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Now that the three naughty boys are absent - (Rombo, Layoni and Dabassa) the other orphans are not going deep into the forest, fearful of other wild inhabitants. Orwa always remains close to the Keepers but little Kithaka likes to be with the Big Girls – Mutara, Makireti Shukuru, as well as Sities all of whom give him comfort and loving. After the mudbath Mutara and Shukuru took the baby to an old anthill, where they like to play and climbing and rolling game. Kithaka was very happy and thoroughly enjoyed climbing on the others as they skidded down while the other orphans watched from a distance. Sities was tempted to join them but first went to collect Naipoki to accompany her, but when the two arrived at the anthill, little Kithaka engaged Naipoki in a pushing game.

After the usual morning greetings, Ishanga engaged Shukuru and Tano in a Pushing Game. Shukuru and Tano teamed up to fight Ishanga, Shukuru pushing her from the front while Tano head butted her at the rear. Ishanga had a difficult time but managed to chase Shukuru off before turning to face Tano, who, having seen her friend running away, decided to do the same, pursued by Ishanga. As Ishanga closed the distance, Tano took refuge behind Kasigau, so Ishanga head-butted the Big Boy by mistake and ran away screaming before Kasigau could retaliate. In fact, he just stood there with his ears out contemplating Ishanga’s bad behaviour. Kithaka has grown very attached to Orwa. The two split from the rest of the herd and came to be with the Keepers, Kithaka sucking on Orwa’s ears. At about l0 a.m. Sities began running around looking for Kithaka and having spotted him, came and touched his mouth with her trunk rumbling to him. The two then walked away from Orwa.

Having emerged from their Night Stockades, the orphans headed out into the forest, Kithaka leading sandwiched between Mutara and Shukuru. As usual Orwa, who is still slower than the others, brings up the rear with the Keepers. On the way Kainuk and Sities decided to settle an old score in a Pushing Bout when, by mistake, Kainuk hit Kilabasi, which did not go down at all well. Kilabasi pushed Kainuk so hard that she fell to the ground screaming. The Keepers rushed to her rescue and punished Kilabasi by expelling her from the herd for an hour. Kilabasi complained from a distance until she was welcome back into the fold, when everyone settled down again. Little Kithaka joined Mutara, trying to copy her feeding on grass.

Sities waited for Orwa to exit his Night Stockade, and having done so, Orwa went to look for little Kithaka who was just being let out of his stable. The two then went to join the others who were playing at the back. Sities rushed to Kainuk to continue the confrontation they had yesterday, but were interrupted by the arrival of Kilabasi. As usual Shukuru went to check on blind Maxwell, who came close when he heard her knocking on the bars of his pen. She patted his head with her trunk, which Max greatly enjoyed. At the noon mudbath the orphans had fun splashing the public with mud!

The orphans emerged in high spirits, Sities running around to check up on all her friends, especially neighbours Orwa and Naipoki while Mutara, Makireti, Shukuru and Turkwel ran to Kithaka, the youngest baby in the family, to check on him. Turkwel and Mutara left Makireti and Shukuru as bodyguards to escort Kithaka to the others. Ishanga and Kasigau went to browse in a thicket, but soon came out screaming. The Keepers went to investigate and found a family of warthogs inside grazing there.

Ishaq-B’s swollen knee has healed now, and she can walk without limping. She has found someone to bully – poor Orwa who is an easy target, and still weak. Whenever he is behind her, she stops and puts out her ears, so Orwa stops and screams for the protection of the Keepers. As soon as the Keepers reprimand her by mentioning her name, she runs off, aware that she is in their bad books! On the way to the noon mudbath she blocked Orwa who screamed, so the Keepers punished Ishaq-B by chasing her out of the herd. She ran off screaming, but all the Big Girls knew that she had misbehaved and did not come to her rescue.

Following the 9 a.m. feed, Kainuk decided to baby-sit little Kithaka who was beside Makireti. Tano then came to join Kainuk help look after the baby. As in a normal wild elephant family, all the older females enjoy taking care of the babies in the herd. Although Kainuk usually enjoys playing, having seen Kithaka alone with Makireti, she felt that he needed her as well, as did Tano who moved in to allow Kainuk to leave and instead go and play! Although still grieving and sad, Orwa is gradually putting on weight and now even runs for his bottle of milk. At the 9 a.m. feed, he was first, having come close to the venue and hidden in a nearby bush!

All the Big females, Makireti, Tano, Shukuru and Mutara were busy guarding the little baby, Kithaka, who is a King’s child, happy to do whatever he likes, while all the others indulge him, Mutara standing quietly to allow him to suckle her ear. When Kithaka noticed Sities and Kainuk playing a Pushing Game, he rushed towards them and instantly they stop what they were doing to greet him. Sities then allows him to suckle her ears. During the noon mudbath Orwa managed to be third to take his milk, which surprised the Keeper who mistook him for Kihari. Afterwards as the orphans left, led by Kithaka and Naipoki, Ishaq-B again blocked Orwa, who screamed. The Keepers came to chase Ishaq-B out, after which Orwa joined the others, comforted by Turkwel.

Little Kithaka now has 3 teeth through the gum, with the 4th almost through. At the 9 a.m. feed Mutara and Shukuru stood guard as he took his milk down to the last drop, and then escorted him out to join the others, leaving him with Orwa, of whom he is very fond. Mutara then joined the others further afield to browse, leaving Shukuru with the baby and Orwa. At the mudbath the orphans enjoyed playing football with the new Yoga ball brought by a foster-parent which is bright yellow. Tano and Sities began kicking it around, but Kihari was scared of it!

Ishaq-B, who has put on some weight and is now stronger, seems to enjoy bullying Orwa, blocking him from joining the others. When coming to the mudbath she also does not like him in front, but the Keepers intervene to give him the chance to be a Leader.

Being Friday, this was the day for Coconut Oiling, which Orwa enjoyed, and after which he rolled in the dust with little Kithaka. He has been in high spirits all day, and also went into the small mudbath that was set up for him and Kithaka. There was an Italian film crew here, who loved Orwa because he is so polite and gentle and interacted with him which he loved. When they left waving at him, he gave them a wave also using his trunk!

The three boys in the Nursery are Kasigau. Orwa and little Kithaka, and whilst the Big Girls are usually around Kithaka, whenever they are apart it is Orwa who takes care of him, being so polite and gentle unlike many of the others that have passed through of late. Kasigau and Orwa spent most of the day taking care of Kithaka and the Keepers puzzled as to why the Big Girls allowed them that privilege today.

On a clear, sunny day, the orphans all moved out to browse, all the girls, i.e. Mutara, Makireti, Tano, Shukuru, Naipoki, Sities, Turkwel, Ishaq-B and Kainuk crowding around little Kithaka to escort him out. Before settling down to browse, the orphans encountered a troupe of baboons. Shukuru, Sities and Kilabasi were first to spot them, and charged to chase them off, reinforced by Mutara. All then did some bush-bashing to ensure that the baboons had left, Kithaka, Orwa and Naipoki remaining close to the Keepers meanwhile. Kasigau, the biggest Boy, remained in charging mode long after the baboons had left. Sometimes Shukuru pushes him away, reluctant to concede his dominance.

The Orphans all emerged in a nervous mood, because a lion was very close to Kithaka’s and Tano’s stables during the night just before the midnight milk feed. The Night Milk Mixer had to shelter behind the Elephant Mover while the lion was prowling around, clearly visible in the Security Lights! It was a very hot day, so all the orphans enjoyed their mudwallow, even Orwa, who usually avoids going in with all the others, since he is not yet very strong. When it was time for him to come out, Naipoki helped him by pushing him from behind which amazed the audience and the Keepers.

The orphans welcomed the new day with Stockade games, Kihari and Kainuk who are close playmates nowadays, while Ishanga challenged Mutara to a Pushing Match. Makireti is greedy and at the 9 a.m. feed finished her share very quickly, and while the Keepers were not looking, tried to steal Kasigau’s bottle, a new trick learnt from greedy Rombo, Layoni and Dabassa before they left for Tsavo. Orwa is improving. He is becoming happier now, and can keep up with the others, unlike before when he was dejected and very slow. He is beginning to play, which is always a good sign.

In the morning Mutara, Tano and Sities patiently waited outside Moju’s stable, because she was able to get up unaided following the drip infusion, but was too weak to go out far. Later Mutara tried to push the door open, but the Keepers prevented this since Moju was resting. A while later Tano sneaked back to Moju’s stable, hoping to take her. After the 9 a.m. feed Moju was allowed out, closely surrounded by Tano, Mutara, Sities, Turkwel and Kainuk, all of whom paid her special attention, reluctant to leave her and join the others out in the bush, but the Keepers forced them to go out to feed, Tano and Mutara protesting by bashing bushes as they left. Orwa remained with the newcomer and kept her company all day.