Our Umani grandbabies do not receive milk bottles — they get all the milk they need from their mothers, like any other wild elephant — but they still like to join the dependent herd's daily dash for their bottles. When they see the others start to run, tiny babies Lenny, Zigi, and Sulwe race as if they were all to be bottle-fed. Lenny, who is just as competitive as his mother, Lima Lima, usually emerges the victor.
It was a chilly month in the Kibwezi Forest. One morning, it was especially cold, and both Murera and her Keepers seemed to be feeling the chill. When the Keepers tried to usher Murera out of her room, she hesitated and turned back inside. Mwana, however, didn't seem to mind the cold — she quickly joined Amali, ready to start the day.
Enkesha is a good nanny and will do things in solidarity with the babies, even when she doesn't feel like it. One chilly afternoon, no one was in the mood to take a mud bath. Enkesha and Mwashoti put their trunks in the water but found it too cold for wallowing. However, Lenny challenged everyone by jumping into the water, which was covered with water lilies. Enkesha, who thought it was too cold to swim, eventually joined after seeing Lenny in the mud bath with his tiny head floating among the lilies.
Amali has taken over Lima Lima's role of 'herd scout' — she is excellent at finding her friends. When Enkesha and Amali noticed that the nightclubbers hadn't showed up one morning, they were visibly disappointed. Enkesha raised her trunk high above her head, and Amali followed suit, trying to catch a scent. Soon, sharp little Amali began trumpeting as she marched into the forest, with Enkesha following close behind to help her. After about an hour of searching, they found Lima Lima and Sonje with the little babies and walked them back to the Keepers. When they reunited with Murera's group, the air filled with loud trumpeting and celebration.
Our big bulls were regular visitors throughout the month. Jasiri, Faraja, and Alamaya showed up many days and enjoyed spending time with their Umani family. The Keepers and orphans were thrilled to see their 'big brothers' — but the sentiment turned quickly when they arrived with friends in tow. Murera, who is always uneasy around big, wild bulls, would signal to the other girls that it was time to move on, giving the potentially rowdy visitors a wide berth.
Mwashoti, on the other hand, is always welcome — especially by Murera, who adores him. At 11 years old, Mwashoti remains a very humble bull. He is always warmly welcomed by Murera and the other mothers. He is calm and friendly with the younger babies, unlike Faraja and Jasiri, who often cause trouble when they join the orphans.
Long the wallflower of the Umani herd, Quanza has blossomed into such a confident nanny — a real leader. One afternoon, the arrival of a wild herd led to some confusion, as the orphans got mixed in with the visitors. Quick-thinking Quanza led Sulwe and Zigi to their mothers, making sure they didn't get disoriented and follow the wild herd. She made certain all the little babies remained safe under her watch.
Our junior bulls are always eager to hang out with wild bulls — but sometimes they feel out of their comfort zone! One morning, Kapei and Maktao were welcomed by some wild bulls, who invited the young boys to join them on a walk towards the Chyulu Hills. However, when one of the old bulls tried touching and smelling Kapei, it startled him so much he ran away faster than anyone expected. He raced back to join Zongoloni and Lima Lima, clearly no longer interested in spending time with the disrespectful wild bulls.
Lima Lima may no longer be stockade-dependent, but she still likes to keep the whole family together. We were reminded of this one afternoon, when the Keepers had a late lunch in the forest and delayed joining the orphans. Lima Lima was seen walking back, trying to get their attention. She clearly wanted them to return to the orphans, who were now further into the Chyulu Hills. Laughing, the Keepers wrapped up their meal and followed their leader.
With that said, we also marvel at Lima Lima's rather casual approach to mothering. She loves Lenny, but she also loves taking time for herself! She is confident that her friends will take good care of her son in her occasional absence. The Keepers often observe her enjoying a solo feast in the forest or even taking an impromptu nap, having handed over all Lenny responsibilities to the nannies.
Her confidence is well-placed, as our nannies run a tight ship — especially Kiasa! Two young wild girls came into the orphans' group one day, trying to play with the little babies. When Kiasa spotted them, she grew suspicious of their intentions. Sensing something wasn't right, Kiasa moved quickly to shield the little ones from the newcomers. She rumbled, calling for backup, and Mwashoti responded to her call as a protective big brother. Together, they kept the wild girls at bay.
Murera has always been very generous with her milk, allowing her nieces and nephews to nurse from her, but that is changing. It's now quite clear that Murera is in the process of weaning her daughter, Mwana, who she now sees as a grown up baby. Murera is expecting her second baby, and needs to stop both Mwana and Lenny from nursing in order to prepare for the new arrival.
Zongoloni used to be notorious for her fiery temper. Motherhood has evened out her character a lot, but we sometimes see glimmers of her old self! One afternoon, Zongoloni arrived at the mud bath in a bad mood. She set her sights on Maktao and Kapei, who she saw as easy targets. She first went for Maktao, grabbing his tail and attempting to bite him. Then she turned on Kapei, chasing him and biting his tail, ignoring his loud screams. The Keepers had to intervene quickly to rescue Kapei and restore peace. There is never a boring day with our Umani herd!