trunk and sides of his face against the dry earth. With Kitich standing by, Mageno and Muwingu massaged their bellies and jostled together on the ground.

In the evening, Taroha and Pardamat were being mischievous. The neighbours pushed at their shared partition and pinched each other’s cubes. When the two friends began trumpeting and waking up the others, their Keepers whistled and calmed them down. Eventually, the elephants went back to sleep on their beds of hay.

On another day with clear skies, the orphans wandered out of their stockades and up the path to the forest while Maxwell enjoyed an early morning sunbathe. Tali was stronger this morning but we kept him in his stockade again so he could rest and we could monitor his health.

After browsing for a time, Mzinga and Kitich sneaked back to the stockades looking for leftover lucerne grass and pellets. While they were nipping in and out of their friends’ rooms, little Wamata began looking for Mzinga despite being with Sileita and Mushuru. She walked among the herd trumpeting. Hearing her calls, Mzinga and her big brother dashed back out to the forest to reassure Wamata with lots of trunk hugs whereupon the baby calmed down and went back to browsing.

Later in the day, as usual, Latika was fussing over Wamata in the forest, trunk hugging her at every opportunity. When Sholumai walked over to join them, Latika generously allowed her a turn of looking after the favourite baby. Sholumai stood guard while Latika browsed on some especially tasty bushes. Not far away, Sileita sat squatting on her bottoms, dusting herself and twirling her trunk. When she lay down on the ground, Shujaa took advantage of the opportunity to climb onto the mini matriarch. He rested his forelegs on her bulk and the two elephants entwined trunks before clambering back onto all four legs and going back to browsing. 

The elephants spread out this morning in the forest after standing in a huddle until the day warmed up. While Kamili browsed quite close to Latika and Wamata, Sholumai went walkabout with Pardamat, searching for tasty leaves and shrubs. They wandered far in the forest but returned in time for the next milk feed. Today, we had to persuade Kerrio and Shujaa to visit the mud bath. They were so happy browsing – especially Kerrio who was walking around with a bunch of greens in her mouth - that they seemed disinterested in another milk feed. After a few whistles, they padded down the path but drank from the trough before accepting a bottle of milk.

Nyambeni and Mzinga were nowhere to be seen! Tali was out with the herd this morning and they were back with their new baby. Even though he is older, the two girls know that he is weak and in need of their protection. Our mini mini matriarchs stuck close throughout the day.

In the afternoon, the herd did not wander far in the forest. Bouts of browsing were followed by dust baths or games and then more browsing. Shujaa and Latika spent time together. After playing a gentle version of the pushing game while Latika squatted on her bottoms, the two orphans massaged every part of their faces against the dry ground, covering themselves in soothing soil.

The herd wallowed and splashed in the water hole this morning on a hot sunny day. After drinking their milk, the younger group spread out around the wallow. Water baby Shujaa was first to plunge into the pool, kicking mud while paddling and then submerging his body in the middle. He was soon joined by plucky Olomunyak who covered himself in mud. When it was time to leave, we had to persuade our orphans out of the mud and back to the forest.

The older group behaved in a similar way. Sileita was first in followed by Mushuru, Muridjo, Kamili, Pardamat and Kitich. After cooling off in the wallow, Sileita, Mushuru and Pardamat lay on their bellies on the mound of red soil, hosing up trunkfuls of dry soil. They too had to be cajoled away from the wallow and trumpeted in excitement as they strolled back to the bush.

It was even hotter in the afternoon and the herd made the most of two small muddy pools in the forest. Weka, Mageno and Kitich claimed one for themselves, wallowing in the thick mud and refusing to allow anyone to join them. Kitich paddled while Weka relaxed on her belly and Mageno play mounted his friends in turn.

Early in the morning, four girls clustered outside Tali’s room. Not only Mzinga and Nyambeni but also Sileita and Weka were keen to greet the newbie. He wandered out to a welcome of trunk hugs and rumbles and an escort of four determined nannies. Out in the forest, mini mini matriarchs Mzinga and Nyambeni remained with the new boy while the older females ambled away to check on Wamata, Talek, Pardamat and Olomunyak.

Olomunyak and Wamata were hanging out together today. The two youngest babies in the herd have become good buddies. Today, they browsed and leant against each other with Wamata occasionally trunk kissing Olomunyak. Muwingu kept an eye on them from a distance, just in case any of the older elephants spoilt their peace. Muridjo and Taroha were sparring with each other, pushing heads in a light-hearted version of the game. Aware of her strength, Muridjo was careful not to push over Taroha.

In the afternoon, the orphans were in peaceful moods. They browsed quietly in the forest, focused on filling their bellies rather than mud bathing or game playing. When we whistled, they gathered obediently in a herd and we sent them back to the safety of the stockades for the night.

Today, we moved Pardamat and Talek from their stables to larger stockades. Tali is in the first of three stockades, Talek is in the second and Pardamat in the third. Orphans rarely enjoy change and these two were no different. Both protested loudly about being ushered into new rooms. Talek made less fuss as she was intrigued by her neighbour and stretched her trunk into Tali’s room. He accepted her greetings with several rumbles. Meanwhile, Pardamat was pacing his stockade, shouting and headbutting the walls. Eventually, Talek responded to her friend’s cries and turned her attention to him. She extended her trunk in the other direction and calmed her friend who, after some time, lay down for a nap after his ordeal!

For the time being, Mzinga and Nyambeni remain in their stables on either side of Wamata and Olomunyak stays in the stable next to Taroha. When the time is right, they will also move to larger stockades, as Shujaa did recently.

The older members of the herd cooled off in a large puddle of thick mud in the afternoon. Some paddled while others submerged themselves. Muwingu and Weka splashed mud all over the place and rubbed their bodies against the edges. Kamili and Mushuru massaged the undersides of their trunks against the muddy ground.

On most days, Raha is quite subdued but today she was almost excited! Out in the forest, the small rhino was running around making small squeaking sounds while playing with her Keepers. Then, she rolled around on a patch of dry soil and rubbed her tiny horn on the ground to sharpen it. Raha was so full of energy that she chased away some baby warthogs who were grazing next to her although, when the whole family arrived, she took refuge with her Keeper.

In the evening when the orphans were resting in their stables and stockades, naughty Taroha tried to pinch some cubes from Raha’s stable. A trunk wiggled its way through the gaps to scoop up cubes while the rhino lay napping on her bed of hay. Woken by the rustling, the clever girl pushed the tasty pellets out of her neighbour’s reach and went back to sleep.

Led by Weka and Shujaa, the herd wandered deep in the forest today. Sometimes they browsed in groups, at other times on their own. Older females Kamili, Kerrio and Sholumai spent a long time in one clearing, hanging out together while keeping an eye on younger babies Taroha, Talek, Olomunyak and Wamata.

At the mud bath this morning, Mushuru was thirsty for milk. She gulped her two bottles and then walked behind a Keeper, asking him for a third with a trunk touch and a trumpet. When he refused her request by holding up an empty bottle, she took out her frustration on laidback Muridjo by pushing her over while she browsed unawares. Muridjo trumpeted and Sileita pushed Mushuru. The greedy girl ran towards the rope cordon, whisking her tail and kicking her back legs to keep everyone away. Somehow, Weka was kicked in the kerfuffle and so she began trumpeting and whistling - whereupon Sholumai became upset and tried to run away.

At last, calm was restored and the orphans cooled off in the mud bath and on the mound of dry soil. Sholumai splashed in the mud while Kitich rubbed his belly on the edge and Kamili and Latika hosed themselves with red soil.

On a sunny afternoon, the herd spent most of the time browsing rather than playing. Pardamat was happy to stay with Sileita and Talek – rather than head off with the older boys. Babies Wamata and Olomunyak stayed close to the mini matriarch while Muridjo, Kerrio and Mageno ambled around looking for the tastiest greens.

In the early morning, the herd (and Tali) headed out to the forest as usual surrounded by their Keepers. They spread out to browse or massage their bodies against tree stumps or roll around on the ground. Muwingu led Sholumai, Mageno and Wamata deeper into the forest in search of tasty greens. Sholumai and Mageno walked off in one direction and Muwingu and Wamata in another. Finding a tree with delicious fruit, Muwingu shook a branch by twisting her trunk around it. The fruit fell to the ground but, when Wamata made a move to pick one up, Muwingu blocked the baby and pushed her away. Wamata cried for help at her unexpected treatment and Sileita and Kerrio came to her rescue. They chased Muwingu away and allowed the little one to enjoy the fruit.

Later in the morning, many members of the herd cooled off in the mud wallow. Taroha was first to plunge into the thick mud followed by Kerrio and Talek. They slapped their trunks on the water before clambering out to roll around on the mound of dry soil.

When the orphans returned to the forest after lots of mud bathing, they were still in excited moods. Kamili and Kerrio began running through the bush trumpeting for no apparent reason. This behaviour infected the others and soon the Keepers were surrounded by bundu-bashing babies!

A second rescue arrived this morning – a small baby found walking alone in a dry riverbed in Turkana. The abandoned elephant was flown to the Nursery and carried into an empty stable. He is very thin but without apparent injury. To our relief, he was quick to accept a bottle, calm down and fall asleep.

Older rescues usually need more time to adjust to their new lives than tiny babies. The little boy rescued yesterday is so small that we decided to introduce him to the herd today – as he needs looking after by nannies. While the herd was enjoying a milk feed at the mud bath, two Keepers led the new rescue out from his room to the edge of the forest. Meanwhile, the other Keepers organised the herd into groups and shepherded them from the wallow to meet the new boy. It was wonderful. The orphans gathered round him, whistling and rumbling with extended trunks. The older boys were less interested than the older girls who began pushing and jostling to be close to him. Sileita, Kerrio, Muwingu, Weka and Mushuru were determined to push away Sholumai and Muridjo. We took most of the wannabee nannies away, leaving the little boy with just Mushuru and Sileita on his first day.

In the evening, Kitich stretched his trunk though their shared partition and draped it over Muwingu’s head. This friendly gesture was followed up with a half-hearted attempt to pinch some of her lucerne. But Muwingu is made of stern stuff and shoved Kitich before he had a chance to even twist up a clump of grass. 

Last night was a very disturbed night! Several older girls were pacing around their stockades and trumpeting for the new baby. Mushuru and Sholumai went as far as to ram their heads against their doors. Everyone wanted to look after the boy while he stood somewhat forlornly in his stable and we checked that the gates were securely closed.

In the morning, Mushuru went straight to the new rescue's door and tried (unsuccessfully) to push it open with her head. While the others wandered up the path as usual, she stood obstinately outside his stable. He was not strong enough to go out early with the herd and so we had to cajole her away from his door. Arriving in the forest, Mushuru trumpeted and trumpeted, attracting the attention of Sileita, Weka and Muwingu who ran towards her, trumpeting in chorus. The rest of the herd then gathered around and it took us a long time to restore calm. At last, the babies went back to browsing!

Nyambeni and Mzinga remained at a distance from the chaos. They were busy looking after Tali, browsing quietly on either side of the bull who is still not strong enough to keep up the herd.

Later in the morning, the younger group of orphans visited the mud bath for a milk feed. For the time being, Pardamat is back with this group (having been moved to the older group in the hope of improving his behaviour). Nyambeni and Mzinga should be in this group but they are refusing to leave Tali. We sent Kerrio, Shujaa, Olomunyak, Pardamat, Talek and Wamata down in three small groups. As Olomunyak padded along the rope cordon, for no apparent reason, Pardamat shoved him hard from behind. Olomunyak regained his balance, trumpeted in anger and turned to retaliate. Before a fight could ensue, we separated the squabbling toddlers and gave Pardamat (another) time out in the bushes.

Our budding mini matriarchs were doing their thing again today! As usual, the herd ambled out to the bush in the early morning. The elephants spread out to browse in small groups. Sileita was with Wamata, Kerrio was with Olomunyak, Sholumai was with Pardamat, and Weka was with Muridjo and Talek. 

Nyambeni and Mzinga were looking after Tali. The three orphans browsed quite close to the stockades while the rest of the herd wandered further into the forest. Later in the morning, we brought the new rescue for a walk in the forest. Nyambeni and Mzinga welcomed him with touches and rumbles. The four stayed close for a short time and then Nyambeni wandered in one direction with Tali while Mzinga went in another with the new rescue. Our two girls had made a plan, deciding who would look after who. The two couples remained together for most of the day.

The herd was treated for ticks in the afternoon. We spray them with ‘dawa’ while they are in their stockades. Most of them hate being treated for ticks and stand leaning against their back walls, hoping in vain that the spray may not reach them. Today, we spotted one on Mageno’s tongue and another on his eye. The gentle bull stood still, allowing Keeper Peter to remove the insects.

Best friends Mageno and Kitich are still sizing up every day! Aware that they are the biggest bulls in the herd, they engage in daily contests of strength. Their games are usually good-humoured but still serious. This morning, they began a pushing game at the mud bath and we had to move them away from the herd. Even Kitich is becoming less obedient!

Wamata retains her position as the most beloved baby in the herd. This little girl has so many nannies but Latika is her favourite and they are usually found close to each other in the field. Latika is devoted to Wamata, as she was to Mokogodo. Today, when Talek dared to give Wamata a small shove, Latika sprinted to her rescue with Muwingu and Mushuru close behind.

In the afternoon, the herd visited the mud bath as usual. After enjoying their milk, many covered themselves in thick mud. Water baby Shujaa was first to plunge into the pool, wallowing and slapping the mud with his trunk. After cooling off in the water, Pardamat and Mushuru hosed themselves – and each other – with dry soil. Kerrio and Taroha lay relaxing on the mound of soil, entwining trunks and rubbing bodies.

Muridjo and Shujaa are best friends - but are also feisty elephants who rarely back down. The first few rounds of their pushing game this morning in the forest were good-humoured – they pushed heads and clinked tiny tusks, broke away and pushed again. But then the game became serious and neither would surrender. Muridjo is a girl and not quite as strong as Shujaa but, whatever she lacks in strength, she makes up with her determination.

Later in the morning, the herd visited the mud bath for another milk feed. We moved Latika to the second older group when bulls Mukutan, Loldaiga and Choka graduated last month. Most days, she accepts this shift – as she only has to be apart from Wamata for an hour. Today, however, she sneaked away from the older orphans and insisted on coming down the path with Wamata to the mud bath. We let her have her way, knowing that when Latika makes up her mind, she is very stubborn!

Nyambeni and Mzinga remained in the forest with Tali and the new rescue again this morning. Kerrio led the group of younger orphans from the mud bath back to the four elephants. She joined the group and looked after the little calf for a time. Mzinga deferred grudgingly to the older female while staying close to her baby. While the girls were fussing over him, Shujaa, Taroha, Olomunyak and Pardamat wandered further into the forest to browse.

Weka is becoming such a caring girl (even though she is still naughty), especially with the newbies. This morning in the forest, she walked over to browse with Nyambeni and Tali. We watched closely – just in case she gave the bull a push. But the opposite was the case – Weka went right up to Tali, draped her trunk along his back and then into his mouth. She was so calm and friendly. A few metres away, Mzinga was continuing to look after the new rescue. Neither of the newbies visits the mud bath. They will stay in the forest until they are stronger and have really settled into their new family.

Our independent girl, Kamili, dances to her own tune – but she is also an explorer who likes to lead other orphans into the bush. In the afternoon, she led Mageno and Pardamat deep into the forest to find the tastiest browse. Closer to the stockades, Mushuru, Muwingu and Mzinga were taking care of the new rescue.

In the afternoon, we persuaded Nyambeni to leave Tali and to join the herd at the mud bath for a short time. It was a sunny afternoon and most of the elephants cooled off in the wallow. After rumbling in welcome to her little sister, Kerrio paddled and played in the mud with Nyambeni. They kicked water all over the place before climbing out for a dust bath. While Muridjo lay spreadeagled in the mud, Talek submerged her body in the middle of the pool and then lay on the edge, twirling her trunk. When we whistled, the orphans followed our lead, ambling back to the forest in a long line.