Ithumba Reintegration Unit

June 2018

Daily updates

June 2018

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

June 1st

Soon after the orphans were let out, Karisa engaged Rapa in a pushing game in an effort to take revenge for the day he fell while playing with Rapa. In the process, Wanjala happened to pass by and saved Rapa by getting in between the two boys and separating them. Shortly later, Mutara and her group, who appeared to have a hint of the impending arrival of new babies, arrived early to find out the exact time of the arrival of Esampu, Mteto and Mundusi who arrived from Nairobi. Mutara and her group escorted the juniors to the browsing field and left for a short while. At 9am, the truck carrying the three new Nursery orphans arrived. Rapa, Maramoja and Pare were the first ones to meet Mteto, Esampu and Mundusi. Upon meeting, Maramoja and Rapa recognised the three babies immediately and started walking around with them. There was excitement when the rest of the group arrived as each tried to identify itself with the new babies. Shortly afterwards, Maramoja led the way to the browsing field. At the browsing field Dupotto settled with Mteto as she tried to show her what to feed on, while Maramoja took Esampu for the same lessons. Mundusi felt like a fish out water and he bellowed like a baby from time to time. The heat was too much for him as he tried a bit of soil dusting to cool off. The soil dusting didn't help either and he resulted in drawing water from his stomach and spraying it behind his ears, which is what elephants do when they are very hot; it will take him a few days to get used to the heat! Maramoja, Pare and Rapa regrouped and tried to take Mundusi, Esampu and Mteto to some shade as the heat was becoming too much for them. The babies accepted and went to relax under a tree. Pare decided to keep himself busy by picking up a piece of stick and using it to scratch his chin. On the way to the mud bath the orphans met with Mutara, Chaimu, Kilaguni, Sities, Suguta, Kanjoro, Kainuk and Turkwel who appeared to have received the news when the new babies arrived and were on the way to receive them. Mutara and her group turned and escorted the babies to the mud bath where Kinna, baby Kama, baby Gawa, Galana with her two boys friends, Kenze, Zurura, Kibo, Melia, Naisula, Kitirua, Kalama, Chemi Chemi, Makireti, Nasalot, baby Nusu, Meibai, Bongo, Olare and the aggressive wild female were present. The wild female disrupted the mud bath activities as Kinna, Chaimu and Murka took the opportunity to snatch the new arrivals. The keepers were vigilant and managed to get their babies back. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in the Kanziku area. Esampu, Mteto and Mundusi settled to enjoy all the delicious vegetation in the area as they slowly got acclimatized to their new home. Kauro and Galla had brief strength testing exercise that ended in a draw.

Rapa plays with Karisa

The three new babies having milk once offloaded

Zurura inspecting the new babies

June 4th

The orphans left the stockade early as usual and briefly settled on lucerne. Kenze arrived immediately and first went to inspect Enkikwe's injured leg to find out how he was feeling. After briefly checking on Enkikwe and finding he was okay, Kenze held a brief meeting with Olsekki, Garzi, Sirimon, Bomani and Enkikwe and perhaps gave them a lecture on how to survive in the wild. After the lecture, Kenze rumbled for the boys to follow him to the bush where he would teach them some more ways of how to survive in the wild. The boys followed but mid-way met with part of Olare, Chaimu and Kilaguni’s groups. The boys changed their minds and chose to first interact with these groups, and by the time they were done Kenze was long gone and nowhere to be seen. Siangiki settled to browse and chat with Oltaiyoni. After a while Oltaiyoni walked away slowly, after giving Siangiki a consoling pat on her back with her trunk; the two have known each other for many years since the Nursery, and it is touching to see how they are still good friends. Tusuja and Galla engaged one another in a pushing game that ended in a draw. At mud bath time the weather was chilly and the orphans were joined by the junior ex-orphans. In the afternoon, Wanjala and Naseku had a game of soil dusting which attracted Mteto. Mteto sat on Naseku and tried to scratch her buttocks on her. In the evening, the orphans returned back safely to the stockade for another night.

Kenze inspecting Enkikwe's leg

Tusuja plays with Galla

Siangiki and Oltaiyoni

June 6th

Laragai, who had spent the night out with Orwa and Bomani, joined the juniors early in the morning. Lemoyian held a brief meeting with Rapa and Tusuja, in which Tusuja appeared disgruntled with Lemoyian. Lemoyian was annoyed with Tusuja too, and decided to try and show off his strength by climbing on Tusuja. Rapa didn’t want to wait around for Lemoyian to do the same to him so he walked away. Orwa lay down in an effort to attract the young boys to come and play on him but the boys weren't interested in his games. After getting tired of waiting, Orwa stood up and walked to the water trough where he had some water. Roi and Naseku were the last to leave the stockade compound while Dupotto and Pare stayed for a little longer at the water trough as they tried to arm themselves with enough water to see them through the entire morning. Karisa engaged Rapa in a strength testing exercise that ended in a draw. Shortly later, the orphans were joined by Kilaguni, Kasigau and a wild elephant. The wild bull was nervous and left Kilaguni with Kasigau enjoying the company of their junior friends. The wild bull headed towards mud bath. Kilaguni and Kasigau also then moved towards mud bath were the dependent orphans joined them at noon. Karisa, who never wastes time when it comes to mud bathing, jumped into the water as the rest of his friends followed suit. The mud bathing was followed by soil dusting and after Oltaiyoni led the way back out to the bush. Mutara’s group showed up at the stockade in the afternoon and later left again. In the evening, Orwa and Bomani escorted the juniors back to the stockade.

Orwa, Bomani and Laragai

Lemoyian riding on Tusuja

Kilaguni and Kasigau in the water

June 8th

Olare and Mutara’s groups were standing outside the compound when the orphans were let out. Mutara had fun trying to climb up the wall as her friends waited patiently to meet the babies. Once the gates were opened, Kibo walked straight in as the youngsters made their way out. Kamok left with a branch in her mouth that she continued chewing on as she thought of her next move. Tusuja engaged Kanjoro in a strength testing exercise while Enkikwe, who tries to avoid crowded areas so no one knocks his bad leg, settled for a morning soil dusting. Later Tusuja moved to play with Sities as Mutara, Suguta, and Kilaguni had fun rolling on the ground. Pare was not left out as he also tried to challenge Turkwel, while Galla stood aside waiting to have a word with Turkwel. Mutara and her team accompanied the orphans to the browsing field and enjoyed feeding together up to mud bath time when Maramoja led the first group to the mud bath. The sun was hot and everyone wallowed in the water which was followed by a spectacular soil dusting exercise. Karisa was annoyed by Galla and quit the wallowing early when Galla attempted to ride on him. Karisa hurried to walk out from the water as Galla tried to grab his tail to pull him back, but Karisa managed to break free. In the afternoon, Mutara took the entire team back to the browsing field and later in the evening escorted the juniors back to the stockade.

Mutara climbing over the wall

Kamok with a branch in her mouth

Tusuja plays with Sities

June 10th

Olare was by herself outside the stockade when the orphans were let out. Pare walked over to Olare and exchanged morning greetings by entwining their trunks. Shortly later, Olare had a game of rolling on the ground as she tried to entice the juniors to join her but no one was interested. Olare then stood up and remembered that there was Enkikwe who she was supposed to check on, to see his healing progress. Olare walked to where Enkikwe was standing and had a brief chat with him, before showing the juniors the way out to the browsing field. Mteto settled to browse with Mundusi while Esampu briefly settled to browse with Lemoyian. On the way to the mud bath, the orphans were joined by Mutara’s group, Kilaguni, Chaimu, Kandecha and Kibo. As Galla was drinking his milk, he was bumped by Ukame. Galla complained bitterly and his loud protest reached Roi, his friend. Roi was drinking water at the water trough and came down running to check what was happening to her friend Galla. Roi met Galla on mid-way and took him to the water trough as she tried to find out if he was okay. Mutara assigned herself the role of taking care of Mundusi, Mteto and Esampu at mud bath. Mutara took the three new babies aside and inspected them and communicated with them in low rumbles. Shortly later, Mutara brought her meeting with the new babies to an end by walking them to join their friends who were wallowing. Tusuja had a brief strength testing exercise with Kainuk as Kilaguni played with Kanjoro. After the herd had enough wallowing, the orphans headed to Kanziku area while Mutara’s group took her group towards Imenti area. Kamok settled to browse with Wanjala while Oltaiyoni teamed up with Olsekki.

Pare greeting Olare

Mundusi

Kandecha after a wallow

June 13th

Kilaguni, Orwa and Bomani who had spent the night outside the stockade welcomed the juniors out in the morning. Pare in particular, who these days likes to challenge his seniors, entwined his trunk with Kilaguni in morning greetings. Galla challenged Bomani after their morning greetings as Mteto and Mundusi headed straight to the browsing field. The keepers hurried to catch up with them as they are not yet very conversant with the area. The boys were in playful mood in the morning. As they reached the bush Olsekki had a challenging game with Sirimon while Orwa played with Kilaguni. Tusuja played with Pare while the street wise boy Karisa handled Wanjala. Later, Esampu settled to browse with Sirimon and Namalok while Maramoja teamed up with Mundusi and Mteto. At mud bath time, the weather was chilly and the orphans only drank their milk and had some water before going back to browse, deciding to forego the cold water of the mud bath. Only Enkikwe splashed water on his wound and behind his ears before following his friends. The afternoon was still chilly and Karisa saw it wise to have a warm up exercise by initiating a pushing game with Naseku. The quiet Namalok, who still drinks his milk from a bucket, had a light pushing game with Tusuja before settling for a lone soil dusting exercise. Towards evening, the sky cleared giving way to sun shine.

Siangiki with Lucerne on her back

Namalok playing with Tusuja

Karisa playing with Naseku

June 15th

Bomani, Kilaguni and Orwa, who are always punctual to report early in the morning, were standing outside the stockade when the orphans were let out. Bomani picked on Galla for a morning warm up exercise that later turned into a strength testing exercise. Galla put so much effort in to make sure that he didn't lose the game and sure enough the game ended in a draw which made Galla very happy. Tusuja briefly sniffed at Kilaguni and later requested for a strength testing training exercise which Kilaguni obliged. Karisa put Pare on notice for teasing him from time to time, but Pare disregarded Karisa's warning and attempted to push him. Laragai took her rebel group towards the east as the orphans headed west of the stockade. At mud bath time, the orphans were joined by Tumaren, Melia, Chemi Chemi, Murka, Naisula and Kitirua. After the orphans had their milk bottles and drank some water, Karisa led the way to the mud bath. Tusuja put on the best performance of the day with his lavish swimming styles. He took so much time in the water that his friend Roi came to check on him and find out what was going on with him. Tusuja assured Roi all was well and he would be coming out shortly. Roi insisted that time was up and he should be on his way to soil dust just like his friends. Tusuja evidently heeded Roi's advice and so quit wallowing for another day. In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse on the western side of Ithumba Hill. Galla had a brief strength testing exercise before resuming browsing.

Galla and Bomani strength testing

Tusuja sniffing Kilaguni

Galla in the water

June 20th

This morning the dependent orphans came out of their stockades and found Mutara and Olare's herd waiting for them. They joined them and started interacting together and then the dependent orphans walked off into the bush to browse for the day. Kamok, Wanjala and Roi browsed separately from the group; Kamok held her ears wide open which showed she was feeling hot. The other elephants were busy browsing and later they made their way to the mud bath as it was time for milk and also quite a hot day, so they looked forward to cooling themselves in the mud bath. After their milk all the orphans swam in a line from one end to the other. Just as they were coming out Mutara and Olare’s herd arrived with one wild bull. They had some water from the water trough and went into the water hole for a swim just as the juniors were coming out. They did not swim for long as they seemed to want to follow the dependent herd into the bush. Throughout the afternoon they were all busy browsing, and when it became too hot they all came together to take shelter under some of the big trees. Later the juniors walked away from the ex-orphans and browsed on their own. As the day drew to a close they made their way back to the stockades. In the evening Mutara and Olare’s herd again came to the stockade compound to drink water. Suguta and Naisula started play fighting with Kilaguni and Ololoo separately. Later in the night they walked off back into the bush.

Roi browsing

Wanjala browsing

Kamok browsing

June 25th

The orphans were in a happy mood today as they walked down to the lucerne feeding area for food. They met there with Olare’s herd combined of Melia, Tumaren, Kibo, Kandecha, Kilaguni, Chaimu, Murka and Makireti. They all interacted and shared lucerne and all had good manners. Some walked to drink water and then they all walked out to the bush to browse. In the bush Esampu, Mteto and Mundusi joined up with Sapalan and started browsing together. Rapa was browsing alone while other orphans hid in the shade from the sun. They later walked to the mud bath for their milk and started playing there. They relished the cool water in the hot sun! After mud bath the orphans looked happy and refreshed. Laragai's herd Kithaka, Lemoyian, Barsilinga, Garzi and Sirimon walked away from the orphans. Oltaiyoni was busy browsing with Kauro while others were resting in the shade again from the hot sun. In the afternoon as they made their way back to the stockades for the night, Laragai's herd joined up with them again and followed them back and they were locked in for the night as well.

Kibo feding on Lucerene with the orphans

Mutara's group coming to the stockade

Ukame

June 26th

It was colder again today as some clouds had rolled over and there was a slight breeze. The dependent orphans walked down to feed on lucerne and found Orwa, Bomani and Bongo already there waiting for them. Kauro was feeling itchy and scratched on the wall while eating at the same time. Bomani also did the same on the wall while Kithaka was restless and wanted to go out to the bush to browse. Lemoyian was also very active and running all over the place with his ears held out wide. Out in the bush the orphans were all busy browsing. Olare’s herd with Melia, Tumaren, Murka, Kitirua, Naisula, Kilaguni, Kibo, Kandecha and Chaimu joined them and they started browsing together. Kibo and Kilaguni started play fighting and being playful. The orphans came in groups of 3 to have their milk at noon and after they walked in their groups with a keeper to the mud bath. Olare and the other ex-orphans followed them to the mud bath. A young wild female was among them. Tumaren started climbing on Olsekki while they were swimming. After swimming some went to the dust bath and others went straight back out to browse. It became very hot though and the orphans were struggling to browse and find shade at the same time. Ukame browsed right up until it was time to go home. They walked in a line all the way back to the stockades for their milk in the evening. Enkikwe had managed to stay with them for the whole day which was so nice for him. In the stockades today we had one wild bull who came to visit. He drank water and left. We also had Olare and Mutara’s herds. They came running in very thirsty and had some water from the water troughs, and then they started playing around, obviously relieved and more at ease since they had a drink. Kibo was play-mounting on a wild female who was with them. Kibo also started play fighting with Tumaren and they were communicating with each other in deep rumbling tones. Kainuk over on the other side was playing with Bongo and finally Naisula was play fighting with Suguta.

Bomani scratching his neck and trunk

Kithaka heading to the bush

Kauro scratches his neck while feeding on Lucerne

Select another unit