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Today Murit was leading his group down to the mud bath area for their milk feed when he encountered a troop of baboons near the area chasing each other and messing around. He changed direction and tried to chase them out of the way but it didn’t really work as they were not that bothered by him! Godoma backed Murit up with her ears spread wide, and they managed to make their way through the baboons to run down trumpeting to their bottle feed. When the second group of babies comprised of Tamiyoi, Malima and Kuishi came running down to the open area, they got a bit confused of where to go with the baboons in the way, and Tamiyoi and Malima started yelling for help. Their yelling drew the immediate reaction of the new mini matriarch Godoma, who responded by running back out to the babies where she confidently charged through the baboons, sending them running off in all directions, so the youngsters could make their way down for their milk. Lovely caring Godoma happily walked Tamiyoi, Malima and Kuishi down to the mud bath area, still on guard with her ears spread wide.

The orphans were busy all walking out of the stockades and into the forest to begin their normal browsing activities. As they were walking they came across a herd of impala who were also busy browsing there. Upon seeing them Dupotto, Maramoja, Ndotto, Pare, Lasayen, Rapa, Mbegu, Karisa and Ukame quickly turned into the thicket and started charging and trumpeting prompting the other orphans to scamper into the bushes as well, sending the unimposing impala sprinting away in all directions. One of the impalas was unlucky however as it found itself trapped amongst the charging and stamping orphans. It had a moment of confusion within the group but we watched in amazement as it just jumped high clean over Ndotto’s back in a panic to reach the rest of its herd, an action that send Ndotto yell out in fright and the herd went running to the keepers for reassurance, only Mbegu, Dupotto, Godoma and Maramoja remained active as they charged about bush-bashing for several minutes before calm prevailed and they all went back to browsing peacefully and making their way further into the forest. Tamiyoi, Jotto, Malima, Murit and Kuishi all kept themselves very close to the keepers for the rest of the morning though!

Little Musiara woke up looking slightly dull this morning and not as strong as the previous day. He was slightly off his milk as well but his blood was not showing anything too out of the ordinary. We put him on a drip which boosted his energy levels and kept him inside to recover. During public visit today it was really hot which prompted the orphans to compete who could get into the mud bath first to beat the soaring temperatures. Some of the orphans weren’t interested in going into the mud though, like Ngilai. He doesn’t like the mud that much and will always try and find a way of avoiding it. Instead he was charging about after warthogs in the bushes who were also just trying to get to the mud hole. At one point, he got closer to the mud bath to join Jotto, Tamiyoi, Malima and Murit who were busy having a mud and soil bath aided by the keepers, but when he saw the keepers approaching him with the spade he kept running away from them to avoid being covered in mud. He walked far away from the mud bath and watched where the keepers went with the spade to avoid being covered in mud. Kuishi is another baby who always shies away from the mud bath and she just hangs around the edge of the pool, not sure whether to get into it or not. She normally just likes to scratch against those who have just come out of the mud and that’s normally how she likes to mud bathe!

Kelelari is settling in so well and he has come to understand that the herd is not all about dominance or who is the strongest, but about togetherness – a family of young orphans just like him. He has started becoming more friendly with some of the younger ones too who have started to trust him and his big size more. Tagwa, Sana Sana and Kuishi are some of the young ones that have been accompanying him throughout the day. During the public visit today, Tamiyoi, Luggard and Jotto had a very funny time as all three seemed to be in their best playful mood. Most of the babies in the first group of eleven babies that come down for the first feeding just crowded together after their bottles, but Luggard, Tamiyoi and Jotto decided to have some fun after finishing their milk bottles. It was all about mud bathing and soil dusting for them! Luggard will never miss an opportunity to mud bathe but Tamiyoi hardly ever does, even in this very hot weather, so it was very surprising to see her so enthusiastically take to the mud! Jotto went in because his keepers were there and his friends were so enjoying the mud. Kuishi is one baby that doesn’t really enjoy mud baths and she always stands some distance away from the mud. She prefers just to rub herself on the bodies of those that have been in the mud, just to get some protection, rather than go into the mud herself! So she is always a funny patchy colour; the keepers have tried washing her a few times in mud but she just runs away.