Keepers' Diaries, July 2004
Ithumba Reintegration Unit
The July Diary sees Yatta gradually taking charge of the Ithumba Unit, whereas initially Nasalot and Mulika seemed to share the Matriarchal role. Selengai is quite obviously the favourite of Mulika, permitted to suckle the older elephant’s ears, and overseen closely by Mulika when Taita chose to play a pushing game with her. However, Olmalo as the youngest, is quite obviously adored by all the elephants, but the particular favourite of Nasalot. Napasha, as the oldest boy, has followed in the footsteps of Imenti by adopting the role of “Protector” , cahsing off dikdiks, guineafowl, and a flock of quelea, and standing his ground when the others flee, although Yatta and Nasalot had to deal with the baboon troop that habitually scares the babies. Tomboi is becoming bolder, sometimes leading the group to pasture. He enjoyed chasing two rats, trying to stamp on them. Wendi has been rushing around joyfully, downing shrubs and breaking small branches, and in the process managing to alarm the others. Tomboi and Taita are good friends who enjoy testing their strength in pushing games that occasionally deteriorate into a fight, when Napasha intervenes to separate the warring parties. We also read that Napasha disciplined Tomboi for pushing Olmalo, and Mulika threatened Kinna who shoved Wendi aside when the younger elephant tried to take food from her.
01 July 2004
After the noon mudbath, Yatta led the babies through a path previously used by Imenti in order to rest under a tree. Kinna lay down, whilst all the others surroundered her.
02 July 2004
During the afternoon Selengai spent most of the time suckling Mulika’s ears. Kinna became jealous of this and pushed Selengai away.
03 July 2004
At 8 a.m. a troupe of baboons passed nearby, which scared the orphans who ran to their Keepers for protection.
04 July 2004
On the way to the mudbath Mulika walked side by side with Selengai whilst Nasalot walked with her favourite, Olmalo. At mudbath Tomboi pushed Olmalo and Napasha took revenge by pushing Tomboi.
05 July 2004
Olmalo is very close to the Keepers, and spent most of the day very near them. Selengai and Taita enjoyed a pushing game, whilst Mulika watched closely, standing by in case it deteriorated into a fight.
06 July 2004
Tomboi led the way out into the bush today. On the way, he spotted some guinea-fowl so hesitated but then summonsed courage, trumpeted and went gambolling towards the birds, who took fright and flew away.
07 July 2004
It was too cold for the mudbath today, so the orphans enjoyed a dustbath instead.
08 July 2004
Not far from the Stockade, the Keepers and the orphans came across footprints of about 5 wild elephants. Led by Yatta, the orphans sniffed the footprints, and tested the wind by raising their trunks. Yatta, Kinna and Nasalot gathered close to each other and seemed then to commune silently with each other before moving on.
09 July 2004
The day was hot, so by l0 a.m. the orphans went for shade under a tree. At mudbath, they splashed water on themselves. In the evening Tomboi and Olmalo pushed one another.
10 July 2004
The orphans woke up happy as usual and followed Imenti’s trail with their Keepers. When a squirrel passed near Napasha, he charged it to chase it away. Selengai spent the day browsing near Mulika.
11 July 2004
Taita and Tomboi tested their strength by pushing each other. Napasha then came along and separated them.
12 July 2004
Wendi rushed around joyfully breaking branches which scared the others, causing Tomboi to trumpet. Selengai, Taita and Olmalo ran towards Yatta, but Napasha stood his ground.
13 July 2004
At midday, Napasha heard the tractor, and ran towards the direction of the sound, breaking the vegetation and trumpeting. This scared the others who ran to their Keepers.
14 July 2004
Kinna had a disagreement with Wendi today when Wendi tried to snatch some greens from her. Mulika was not pleased with Kinna’s behaviour towards Wendi and grumbled, pointing her trunk at Kinna as a sign of warning.
15 July 2004
Napasha picked up a stick, and sucked it, indicating that the time was approaching when he should have his milk. Again, the troupe of baboons scared the babies which annoyed Yatta and Nasalot who chased the baboons off.
16 July 2004
The Keepers took the elephants near Ithumba hill, which was a new location for them, so they were a little uneasy. When the wind stirred the trees, Mulika ran to the Keepers for protection and the rest of the group followed.
17 July 2004
Olmalo, who is the youngest, chose to say close to the Keepers today, so Mulika and Nasalot remained close at hand to help if need be. At 11.30 a.m. Kinna, who is very time conscious, led the group to the mudbath.
18 July 2004
During the mudbath, Kinna lay down to play. Napasha, Olmalo and Selengai climbed on her, which made Kinna bellow as she found their weight too much
19 July 2004
The day was cool, so there was no mudbath. Selengai kept on suckling Mulika’s ears.
20 July 2004
Tomboi spotted two rats chasing one another, and joined their game by running in and trying to step on them, but was unsuccessful.
21 July 2004
At mudbath Olmalo decided to rest under a tree, and watch the others take a bath.
22 July 2004
The day was hot, and the orphans felt the heat, continually flapping their ears. Napasha and Olmalo browsed near the Keepers but the others went further afield.
23 July 2004
Napasha decided to isolate himself from the others, and browse away from them on his own. He joined the rest when it was time for the noon milk.
24 July 2004
A flock of birds were drinking at the mudbath when the orphans arrived. Napasha gambolled towards them as they took flight.
25 July 2004
Tomboi and Taita tested their strength by pushing each other. The contest was won by Tomboi when Taita gave up.
26 July 2004
Early in the morning, two dikdiks crossed Napasha’s path, which provoked him to charge and chase them off.