Ithumba Reintegration Unit

July 2017

Daily updates

July 2017

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July 1st

It was a quiet morning as the orphans strolled out from their stockades. Led by Laragai, the orphans headed east of the stockade and settled to browse in the lower Kalovoto area. At around ten o’clock in the morning the orphans were joined by Orwa, Narok, Vuria and Bomani. Garzi and Vuria greeted each other by entwining trunks whilst Bomani fed close to Barsilinga. On the way to the mud bath the orphans were escorted by Ex Orphan Buchuma. Buchuma headed straight to the wallow while the babies had their milk. After finishing their bottles Tusuja and Siangiki joined Buchuma to wallow in the mud. Sokotei and Enkikwe kept themselves busy in a strength testing exercise which concluded in a draw. In the afternoon the orphans settled down and browsed in the Kanziku area, Oltaiyoni and Naseku took a break from feeding, relaxing under a tree. In the evening, the first group was led back by Naseku and the second group by Ukame.

Orwa joining the orphans

Buchuma with the orphans

Naseku with Oltaiyoni

July 2nd

Soon after leaving the stockade in the morning, the orphans were joined by Orwa, Narok, Bomani, Vuria and those in Mutara’s group. Barsilinga started the days activities by engaging Orwa in a pushing game.. At the browsing field Narok fed with Roi while Boromoko fed with Enkikwe. Barsilinga took a break from feeding and started to participate in soil dusting while Enkikwe and Sirimon were pushing each other back and forth. Naseku and Galla went to a nearby tree to have a good scratch. At the mud bath the orphans were joined by Half Trunk who was in the company of four other wild elephants. Later on Mutara and her group arrived. Barsilinga and Mutara engaged in a pushing game whilst Garzi tested his strength against Kanjoro. Later in the afternoon the orphans settled down to browse in the Kanziku area again. In the evening the Ex Orphans and wild elephants, up to eighty in number, came to the stockade water troughs to drink together before returning to the park.

Narok feeds with Roi

Mutara's herd arriving for a mud bath

Kanjoro playing with Garzi

July 6th

The juniors were joined by Olare’s group soon after they left the stockade. Shortly later two bulls with Orwa, Bomani, Vuria and Narok checked in at the stockade compound. The two wild bulls briefly passed by where the herd was feeding on lucerne; they picked up what they considered to be their share then went back into the Park. Tusuja settled to share lucerne with Chemi Chemi as Kalama spent some time playing with Garzi. Later Chemi Chemi had a strength testing exercise with Orwa. An hour later, Olare’s group parted ways with the juniors. At the browsing field, Oltaiyoni and Galla took a break from feeding to scratch their ears against the same tree. Ukame teamed up with Siangiki to browse while Lemoyian and Enkikwe had a brief strength testing exercise that ended in a draw. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by Ex Orphan bulls Tomboi and Buchuma and Olare’s group. Only the Ex Orphans and Shukuru decided to wallow. Barsilinga tested his strength against Kalama but ended up losing miserably. Garzi played with Chemi Chemi and when he lost the game hewent to tackle Kalama. Their game went on for quite some time until Garzi surrendered. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse along the banks of the upper Kalovo to River. Later in the day, Naseku, Kamok, Galla and Sokotei took a break from feeding to participate in a soil dusting exercise.

Tomboi and Buchuma

Shukuru splashing water

Kalama and Barsilinga play

July 7th

Soon after leaving the stockade, the orphans were joined by Mutara and her group and settled to feed on lucerne together. Kainuk and Kanjoro were so happy and relaxed that they crossed their back legs in a show of satisfaction. Soon after sharing the lucerne, Mutara and her group headed east of the stockade while the orphans headed west and settled to browse in the Kanziku area. Barsilinga and Sirimon had a moment of scratching on rocks that they came across in the bush as the rest of the herd concentrated on browsing. Tomboi, Orwa, Narok, Bomani and Vuria arrived early at mud bath and relaxed under a tree as they waited for the juniors. When the juniors arrived at mud bath, Narok rushed to welcome them. Shortly later Makireti, Kilabasi, Kasigau and Kilaguni checked in and headed straight to join Tomboi, Shukuru, Boromoko, Sirimon, Oltaiyoni and Siangiki who were wallowing. Soon after mud bath, Tomboi headed for soil dusting while Kilaguni and Kasigau spent some time in a strength testing exercise. Shortly after the orphans returned back to the browsing field, eight wild elephants checked in and joined Tomboi, who had been left behind. Whilst browsing, Enkikwe spent some time playing with Sirimon while Lemoyian tackled Sokotei in a game that ended in a draw. Later in the day, Yatta and her group reported for water at the stockade and left soon after drinking enough water.

Barsilinga scratching bottom

Sirimon finds a scratching post

Kilaguni engages Kasigau

July 9th

Olare and Narok’s groups spent the night just outside the stockade and joined the juniors soon after they were let out. After sharing some lucerne together, Garzi tackled Kalama in a strength testing exercise; a game that ended prematurely when Kibo came over and separated them. Two hours later, the Ex Orphan group parted ways with the juniors. Tusuja spent sometime comfortably feeding while leaning against a tree while Oltaiyoni took some time off to soil dust. At mud bath time the orphans were once again joined by Olare and Narok’s groups, this time accompanied by a wild female with her two calves. Later Zurura, in the company of two wild boys, checked in and joined the juniors to mud bathe. Lemoyian, while still in the water, spent most of his time trying to climb on Boromoko but when they came out Boromoko decided to tackle Lemoyian in a pushing game. Kamok and Tusuja settled for soil dusting as Orwa played with Kalama. Chemi Chemi played with Kitirua. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse along the cool upper Kalovoto River and in the evening, Yatta and her group showed up at the stockade and left shortly after taking enough water.

Chemi Chemi browsing

Oltaiyoni dusting

Garzi plays with Kalama

July 10th

Soon after leaving the stockade, the orphans were joined by Yatta, Nasalot, Yetu, Teleki, Orwa, Bomani, Vuria and Narok. The Ex Orphans shared lucerne with the orphans and left shortly later. The dependent orphans, led by Shukuru, headed to Kone area where they settled to browse. It was a clear-sky day with a hot sun but the orphans went on with their browsing activities undeterred. Wanjala settled to feed with Roi while Ukame and Galla teamed up with Shukuru. Enkikwe and Sirimon had a brief strength testing exercise that ended soon when Garzi intervened by pushing both of them away. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by Tomboi, Buchuma and six wild bulls. Soon after mud bath, Lemoyian spent some time playing with Boromoko while Shukuru, Naseku and Wanjala settled for soil dusting. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse at the western side of the Ithumba Hill. In the evening the temperature was still high and the orphans passed by mud bath againto cool off on their way back to the stockade.

Shukuru dusting

Afternoon wallow

Wild elephants arrive at the stockade for water

July 11th

All the Ex Orphans were at the stockade compound waiting to be fed lucerne when the juniors were let out. There was a lot of pushing around when the lucerne was being distributed. The juniors couldn't endure the pushing and so decided to walk out to the bush and start browsing, leaving the Ex Orphans at the stockade compound. In the browsing field, the orphans were joined by Bongo, Teleki, Orwa, Ololoo, Bomani, Narok and Vuria. Garzi played with Ololoo which did not last long and he lost. Wanjala settled to browse close to Olsekki as Siangiki settled to browse with Enkikwe. At mud bath time, the weather was chilly and the orphans were joined by Olare’s group and fifteen wild elephants. It appears that now most of the water holes are drying slowly and wild elephants are coming back to this area. Following the chilly weather none of the orphans dared to step into the water hole. Sokotei and Lemoyian kept themselves busy by having a strength testing exercise, a game that attracted Boromoko who came to join them but assisted Sokotei in driving Lemoyian away. Shukuru challenged Barsilinga to a pushing game but Barsilinga turned away due to the respect he has for Shukuru. Garzi tackled Kalama in a pushing game that ended in a draw, with Barsilinga being the referee. When the game came to an end, Barsilinga coaxed Kalama into have a pushing game with him as the rest of the orphans joined a wild bull to drink water. In the afternoon the orphans settled to browse in Kanziku area. In the evening Barsilinga and Kithaka engaged each other in a pushing game that ended in a draw.

Baby Gawa playing

Baby Wiva nursing

Olsekki and Wanjala

July 12th

Half an hour after leaving the stockade, the orphans were joined for lucerne by Narok, Bomani, Vuria and Orwa. Kamok took her share of lucerne and moved a few metres away from where she enjoyed scratching on a rock while munching on her lucerne. Barsilinga requested Bomani for a pushing game but Bomani declined since he wanted to have lucerne before it was finished. Later, Bomani had a brief strength testing exercise with Laragai on the way out to the bush. The juniors were joined by Makireti, a wild orphan and Kilabasi. Olsekki walked to Makireti and settled to feed with her while Galla stuck with Ukame to feed. Olare and her group joined the juniors on the way to the mud bath. Olare had a brief soil dusting exercise as Chemi Chemi settled scores with Kitirua through a pushing game while Kandecha played with Naisula. At noon the orphans joined Galana, baby Gawa, Nasalot, Rapsu, Ololoo, Loijuk, Orok, Buchuma and several wild elephants including wild bull Hatari, who had reported for water and to wallow in the mud bath. Wanjala spent some time defending himself against Gawa, who kept charging and threatening to push him. When Wanjala got fed up with Gawa's behaviour he prepared to knock her down, but Loijuk was standing close by and read Wanjala's mood and stepped forward to whisk Gawa away. Garzi challenged Ololoo but ended up losing the game. In the afternoon the orphans settled to browse in upper Kalovoto area where Olsekki spent some time soil dusting before later engaging Sirimon to a strength testing game.

Kamok finds a rock to scratch against

Laragai plays with Bomani

Orok plays with a wild elephant in the water

July 16th

Narok, Orwa, Bomani, Bongo and Vuria received the juniors outside of the stockade as soon as the gates were opened. Orwa lay down in an attempt to woo the juniors to play on him. Siangiki, Boromoko and Oltaiyoni surrounded him but just stood and watched Orwa instead of playing. When Orwa saw that no one was interested in his game, he simply stood up and continued to feed on the lucerne. On the way to the browsing field, Lemoyian engaged Boromoko in a strength testing exercise after losing another game to Sirimon. Their game went on for quite some time until Lemoyian surrendered. At the browsing field, it wasreally hot but this did not deter the elephants from carryingon with their feeding activities. Olare and her group showed up early at the mud bath and by the time the orphans checked in, Olare’s group had already finished wallowing. In the afternoon, the orphans continued browsing and in the evening Makireti, Kilabasi and Kasigau showed up with twenty-five wild elephants for water at the stockade water troughs. When they had had enough, the group left and carried on their way. The number of wild elephants coming to the stockade water troughs in the evenings is slowly increasing and this is an indication that water at most water holes is now in the process of drying up.

Sirimon and Lemoyian

Roi in a playful mood

Garzi engaging Chemi Chemi

July 17th

It was a quiet morning, when the juniors left the stockade and settled for lucerne. They were joined by Narok, Bomani, Vuria, Orwa and Bongo who had spent the night just outside the stockade. After sharing lucerne with the juniors, Narok led the herd toKone area where they browsed calmly throughout the morning without any major activities. At mud bath today, a total of one hundred and twenty elephants attended. The mud bath took more two hours as the elephants kept on coming and leaving whenever they had enough of wallowing and drinking. Noticeable in the group was Half Trunk, and babies Kama, Wiva and Gawa. Enkikwe tackled Murka in an effort to acquire new pushing tactics that he would use to tackle the other bulls in the herd. Shortly later the orphans participated in a soil dusting exercise before returning back to the browsing field. The orphans settledto browse on the western slopes of the Ithumba Hill up to four o'clock in the afternoon when Narok rumbled informing the juniors that it was time to headback slowly. The orphans passed by mud bath for an evening cool off where Kithaka spent some time climbing on Kamok whilst she was still in the water. Shortly before dark, Mutara’s group in the company of a wild herd reported for water at the stockade water troughs and left soon after they had had enough.

Naseku scratching

Elephants at the mud bath

Enkikwe playing with Murka

July 23rd

The orphans left the stockade early as usual and walked down to the water trough where they joined four bulls that were drinking. Lemoyian was in a playful mood and thus started his first game with Boromoko. As Siangiki was passing by, Lemoyian stopped playing with Boromoko and attempted to climb on Siangiki. Sokotei, who was close by, brought Lemoyian down which annoyed him. To show his anger, Lemoyian turned to attack Sokotei but their game ended in a draw. Later, Lemoyian tackled Enkikwe, but Enkikwe wasn't ready for a pushing game and walked away leaving Lemoyian pondering over what to do next. In the bush Enkikwe and Olsekki took a break from feeding to participate in a soil dusting exercise while Kamok enjoyed rolling on the ground. At the mud bath, the orphans were joined by the Ex Orphans and forty wild elephants. Half Trunk and Dad were there again. Yatta, Mulika, Mwende, Galana, baby Gawa, Loijuk, Naserian, Lualeni and Ololoo were not in the group. Kama and Wiva spent some time interacting and playing with the orphans. Kama played with Laragai while Wiva played with Boromoko and Roi. Later, the orphans returned back to browsing, leaving the wild elephants and the Ex Orphans still at the mud bath. The orphans settled to browse in the upper Kalovoto area. In the evening, Kalama, Narok, Orwa, Bomani, Vuria and Bongo showed up at the stockade. At dark more wild elephants, Yatta, Mulika, Mwende, Lualeni, Lenana, Meibai and Mutara’s group came for water at the stockade water troughs.

Enkikwe and Lemoyian

Lemoyian rides on Siangiki

Enkikwe and Olsekki dusting

July 25th

A quiet morning today with the orphans walking down from their bedrooms after their breakfast. Bongo the Ex Orphans greeted them peacefully and joined them at the water trough. Naseku was scratching her trunk on the wall. Despite the absence of lucerne, they walked to the lucerne feeding area to check; finding nothing they walked away to the bush for browsing. Out in the Park, they were all busy browsing with Wanjala scooping and tossing chunks of soil in the air and some on his head. Bomani, Orwa and Vuria later joined them in the bush. Everyone was busy to searching of food. Roi later led the way to the mudbath. At mudbath the Ex Orphans and wild elephants all interacted together. Naseku was playing and rolling on the ground with Roi, Galla and Wanjala, enjoying the mud bath. We had Wendi, Galana and Kinna with their babies visiting. Baby Kama was seen enjoying a good scratch on the visitor’s cement seat. We also had big, magnificent, wild elephants playing in the mudbath. Oltayoni was scratching her back right leg after playing in the mudbath. It was so much fun and an enjoyable session for all. Shukuru was scratching on a tree after a long game in the mudbath. The orphans, led by Siangiki, walked back to the bush for browsing with Kinna and Kama leading the Ex Orphans. In the bush, everyone was busy browsing. Kithaka was busy throwing soil chunks in the air and later Kamok led the group back home for their milk again in the evening. Back at the stockade, wild bulls visited in search of water. Narok's and Makireti’s group also came and joined them with Kilaguni and Chaimu. They all looked happy and healthy.

Kalama and Barsilinga at the water trough

Early morning games between Kithaka and Sirimon

Soil dusting time for the Orphans

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