Keepers' Diaries, July 2007

Voi Reintegration Unit

Every female elephant aspires to the position of Matriarchal Leadership in charge of a herd, and our orphans are no exception. However, things become confusing, with ex Matriarchs now living wild with youngsters taken to form their wild unit, (Emily), her replacement, (Natumi), also now independent of the Keepers, with some of the youngsters taken from the dependent group to form her unit, but still more closely attached to the Junior set (Thoma) who are still enclosed at night for their own safety. Emily’s group returned after a month-long absence, often joining up with Natumi and her satellites, and in so doing usurping Natumi’s Matriarchal position. Edie, who was previously part of Natumi’s group, returned to assume leadership of the dependent youngsters amongst whom Thoma is the oldest female. All this mingling has caused a mixture of joy at each reunion, but also underlying dissention amongst the various Matriarchs. All are overjoyed to meet up again, but then Natumi resents having to step down in rank whenever Emily is present. Similarly, Edie is not overly excited whenever Natumi turns up to escort the youngsters, and Thoma would rather be in charge of them, but has to defer to Edie! Natumi has frequently been in contact with the dependent youngsters this month. With so much interaction between the various independent and dependent groups, some of the orphans who were previously with Natumi, seem to have attached themselves to Emily, leaving Natumi with just three boys, Lolokwe, Mukwaju and Irima. Laikipia, was escorted off to join Emily by Uaso who seems to have teamed up with Mukwaju and Lolokwe, often coming with one of both of them without the others to join the youngsters at their noon mudbath. Then on the 2nd Mukwaju came to the Stockades on his own to escort Edie back to Natumi’s group who were on Mazinga Hill, but after a while Edie chose to return on her own to spend the rest of the night with the youngsters in the Stockade. Emily’s group and that of Natumi were together on the 4th when they turned up in the evening, and did the rounds of the Stockades, greeting all the youngsters who were already enclosed, touching them through the bars and rumbling loving greetings. On the 9th Lolokwe came to join the youngsters’ mudbath, and left with Uaso and the following day the two bulls came to drink at the Stockades together, and left together. Emily’s group and that of Natumi have spent days all together, but then separated again meeting up with Thoma’s group at the mudbath, when the wild group of Eleanor’s friend, Catherine and her family, also came to join them, having been with Emily’s group earlier on. No doubt, when one of the wild adult Matriarchs, (such as Catherine or Naomi), are with the ex orphans, both Emily and Natumi have to concede their Matriarchal status.