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It was an important day, because we were to receive three new Nursery babies into the Ithumba unit, Kilaguni, Chaimu and Sabachi. The Ex orphans browsed close to the Stockades during the night, and at first light Kenze turned up to join Loijuk’s Keeper Dependent group in order to be there when the newcomers arrived. By l0 a.m. none of the Ex Orphans had shown up, but 20 minutes before the arrival of the newcomers Kinna, Rapsu, the wild recruit Mgeni, Buchuma and Taita joined the Loijuk group and at 11 a.m. Kilaguni, Chaimu and Sabachi drove in, in three trucks. First to be unloaded was Kilaguni, who was very warmly received by Loijuk and her group; next was Sabachi, who looked a little anxious until he spotted Kilaguni at the water trough, and ran to join him. Last to be unloaded was Chaimu, who also looked a little bewildered, and homed in on Kilaguni and Sabachi, since all the Ithumba orphans were unknown to the three new arrivals. Only Meibai might remember them from the brief time he spent in the Nursery alongside them. Loijuk and the Ex Orphans with her all welcomed the new arrivals warmly, surrounding them, and laying trunks lovingly across their backs. Loijuk remained very close to them and once they had taken milk and water, escorted them to the bush to begin learning what was expected of them out in the wild. Kinna also followed the babies closely. In the evening the entire herd of Ex Orphans turned up to greet the new arrivals, amidst great excitement and trumpeting. The Keepers had a hectic time trying to control the 34 elephants until the entire herd cooled down. In the evening all the Ex Orphans were there to see the babies into their Night Stockade, and remained just outside for most of the night. During the night Meibai who has been “the baby” of the Ithumba orphans, became a little jealous of the new arrivals and kept trying to mount onto them. Loijuk was brought into their Stockade to comfort them, and Meibai was moved next door. Kilaguni was unsettled because for the first time he was without a blanket, so Keeper Mischak came to settle him.

Loijuk escorted Kilaguni, Chaimu and Sabachi to the Stockade water trough ahead of the others first thing in the morning. The Youngsters then headed out browsing their way to the noon mudbath venue, where they were joined by all the Ex Orphans who had arrived there earlier and were waiting for them. The new babies and all the Ithumba herd thoroughly enjoyed the huge pile of soft red earth which the tractor had brought for them, throwing clouds of red soil over themselves. The newcomers were daunted by the mudbath which was now a large, deep waterhole, so they just took water in their trunks to spray over themselves. Buchuma and Ndomot engaged one another in a lengthy play pushing match on the huge slab of rock on the opposite bank. Only Naserian had a swim before joining the soil dusting session, all the others doing their best to be nearest to the three newcomers. Meibai who had been bent on trying to mount onto the newcomers all morning was warned off by Kinna who drove him away from them. By the evening the three Ithumba newcomers seemed very relaxed and happy in their new environment.

The Ex Orphans, accompanied by Mgeni and the wild bull all arrived at the Stockade compound very early before the Junior group emerged. As soon as the Gages were opened, the Ex Orphans surrounded the new babies, and Meibai headed to the Unloading Bay to scratch himself. Later he engaged Ndomot in a Pushing Game. Meibai is always eager to learn new pushing skills from the Seniors, and every time they appear he engages one of them. In fact, most of the time he enjoys the company of the bigger elephants than that of the Youngsters, so he is likely to leave the Youngsters and join the Seniors to become a wild elephant before the age of 5 years. Kinna and Nasalot selected Kilaguni while Galana and Loijuk remained with Sabachi and Chaimu. The entire herd remained together until mudbath time and there enjoyed a soil dusting session. At 3 p.m. the Ex Orphans separated from the Juniors, but turned up again at the Stockades in the late evening.

Today the Ex Orphans joined the Youngsters at the mudbath. Nasalot immediately took control of Sabachi, Kilaguni and Chaimu and escorted them to the new drinking water trough before leading them to the soil pile to enjoy a dustbath. Later they all relaxed under shade, and then headed out again to browse as one large herd, the babies in the midst of the herd making sure that nothing could come close to harm them. The entire herd escorted the Youngsters back in the evening and saw them safely ensconced for the night before departing.

At the mudbath, only Kilaguni decided to step in, since it was too cold, the rest of the group having opted for a dustbath instead. Whilst soil bathing, a large wild bull who is familiar to us joined them, taking control of the group, and remaining with them for a full hour before heading off on his own again. Whilst with them the wild bull found time to mingle and teach Kilaguni, Sabachi and Chaimu something which we humans could not understand, being very close to the three babies who were not at all scared of him!

Loijuk’s group left the Stockades, Zurura remaining very close to Sian. At the mudbath, the Youngsters were joined by the Ex Orphans. Kilaguni, who was feeling the heat, decided to go right into the pool, closely followed by Kinna and Nasalot to make sure he did not drown. When he had had enough, they stepped out alongside him. During the afternoon Nasalot and Kinna kept Kilaguni between them. He has obviously won their heart, and the Keepers are sure they would like to take him off with them, but since he is still small and needs milk, they will have to be content to have him only during the day and allow Loijuk to enjoy him at night!

Wendi’s Splinter Group joined the Juniors as soon as they were let out in the morning, Galana and Naserian taking over the care of the young ones from Loijuk, but paying most attention to Kilaguni. Loijuk, always suspicious of the motives of the Big Girls, was never far from them. At mudbath Yatta’s Ex Orphaned Group joined them and immediately Nasalot, who is their Big Mother, took over from Galana and Naserian. Kilaguni was delighted to greet Nasalot, putting his trunk in Nasalot’s mouth and Nasalot did the same to him. The entire herd browsed together during the afternoon and returned together in the evening back to the Stockades.

Yatta’s group, accompanied by Mgeni and the usual wild bull, joined the orphans at the Stockade. Kinna and Nasalot went for Kilaguni and browsed with him until around l0 a.m. when Yatta’s group peeled off to an undisclosed location. It was too cold for the mudbath today, so Loijuk’s Juniors went to eat the seeds fallen from a nearby Acacia, Sabachi imitating Loijuk in plucking seeds from the tree itself. After the Juniors had left, Yatta’s group arrived and hung around the mudbath for quite a long time.

On a cold morning the orphans emerged as usual, Chaimu using a nearby tree to scratch against. At the mudbath only Kilaguni went in for a dip, the rest opting for a soil dusting instead. At 4 p.m. all the Ex Orphans joined the Juniors, and browsed alongside them until the evening, when they escorted the Juniors back to the Stockades for the night.