July 3rd
The sky was clear as the orphans left the stockade. Suguta and her group had spent the night just outside the gates and joined the juniors for Lucerne. Sities and Vuria took some time to scratch on the nearby rocks and later Vuria led the way to the browsing field while Suguta and her group remained at the stockade compound. The orphans settled to browse at Kanziku area where the new babies tried to form their own group, but Sities kept on following them. At mud bath time Vuria led the first group down to the water hole. Soon after the mud bath, Orwa, Vuria, Garzi and Mutara scratched against the nearby trees then Laragai led the way back to the browsing field. In the evening, Kilaguni came with a wild friend for water at the stockade. Shortly later a herd of eight wild elephants and a small baby also came to drink water from the water trough.
Suguta's group at the stockade
July 9th
Soon after the orphans finished taking their morning milk, the gates opened for them to head into the park. As they were leaving, Teleki pushed Ziwa so hard that Ziwa bellowed, making the keepers have to shout at Teleki to stop such behavior. The orphans settled for Lucerne and soon Kinna, Yatta and Nasalot joined the juniors. Shukuru played with Kamboyo as Tomboi mounted Galana whilst Galana tried to play with Buchuma. After finishing the Lucerne and the games, Mutara led the orphans to the browsing field where everyone browsed peacefully. At mud bath, the orphans were joined by Kilaguni. It was interesting to see Vuria challenge Kilaguni who warned Vuria by pointing his trunk at him. When Kilaguni turned away, Vuria pushed him from behind and then turned and ran away. Kilaguni just looked at Vuria and decided not to take revenge. It was cold today so only Bongo participated in any wallowing. Later Laragai led the group to the slopes of Ithumba hill where they settled to browse. In the evening, Kamboyo who appears to have joined Suguta group, brought them all for water at the stockade. Later six wild bulls with the ex-orphans also came for water at the stockade.
Yatta and Kinna with the orphans
July 14th
16 wild bulls were taking water at the stockade water tough when the orphans left the stockade. The orphans settled for Lucerne and five wild dogs came for water at the stockade water hole. Shukuru and Bomani scratched on the nearby rocks as Bongo pushed Orwa in a competition for Lucerne. Later, Mutara led the way to the browsing field. In the field, Garzi was feeding close to his friends while Orwa and Teleki fed away from the rest. At mud bath time, it was cold and quiet so the orphans just took water before they returned back to the browsing field. In the evening, only Tomboi, Kenze, Lualeni, Kilaguni and Ololoo showed up at the stockade.
July 19th
Soon after the orphans settled for Lucerne, the ex-orphans joined them. There was competition for the Lucerne and at one time, Laragai, who is very smart, decided to go under the wire by crawling on her belly to get to the store where the Lucerne is kept. The keepers shouted at her and she quickly stopped and returned to the herd. After sharing the Lucerne, the group parted ways. The orphans settled to browse at Kone are where the slow Ziwa was feeding leisurely and still looked sleepy. Later during the day 20 wild elephants reported for water. Kilaguni, with his usual problem, reported in the evening and was helped by the keepers and given molasses.
Laragai going under the wire
July 20th
It was a cold morning as the orphans left the stockade. The orphans were joined at the Lucerne feeding time by Madiba and also Kilaguni who had come for his molasses. As the orphans fed on Lucerne, a wild herd of about 15 wild elephants and a small baby reported for water at the stockade, but left as soon as they had their fill. The orphans slowly walked to the now dry bush and there was no activity as the orphans concentrated on browsing. The drought has started early and the drought is starting to become severe. The seriousness of the situation is confirmed by the number of wild elephants returning to the area. Some of them are totally new and we have never seen them before. The elephants are consuming more than 20,000 liters of water per day. We just hope that the rain comes sooner rather than later.
Wild elephants at the stockade water trough