Ithumba Reintegration Unit

January 2017

Daily updates

January 2017

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January 1st

Mutara, Sities, Turkwel, Kainuk, Kanjoro, Suguta, Makireti, Kilabasi, Chaimu and Kilaguni were outside the stockade early before the juniors were let out. When the orphans were let out, Boromoko and Sirimon walked towards Kanjoro and exchanged morning greetings by entwining their trunks. The boys got into a playful mood as they headed to the browsing field. Enkikwe challenged Kanjoro and in less than a minute unfortunately lost to him! Orwa took over from Enkikwe and tackled Kanjoro as Sities worked on Vuria. Vuria could not withstand the strength of Sities though and so lost to her. Orwa, who likes to challenge his seniors, moved to play with Kilibasi and later Sities. Garzi tried his hand on Kanjoro, a game that ended in a draw. Out in the bush, Vuria spent some time in an exercise of pushing down trees which was one way of practicing how to handle his seniors. Soon after that exercise, Vuria engaged Chaimu in a pushing game that he ended up losing miserably to Chaimu. Narok settled to feed with Naseku, Kauro and Kamok while Lemoyian teamed up with Kilabasi and Makireti. Vuria engaged Barsilinga in a pushing game that ended in a draw. At mud bath time the junior Ex Orphans escorted the orphans to the mud bath. Two wild bulls that had arrived earlier at mud bath were feeding a short distance away. Soon after Oltaiyoni drank her milk, she headed to join the wild bulls and it took the intervention of the keepers for Oltaiyoni to come back and join her friends. She was hesitant at first and she kept following the bulls deeper into bush whenever the keepers called out her name. At last, the keepers managed to separate her from the wild bulls and bring her back. Shortly after mud bath, the orphans settled for soil dusting before returning back to the browsing field. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area. Vuria took a break from feeding and enjoyed a soil dusting exercise before resuming browsing. Naseku was quite comfortable and one would think she has been at Ithumba for several years unlike Kauro who browsed close to the keepers. Sometimes Naseku would take control of the group and steer them in whichever direction she wanted to go. In the evening, the junior Ex Orphans escorted the juniors back to the stockade and left to an undisclosed location soon when the orphans were locked into their stockades.

Kilabasi playing with Orwa

Kilaguni and Kilabasi

Vuria and Kainuk playing against the rocks

January 3rd

Kasigau was still waiting at the entrance when the orphans were let out in the morning. Boromoko and Sirimon were the first to come out and meet with Kasigau where they exchanged morning greetings by entwining their trunks. Lemoyian engaged Bomani in a morning warm up pushing exercise. Lemoyian, who is fond of pushing games, quit playing with Bomani then moved to play with Kithaka as Bomani walked to scratch on a nearby rock. At the browsing field, Bomani settled to browse with Teleki while Lemoyian had a pushing game with Boromoko. Shortly before mud bath time, Kithaka played with Barsilinga while Olsekki engaged Enkikwe in a pushing game. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by Kasigau and a junior wild bull. Naseku, Lemoyian, Narok, Kasigau, Boromoko, Siangiki, Bongo, Tusuja and Garzi participated fully in the wallowing exercise. Orwa and the wild bull just stood in the water as Orwa put his trunk into the wild elephant’s mouth from time to time. After mud bath, the orphans briefly performed a soil dusting exercise on their way back to the browsing field. Lemoyian took an advantage of Narok lying down and came over to climb on her. In the afternoon, Kasigau and the wild elephant joined the orphans to browse again. Vuria spent some time learning new pushing tactics from the wild elephant.

Bomani and Lemoyian in a warm up exercise

Wild Bull with Kasigau

Orwa with a wild elephant

January 4th

Soon after leaving the stockade, Lemoyian and Bongo entwined their trunks in morning greetings. Narok led the way to the browsing field where Sokotei and Enkikwe opened up their day activities by engaging one another in a pushing game. Enkikwe surrendered making Sokotei look elsewhere for a playmate. Sokotei landed on Lemoyian who is always ready to engage in a pushing game but Sokotei ended up losing the game. Garzi invited Bomani to a pushing game but Bomani declined for fear of hurting himself where the skin has broken on the right hand side where his tusk will finally come out. Garzi then decided to have fun by rolling on the ground. At mud bath time Siangiki, Kithaka, Laragai, Barsilinga, Olsekki, Enkikwe, Bongo and Orwa got into the water and started wallowing. Bongo and Orwa had fun in the water as the two engaged each other in a pushing game. Enkikwe got excited when he left the mud bath and started charging around at something only he saw as nothing was spotted nearby. Barsilinga and Laragai had strength testing exercise while Bongo and Vuria had a brief pushing game as the rest of the group participated in a soil dusting exercise. In the afternoon, the sun was hot and therefore the orphans relaxed under a tree for awhile until it became cooler and they resumed browsing.

Garzi tries to play with Bomani

Garzi trying to have fun on his own on the ground

Enkikwe in a charging mood

January 5th

Mutara, Kanjoro, Turkwel, Kainuk, Sities, Suguta and Kasigau reported to the stockade compound early before dawn. The junior Ex Orphans joined the juniors soon after they were let out. Vuria challenged Kainuk, a game that saw Kainuk emerge as the winner. Thereafter, Vuria moved to play with Sities but unfortunately also lost that game. Orwa engaged Mutara in a strength testing exercise while Teleki played with Kanjoro. Later, Barsilinga engaged Sities to pushing game that only lasted for few seconds when Sities gave him a knockout push in the first round. Oltaiyoni settled to feed close to Roi as Kanjoro fed with Enkikwe while Kasigau browsed with Tusuja. Turkwel had a brief chat with Naseku while Vuria spent some time in a soil dusting exercise. At mud bath time, the temperature was moderate and only Bongo, Boromoko, Lemoyian, Siangiki and Kanjoro participated in wallowing. The rest opted for red soil dusting. Lemoyian and Boromoko started their pushing game in the water and later transferred it to the dry land. Lemoyian attempted to climb on Boromoko, which Boromoko resisted by all means. In the afternoon, Boromoko engaged Suguta in a pushing game that was aimed at acquiring new pushing tactics that he would be able to use to tackle his fellow boys.

Orwa plays with Mutara

Teleki browsing with Kanjoro

Turkwel smelling at Naseku

January 8th

The sky was partly covered by clouds when the orphans came out this morning. Narok led the way straight to the browsing field where the juniors were joined by Chaimu, Makireti, Kilabasi and Kilaguni. Vuria engaged Kilaguni in a pushing game while Orwa played with Kilabasi. Shortly later, Orwa quit playing with Kilabasi and walked to play with Kilaguni. Teleki briefly played with Kauro but Kauro surrendered in less than a minute as he is still small. This paved the way for Teleki to engage Makireti in a strength testing exercise which Teleki lost. Barsilinga held a brief meeting with Chaimu before moving to play with Bongo. At mud bath it was very hot so all the orphans went for a mud bath. Lemoyian took advantage of riding on those who lay down in the water as Barsilinga engaged Kilaguni in a light pushing game while still in water. After the orphans quit mud bathing, Barsilinga engaged Bomani in a pushing game while Teleki tackled Bongo. In the afternoon, Narok played with Lemoyian while Sokotei took some time off from feeding to perform a soil dusting exercise.

Narok leading Laragai browsing

Kilabasi in the bush

Chaimu browsing

January 9th

Shukuru left the stockade with a branch in her mouth that she continued to feed on while her friends settled for lucerne. Lemoyian and Sokotei started their day by engaging each other in a strength testing exercise while Laragai had a lone game of rolling on the ground. The two boy’s game ended when Lemoyian attempted to climb on Sokotei. At around nine o'clock in the morning, the orphans were joined by Makireti, Chaimu, Kilaguni and Kilabasi. An hour later, the Ex Orphans left with Orwa only to reappear at mud bath later at around eleven o'clock in the morning. On the way to the mud bath, a troop of chattering baboons scared Oltaiyoni, Naseku and Roi. The three ran deep into the bush but came back when the keepers called them. Soon after getting their milk, the orphans had their mud bath that ended when Lemoyian raised a false alarm. The orphans competed between who would leave first as they hurried out of the mud bath and disappeared back into the bushes. Makireti and her group settled to feed with the orphans up to five o'clock in the evening when they escorted the orphans back to the stockade.

Orwa and Lemoyian eating lucerne

Lemoyian rides on Sokotei

Orwa, Chaimu, Makireti, Kilabasi and Kilaguni

January 10th

It was a chilly morning with mist covering the Ithumba Hill. The orphans settled for lucerne soon after leaving the stockade where they were joined by Mutara, Suguta, Sities, Kanjoro, Kainuk and Turkwel. Shukuru, Naseku and Sirimon spent some time scratching on the nearby rocks. At the browsing field Olsekki, Bongo and Lemoyian settled to feed together while Roi, Boromoko and Bomani settled for soil dusting. Kithaka and Garzi had a misunderstanding that they ended up resolving through a pushing game. Shortly later, Garzi decided to have his lone game of rolling on the ground as Bongo went into a pushing game with Barsilinga. Shortly before mud bath time, the orphans were joined by Makireti, Kilabasi, Chaimu, Kasigau and Kilaguni. Mutara and the rest of her group disappeared into the Park when Makireti and her group joined the orphans. At mud bath time, the orphans had their milk then briefly participated in wallowing before returning back to the browsing field. Orwa engaged Kilaguni in a pushing game that didn't last for long as Barsilinga was standing close by waiting to have a pushing game with Kilaguni. Bongo spent some time scratching his buttocks against a nearby tree. In the evening, the orphans passed by mud bath to have an evening cool off while Galana, Gawa, Lualeni, Naserian, Ithumbah, Madiba, Sidai, Taita, Buchuma, Meibai, Ololoo and four wild elephants passed by the stockade compound where they briefly had water then disappeared again.

Shukuru scratching

Kamok browsing

Makireti, Kasigau and Kilabasi arriving

January 11th

The sky was crystal clear as the orphans left the stockade and settled for lucerne. It’s now evident that the dry season is now with us and has started earlier than usual. The orphans passed by the water trough and armed themselves with enough water that would take them through the entire morning. After arriving in the bush Sokotei and Lemoyian opened their day activities with a pushing game that ended when Bomani intervened by pushing the two boys away. The orphans had a quiet morning as they browsed calmly without any major observation. At mud bath time, the temperature was high and this prompted the orphans to fully participate in the wallowing exercise. Only Orwa boycotted the bath. On the way back to the browsing field Enkikwe engaged Lemoyian in a pushing game as Kithaka played with Bongo. In the afternoon, the orphans were joined by Makireti, Kasigau and Kilabasi. Kilabasi settled to feed with Boromoko as Orwa engaged Kasigau in a strength testing exercise. In the evening, Makireti and her group escorted the juniors back to the stockade. Shortly before dark, wild elephants, one by one started streaming into the stockade heading to the water trough; evidence of water holes they were depending on are either dry or drying up sooner than expected.

Lemoyian playing with Sokotei

Kithaka playing with Bongo

Kilabasi and Boromoko browsing

January 12th

Chaimu, Kilaguni, Makireti, Kilabasi and Kasigau were relaxing outside the stockade when the orphans were let out. Lucerne was served and the five Ex Orphans joined the orphans in feeding. Kasigau tried to attract the small boys to a game when he lay down but no one was interested in his game apart from Orwa, who passed by and briefly entwined his trunk with Kasigau then moved away. The orphans passed by the water trough and armed themselves with enough water that would take them through the entire morning. Out in the bush Barsilinga settled to feed with Kamok while Naseku went down on her knees to cut a shrub that she was unable to pull using her trunk. The orphans were then joined by Taita, Lualeni and two wild bulls that escorted them to the mud bath. At mud bath, the orphans wallowed briefly then headed back to browsing field leaving Lualeni, Taita and the two wild bulls still mud bathing. The afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated on browsing without any major observation.

Kasigau playing and lying down

Kasigau playing with Orwa

Kamok feeding with Barsilinga

January 13th

Galana, who appears to be in a process of forming her own herd of sorts, reported to the stockade compound early in the morning. The Ex Orphans joined the juniors for lucerne once the juniors were let out. Gawa ran into trouble with Roi when she tried to take lucerne from Roi's mouth. Roi pushed her away lightly as if telling her that there was so much on the ground and she should learn to pick it up for herself. Turkwel had a light pushing game with Orwa while Kithaka engaged Lemoyian in a light strength testing exercise. Later, Orwa tackled Kainuk but ended up losing the game to him. In the browsing field Boromoko tried to learn some pushing tactics from Ololoo by engaging him in a strength testing exercise. An hour later, the Ex Orphans left only to show up again at mud bath. Wendi with a few members of the Ex Orphan group also showed up with four wild bulls chasing Lualeni, who appears to be in season. The sun was hot and both the dependent orphans and the Ex Orphans participated in wallowing. Orwa had a brief chat with Wiva before proceeding to play with Ishanga. After mud bath, the orphans headed to feed on the western side of Ithumba Hill while the Ex Orphans headed towards Imenti. In the evening, the orphans passed by the mud bath where they had an evening cooling off before returning back to the stockade for the night.

Galana with her baby Gawa

Roi sniffs at baby Gawa

Sities with Gawa

January 14th

The Ex Orphans consisting of Wendi, Wiva, Galana, Gawa Loijuk, Lualeni and her boyfriend Taita, as well as Lenana, Chyulu, Zurura Meibai, Sidai, Makena, Naserian, Ithumbah, Ololoo and Tomboi were at the stockade compound early in the morning. Babies Gawa and Wiva were in a playful mood and as soon as the orphans were let out, Wiva engaged Roi in a pushing game. She later played with Olsekki Laragai, Bomani and Narok. Orwa played with Ololoo for a while and later Orwa and Oltaiyoni tried to leave with the Ex Orphans. The keepers intervened and took them back to join their friends. Out in the bush Kithaka played with Barsilinga as Vuria soil dusted. At mud bath time, the sun was really hot and all the orphans participated in wallowing. Two Egyptian geese also attended mud bath and this brought a standoff between them and Bongo. The geese stood their ground by not moving away which made Bongo surrender his mission of chasing them away and continue his business of wallowing. After mud bath Lemoyian participated in a soil dusting exercise where he was joined by Barsilinga. Orwa and Shukuru scratched against nearby trees. Later Lemoyian and Boromoko relaxed under a tree that had good shade but kept themselves busy with a pushing game, while enjoying the cool shade. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse north of the mud bath. In the evening they passed by mud bath again where they participated in an evening cooling off.

Wildborn babies Gawa and Wiva with the Ex Orphans

Wiva playing with Narok

Wiva with Ex Orphan Makena

January 16th

This morning when the orphans came out, Vuria went straight to the scratching rock and started scratching with Lemoiyan coming over to do the same thing. Sokotei was also scratching his bottom. The new arrivals liked the lucerne very much, but Shukuru went ahead to browse on fresh grass instead. After they had enough lucerne, all the orphans walked out into the Park to browse. In the bush Shukuru and Vuria were scooping and tossing chunks of soil in the air and some on their backs. The new elephants Oltaiyoni, Kamok, Roi, Tusuja, Naseku and Kauro were browsing together and staying around the keepers. Boromoko then led the group to mudbath. Again at mud bath it was very hot but not all the orphans went into the mud hole. The majority of them did though and then Wendi's group came in with Galana, Gawa and Wiva among them. Wiva started playing in the mudhole but was scared of the orphans and walked out. Gawa was busy breastfeeding from her mother Galana. Wiva started trying to play with Gawa who greeted Wiva before going back to sucking from her mother. The dependent group then walked back to the bush to browse. Out in the bush again Orwa, Naseku and Barsilinga were playing as they rolled on the ground. Shukuru on the other side was standing in the shade. It was very hot and later the group walked back to the mudbath to cool down. Laragai was chasing Olsekki towards the mudbath to play in the mud. The orphans played vigorously and later a few Ex Orphans came to join them. The dependent orphans walked away from the mudbath and made their way back home.

Narok scratching

Vuria scratching in the morning

Shukuru soil dusting

January 17th

The elephants came out of their stockades this morning after their milk to eat some lucerne. Shukuru finished her share of two bottles of milk and joined the others. Kithaka distanced himself from others after he was knocked by Orwa and chased away. Kamok and her new group were really active and interacted with other orphans like Olsekki, Sokotei, Boromoko, Siangiki, Sirimon and Enkikwe. Makireti's group came in and joined them for a bit. After a while, they headed to the bush. In the bush all the orphans were all busy browsing; Roi and Naseku browsed together and scooped chucks of soil to throw in the air, scratching their trunks on the tree stumps in the bush. Oltaiyoni and Kamok were also browsing together. Enkikwe was sharpening his tusks on some rocks nearby. Roi was scratching on Kauro before they headed to the mudbath. At mudbath it was not very hot and some of the elephants like Naseku, Bongo, Lemoiyan and Roi played vigorously in the mud; Shukuru joined them for a short time and then got out. Wendi's group came in with Tomboi joining them. Garzi started playing and kissing Challa the Ex Orphan with his trunk outside the mud hole. The baby Wiva became really active and was playing with some of our orphans. Naseku came out of the mud hole and started rolling on the ground playing. Only Tomboi was left in the mudbath enjoying and playing in the mud. Garzi and Ishanga the Ex Orphan started play fighting. Wiva was running here and there accompanied by Lenana the body guard and Narok the dependant orphan. She was very jovial and playful and with the keepers as well! She was later surrounded by the Ex Orphans with Lenana among them and they all walked away when the orphans started to return to the bush as well. Back in the bush they were all active and busy browsing despite the hot sun. Shukuru was seen actively browsing and having a dust bath as well so she is feeling much better. The group later headed back to the mudbath to cool themselves down. They all played in the mud with Kamok's group feeling settled and interacting with the other orphans in the mud hole. Teleki started dust bathing, and later the group made their way heading home in the evening.

Kasigau and Kauro

Garzi speaking with Challa

Ishanga playing with Garzi

January 18th

It was a bright morning with a clear sky when the orphans strolled nonchalantly out from their stockades. Soon when they settled for lucerne, the orphans were joined by Mutara and her group. Garzi and Kanjoro had a brief strength testing exercise as Orwa and Tusuja settled for soil dusting. Mutara and her group escorted the juniors to the browsing field where Barsilinga and Suguta had a light pushing game. Two hours later, Mutara’s herd parted ways with the juniors and left to an undisclosed location. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in Kone area. The sun was really hot prompting the orphans to converge under a tree until the temperature dropped to a more favourable level. The orphans concentrated only on browsing and weren’t very active for the rest of the day.

Garzi plays with Kanjoro

Suguta plays with Barsilinga

Sokotei browsing

January 19th

Soon after leaving the stockade, the orphans were joined by Wendi, her baby Wiva, Challa, Nasalot, Meibai, Ololoo, Sidai, Makireti three wild elephants and Kilabasi. Narok shared her lucerne with Wiva as Ololoo engaged Orwa in a pushing game that ended when Ololoo attempted to ride on Orwa. After quitting the game, Orwa moved to play with Kilabasi while Sokotei tackled Ololoo. An hour later, the Ex Orphans parted ways with the juniors. The area is now drying out fast and the orphans didn't waste any time which would amount to them arriving back home without getting enough food. Roi, Naseku and Sirimon were the first ones to go for their midday milk feeds. After Roi and Naseku had enough of wallowing in the mud bath after their milk, the two girls headed for soil dusting. They were later joined by their friends before wandering back to the browsing field. Barsilinga settled to feed with Shukuru and later moved to feed with Laragai. Later in the evening the orphans crossed the Kalovoto River and were lucky that there was still some water left in small pools. The orphans opted to cool off there before returning back to the browsing field.

Meibai, Sidai and Nasalot

Ololoo playing with Sokotei

Enkikwe browsing

January 21st

The sky was partly covered by clouds when the orphans were let out. Kilaguni, who had reported at the stockade compound early before dawn, joined the orphans for lucerne. Shortly later, Mutara and her group showed up and joined the juniors for lucerne. Tomboi emerged from the western side of stockade and also joined in feasting on the lucerne. On their way to the browsing field, Kanjoro engaged Garzi to a pushing game while Kilaguni had strength testing exercise with Orwa. At the browsing field, Barsilinga briefly engaged Garzi in a pushing game that ended in a draw while Enkikwe played with Olsekki. Naseku came across a nice tree that she used to scratch the left side of her belly on. At mud bath time, Shukuru emerged as the star of the day as she rolled and splashed water with her trunk while sitting in water. Sirimon got a free ride from Roi and later Sirimon climbed on Olsekki. After mud bath, Lemoyian engaged Kithaka in a pushing game that ended soon when Kithaka surrendered. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in Imenti area. Orwa and Olsekki took a break from feeding and relaxed under a tree. Laragai and Kithaka then did the same. In the afternoon the sun was still hot prompting the orphans to pass by mud bath for an evening cool off. Shortly after five o'clock in the evening, wild elephants in the company of a few Ex Orphans started trickling into the stockade to drink from the water trough. Members of the Ex Orphans present included Yatta, Yetu, Mulika, Mwende, Lualeni, Orok, Buchuma, Makena, Nasalot and Ololoo. Soon a total of fifty elephants were at the stockade drinking water and as soon as they had enough, the elephants left back into the Park.

Kilaguni and Tomboi

Enkikwe playing with Olsekki

Sirimon climbing on Roi

January 25th

The orphans had a quiet and peaceful morning. Half an hour after the orphans had settled for the lucerne, Yatta and Mulika’s groups showed up. The orphans had almost finished the lucerne and to avoid being bullied by some of the Ex Orphans, the juniors left for browsing. Orwa settled to browse with Sirimon while Boromoko came across a fallen tree that he used to scratch his belly on. The sun was really hot and at one time the juniors converged under a tree to hide from the scorching sun. At mud bath time, all the orphans participated fully in the wallowing exercise. Bongo, the water boy, was the last one to quit the mud bath. Shortly later, Teleki engaged Lemoyian in a pushing game that ended quickly when Lemoyian surrendered. Narok and Olsekki spent some time scratching against the nearby trees while Garzi settled to play with Kithaka. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse on the western side of the Ithumba Hill and in the evening they passed by mud bath to cool off. Only Bomani boycotted the wallowing exercise.

Ex Oprhan Kinna with Laragai

Makena chats with Gawa

Orwa and Boromoko

January 26th

Shortly after the orphans settled for lucerne in the morning, Buchuma emerged from west and Tomboi emerged from east and the two Ex Orphans joined the juniors in feeding of lucerne. Buchuma had a brief chat with Orwa as Laragai escorted Tomboi to the water trough where they both drank water together. Garzi and Boromoko spent some time scratching on the nearby rocks. An hour after the orphans had left for browsing, the Ex Orphans reported for water at the stockade. The orphans settled to browse in Kanziku area and it was all quiet up to mud bath time when Naseku led the first group to the mud bath. The juniors were again joined by Buchuma and Tomboi. Lemoyian joined Tomboi at the water trough in drinking water. Later, Lemoyian headed for soil dusting as his friends returned back to the browsing field. Lemoyian followed them later when he felt that he had done enough soil dusting. In the afternoon, Teleki and Orwa took a break from feeding to relax under a tree as they felt the temperature really was too much. In the evening the temperature was still high prompting the orphans to pass by the mud bath for an evening cool off.

Buchuma with the juniors

Tomboi and Laragai drinking water

Naseku leading

January 29th

This morning was quiet as Garzi, Kauro and Barsilinga took some time off from feeding to scratch on the nearby rocks. Later Kauro moved to Kamok and he tried to scratch his ear against her body. Half an hour later the Ex Orphans reported to the stockades and joined the orphans to feast on lucerne. Gawa was very active and for some time engaged Roi and later Bomani in a light pushing game. Garzi settled to play with Ithumbah who was also with the Ex Orphan group. Orwa, who was standing close by, joined Garzi in driving Ithumbah away. Later Garzi tried his hand with Ex Orphan bull Taita but he couldn't withstand Taita’s strength and so surrendered. The orphans parted ways with their seniors and settled to feed in the Kanziku area. The orphans browsed calmly throughout the day without any major observation. Siangiki teamed up with Sirimon to browse and in the afternoon the orphans settled to browse in Kone area. The sun was hot and this prompted the orphans to take a break from feeding to relax under trees with good shade. They only resumed browsing when the temperature dropped to a more favourable level.

Barsilinga scratching

Kauro scratching on Kamok

Garzi playing with Ithumbah

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