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On the first day of a New Year, both the Keepers and the orphans left the Stockades in a jovial mood, Sabachi and Kilaguni having enjoyed their usual pushing match whilst Melia and Suguta scratched their bodies against the sides of the water trough. All enjoyed the noon mudbath, and returned with full stomachs in the evening.

Another happy day for the Ithumba Keeper Dependent orphans, who gamboled around thickets which still held plenty of green browse. Kilaguni and Sabachi indulged in bush-bashing, chasing each other around the bushes and trumpeting with excitement. Since it was a hot day, all thoroughly enjoyed the noon mudbath.

All 29 Ex Orphans came to the Stockades at dawn before the Youngsters emerged from their Night Stockades. As soon as the Juniors’ Gates were opened, the Ex orphans rushed forward to greet them amidst rumbling, trumpeting, and urinating. As the smallest Juniors, Ithumbah and Chaimu enjoyed the special attention of Wendi, Selengai, Galana, Lualeni and Sidai. After taking a drink at the Stockade trough, Yatta led the entire group out to the field where they browsed together for two hours, until the Ex Orphans separated and headed off elsewhere leaving Nasalot behind to take care of the Youngsters. She, as usual, focused most attention on her favourite, Kilaguni. Since it was a cool day, the Youngsters decided against a wallow

On a cool morning the Juniors filed out to browse swinging their trunks and bumping into each other in a display of joy to welcome another cooler day. Sabachi and Kilaguni instigated a bush-bashing game, in which all the others participated. After the mudbath and the afternoon browsing session, the Juniors enjoyed a second mudbath on their way back in the evening.

The search for browse kept the Juniors fully occupied until the mudbath hour when Kilaguni had a prolonged wallow, whilst the others enjoyed resting under shade.

The day began with mist shrouding Ithumba Hill as the orphans filed out to the field, enjoying the cooler temperatures. At 11 a.m. 28 members of the Ex Orphaned group joined the Juniors, amongst them Buchuma who had a minor injury on his trunk. The Keepers escorted him and Meibai back to the Stockades where Buchuma’s trunk was treated, and Meibai (who had been away for several days for a wild outing) relished his ration of milk. The Ex Orphans showed up at the Stockades in the evening, when Meibai was ushered back into his former Stockade along with Sabachi and Kilaguni. However, Galana, Naserian, Sidai and Sunyei objected strongly to him being taken back in and forced their way in, refusing to leave without Meibai. When the Keepers eventually managed to extract them, the four camped just outside the Gates, determined to remain close to Meibai. Galana, especially adores him and is always guilty of trying to sneak him away from his Junior peers!

All the Ex orphans were at the Stockade compound in the morning, Galana, Sidai, Sunyei and Naserian waiting actually at the Stockade Gates to embrace Meibai as soon as he emerged. All the Ex orphans spent the morning browsing with the Juniors, Nasalot enjoying being close to Kilaguni whilst Wendi focused on Ithumbah and Galana on Meibai. After the mudbath, the Senior Ex Orphans departed, leaving Galana, Nasalot, Madiba, Rapsu, Sunyei, Sidai and Naserian with the Juniors. They remained with them for the rest of the afternoon and escorted them back in the evening, the Keepers again persuading Meibai to return to his Night Stockade with Kilaguni and Sabachi. Galana, Wendi and Nasalot stood outside watching their favourites as the Stockade Gates were closed, but on this occasion did not try and force entry themselves!. They rumbled to the Babies for a few minutes before heading off again after, having taken a drink at the water trough.

Another uneventful day for the Juniors, although Sabachi and Kilaguni had a tough test of strength. Melia and Tumaren led the way to the milk and mudbath venue, after which the Juniors browsed the lower slopes of Ithumba hill before returning in the evening.

On a cloudy morning the Juniors converged at the Stockade water trough for a drink, after which Ithumbah and Chaimu scratched themselves against trees, while Melia and Tumaren did the same at the Unloading Bay. Meibai and Kilaguni had a strength testing exercise, in which Meibai emerged victorious.

After the mudbath today the Juniors split into two groups, Ithumbah taking Chaimu, Kilaguni, Sabachi and Meibai to feed apart from Suguta who remained with Tumaren and Melia some distance away. The two groups only reunited when the Keepers signaled that it was time to return to the Night Stockades in the evening.

The orphans had a quiet and uneventful day, but for a nice soil dusting session against an anthill, Kilaguni enjoying a long time resting against the warm earth of the mound. At the mudbath Chaimu emerged the star of the day, remaining in the mud even after the others began filing out to browse. Ithumbah led the Group back home in the evening.

After the usual Stockade activities, Melia led the way to the Kanziku area today. Sabachi and Kilaguni, the only two boys amongst five girls, enjoyed their usual pushing match in between browsing. In the evening Loijuk, Wendi, Rapsu, Galana, Meibai and Challa showed up at the Stockades, Challa along with Ndomot and the wild recruit “Mgeni” having been absent from the Ex Orphaned group for some time now. It was good to see Challa back again, and we hope that Ndomot and Mgeni will likewise turn up again soon.