Ithumba Reintegration Unit

June 2020

Daily updates

June 2020

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June 2nd

The junior ex-orphans spent the night outside the stockade and joined the orphans in the morning soon after they were let out. The orphans headed east of the stockade where they browsed calmly up to mud bath time when Kuishi led the first group to the mud bath. 

The sky was partly covered by clouds and it was quite cool, so none of the orphans dared to step into the water hole. After having their noon milk bottles, the orphans headed to drink water and thereafter went for a soil bathing exercise, before disappearing slowly back out into the bush. Bomani played with Olsekki while Karisa lagged behind drinking water with their wild friend, and thereafter joined Kainuk for a brief soil bathing exercise. Dololo had a brief chat with Sana Sana while Malkia stayed close to Musiara. The afternoon was quiet as the orphans browsed along the western slopes of Ithumba Hill. In the evening, it was quite warm, and the orphans passed by the mud bath for an evening cooling-off session. 

Kuishi browsing

Bomani plays with Olsekki

Dololo greeting Sana Sana

June 3rd

The junior ex-orphans were outside the stockade compound when the orphans were let out again. Suguta walked in and picked up a branch before coming out again to join the orphans. Ambo settled for soil dusting as Lemoyian tried to bully the young boys by riding on them, but he was swiftly reprimanded by the Keepers. 

Out in the bush, Siangiki settled to browse with one of her longtime friends Enkikwe, as Kamok teamed up with Galla. Malkia still dotes on Musiara, Sattao and Dololo and is trying to gain their trust by following them wherever they go; she must remember them from the Nursery, particularly Musiara and Sattao. Jotto tried to overtake Kamok but Kamok warmed him not to try pushing past her by turning and throwing her trunk towards him. Lucky enough Jotto turned quickly and dodged out of the way, so as not to be hit by Kamok's trunk. 

Sattao led the way to the mud bath followed closely by Dololo, but the orphans decided not to have a mud bath again today after their milk bottles. Instead they went to dust bath, where Pare took advantage of Sattao lying down and climbed on him. Pare was told off by the Keepers and he walked away immediately. 

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill, with Sana Sana teaming up with Ndiwa to browse. The rest of the day was quiet and the orphans returned back to the stockades safely later in the evening. 

Suguta at stockade compound

Ambo dust bathing in the morning

Sattao leading

June 5th

On the way to the browsing field, Esampu found a suitable rock that she used to scratch on. When she had enough, the same rock was used by Kuishi and Karisa. Galla engaged Tusuja in a strength testing exercise while Malkia settled to browse with Kamok. Mundusi teamed up with Karisa as Dololo joined Pare to feed. It is clear to us that Dololo, Musiara and Sattao have settled in well now as they are very happy to go their separate ways during the day, interacting with the other orphans. 

After a short while, the dependent-orphans were joined by the eleven usual ex-orphans and a wild boy. At mud bath time, they were also joined by Challa and one wild elephant. The orphans didn't participate in wallowing but watched Challa and his friend enjoy the water. Chaimu picked a big stick that she used to scratch her chest. Bomani played with Olsekki while Mundusi played with Namalok. 

In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill up to five o'clock the evening when they were escorted back to the stockade by the ex-orphans. Later in the evening, four wild bulls showed up at the stockade compound and left later at their own pleasure. 

Esampu scratching

Kamok browsing with Malkia

Galla soil dusting

June 8th

Mutara and her herd spent the night just outside the stockade and joined the dependent-orphans in the morning. Karisa led the way out for the day, while Malkia tried to spend more time with Sattao, Musiara and Dololo. At one point, Sattao decided to push Dololo for no reason. This annoyed Dololo, making him leave and join some of his other new friends to browse. Malima had a game of rolling on the ground and quit the moment she felt that she had done enough. 

At mud bath time, the temperature was moderate and the orphans only opted for a soil dusting exercise. Pare had a pushing game with Jotto that was disrupted by Olsekki when he walked between them. The two boys continued with their game when Olsekki was a safe distance away. Tusuja played with Mundusi and later tackled Suguta. Out in the bush, Tusuja engaged Lemoyian in a strength testing exercise that lasted for quite some time. In the evening, Mutara and her group escorted the dependent babies back to the stockades.

Sattao, Malkia & Musiara browsing

Malima playing

Ndiwa

June 9th

Mutara, Suguta, Sities, Kainuk, Kithaka and Lemoyian were relaxing outside the stockades waiting for the orphans to come out. After leaving the compound, the orphans passed by the water trough and armed themselves with enough water to see them through the entire morning. Sities showed interest in taking care of Dololo while Suguta took care of Musiara and Sattao. Kainuk took Jotto and browsed together with him for some time before parting ways. 

At eleven o'clock in the morning the dependent orphans had their milk bottles, some water, and then all the orphans wallowed and soil dusted before heading back out to browse. Suguta made sure Musiara and Sattao had a good and proper dusting before escorting them to browse. Tusuja played with Olsekki while Kamok decided to keep Ambo company. Challa, in the company of two wild bulls, visited the mud bath shortly after the orphans left. In the evening, Suguta had her own game of rolling on the ground while Galla decided to have a pushing game with Tusuja. 

Kainuk and Jotto browsing

Suguta playing

Dololo and Sities

June 12th

Mutara and her group joined the orphans as soon as they came out of their night stockades again this morning. The three girls Sities, Suguta and Turkwel scrambled to have the attention of Sattao, Dololo and Musiara. Mutara decided to go into the stockade and check if there were any leftovers. 

Later out in the bush, Suguta settled to browse with Dololo while Malkia teamed up with Musiara. Musiara developed an itchy ear and decided to rub it on Malkia. Malkia stood still until Musiara was through with his scratching business. Tusuja engaged Wanjala in a pushing game that ended in draw. Tusuja then moved to play with Kainuk. Malima had her own game of rolling on the ground. Enkikwe did a stretching exercise while the tough boy Mundusi engaged Bomani in a strength testing exercise. After mud bath time, the orphans, led by Mteto, headed towards Imenti area where they settled to browse. Suguta, Dololo and Kuishi spent some time scratching before resuming browsing. 

In the evening, a section of the orphans led by Sities and Oltaiyoni dodged the Keepers, taking Musiara and Ambo with them. It took the Keepers nearly an hour before finally locating them and bringing them back to the stockade. 

Saplalan, Ukame and Esampu

Enkikwe playing

Musiara rubbing against Malkia

June 13th

Mutara’s group joined the orphans soon after they were let out. The orphans headed east from the stockade. Suguta wanted to have all the new babies to herself, but the problem was that they kept all walking in different directions. Dololo and Musiara found some suitable trees that they used to scratch against. Esampu had a lone game of rolling on the ground as a wild bull joined the orphans briefly before leaving again. 

Around noon the weather was chilly and only Mutara decided to wallow in the main water hole. The others had some water from the troughs before walking off. Orwa kept himself busy by playing with Mutara while Turkwel played with Bomani. Kithaka tried his hand on Kilaguni but was overpowered. In the afternoon, Olsekki engaged Bomani in a strength testing exercise that ended in a draw. Later in the evening the orphans passed by the mud bath again where they had an evening cooling-off exercise. 

Musiara scratching

Esampu playing

Suguta with the orphans

June 14th

It was a chilly morning. The orphans headed straight out to browse soon after leaving the stockades. Mutara and her group joined the orphans. Lemoyian tried to bully Tusuja by riding on him while Kilaguni climbed on Mutara. The rest of the morning was quiet. Sities, who appears to have fallen in love with Dololo, kept following him everywhere. At mud bath time, the orphans had their milk bottles and some water before going back to browsing.  

In the afternoon, Jotto played with Pare while Turkwel, Suguta, Wanjala, Kuishi, Sities and her favourite Dololo settled for soil dusting. Malkia spent time with her favourite Musiara and in the evening, the orphans returned back to the stockades. 

Lemoyian riding on Tusuja

Kilaguni riding on Mutara

Sities and Dololo

June 15th

Mutara’s herd joined up with the dependent orphans as soon as they came out of their night stockades. On their way out to browse, Kamok and Sapalan found some suitable rocks that they used to scratch on. Suguta settled to browse with Dololo while Karisa teamed up with Kuishi. Later, Dololo had fun with Turkwel by trying to play a pushing game with her. Kauro played with Tusuja and later switched to Namalok as Tusuja switched to play with Enkikwe. At mud bath time the weather was cold, and the orphans only had their milk bottles before going back out to browse, forgoing the mud bath in the cold weather. Bomani played with Olsekki later in the afternoon, while Garzi took some time off from browsing to play with Lemoyian. Later in the day, Wanjala, Ambo and Mundusi spent some time soil dusting. 

Sapalan enjoying a morning scratch

Mundusi dust bathing

Turkwel playing with Dololo

June 16th

As they were waiting for their gates to be opened, Karisa and Malkia kept themselves busy by engaging in a light pushing game. Mutara’s herd, who had spent the night outside the stockades, joined the orphans as soon as they were let out. Sities made sure she was the first one to say hi to the babies and followed them to the browsing field. The orphans headed north west of the stockade. Malkia teamed up with Dololo to browse while Kauro teamed up with Malima. Later, Ndiwa had brief meeting with Dololo and Sattao and thereafter Sattao had soil dusting exercise. Mapia had a lone game of rolling on the ground while Olsekki engaged Bomani in a pushing game. At mud bath time, the orphans had their milk bottles, some water, then went straight to the piles of loose soil to enjoy a dusting exercise before heading back out to browse for the rest of the afternoon. The elephants had a quiet afternoon as they concentrated on browsing without any major distractions. 

Sities with the orphans

Kauro and Malima browsing

Bomani browing

June 18th

Soon after leaving the stockades, the dependent orphans headed east towards the lower Kalovoto area. Kuishi, Kauro and Karisa came across a nice rock that they used to scratch on. Suguta took Dololo under her care as Ambo briefly stayed with Kainuk. After Kainuk left him, Siangiki came in and teamed up with Ambo, who she adores looking after. Ambo felt happy to have Siangiki beside him, who he looks up to as a big sister. 

Later, the orphans were joined by Zurura and Challa again. At mud bath time, the temperature was moderate but none of the orphans dared to step into mud bathing water. Sattao enjoyed drinking water in the company of Challa and Zurura while Dololo enjoyed some soil dusting under the watchful eye of Sities. In the afternoon Kamok took Ambo under her care while Sattao teamed up with Sities and Jotto in browsing. Dololo spend some time soil dusting and later in the evening Kamok and Ambo led the way back to the stockades. 

Kauro scratching

Ambo and Siangiki

Dololo dust bathing

June 20th

The orphans headed to the Kone area immediately after coming out of the stockades this morning. The orphans were joined by Mutara and her group. Karisa teamed up with Sapalan to browse while Garzi teamed up with Barsilinga. Sattao joined Suguta and Ndiwa briefly before heading to look for Dololo and Musiara. Mundusi engaged Namalok in a pushing game that ended in a draw. Siangiki settled to browse with Galla while Enkikwe played with Oltaiyoni. 

At mud bath time, the orphans participated fully in the wallowing exercise soon after taking their milk. Challa joined the team and had a brief pushing game with Kilaguni. Sities took Dololo and tried to shield him from the scorching sun. Siangiki and Kamok kept their favourite Ambo company as they escorted him back to the browsing field. The sun was still hot in the afternoon and the orphans decided to take a break from feeding and relaxed under a tree until the temperature dropped. Zurura joined the orphans briefly in the evening before walking off into the bush again.

Garzi and Barsilinga

Kilaguni and Challa sparring

The orphans relaxing

June 22nd

Kanjoro, who was last seen last year, was at the stockade compound this morning and joined his original herd which is Mutara’s herd. We were very happy to see him come to join his friends and say hello as well! Also present were Kibo, Chemi Chemi, Chaimu and a wild elephant. It appeared the wild elephant was Kanjoro's friend and Kibo, Chaimu and Chemi Chemi had met them and decided to bring them back home. Kanjoro was happy to meet up with his friends too. When the dependent orphans were let out, Kanjoro found it enjoyable playing a pushing game with Barsilinga. Lemoyian attempted to climb on Tusuja and later had a strength testing exercise with Mapia. Later, Barsilinga came across a nice rock that he used to scratch himself on. Sities, who appears to have fallen in love with little Dololo, spent the entire morning feeding next to him and taking care of him. 

At mud bath time around noon, Kanjoro, who appeared to have gone without properly wallowing for a very long time, went straight into the water to enjoy a cooling swimming exercise which lasted for a very long time. Karisa joined him briefly then quit after having enough. Later, Kilaguni and Mutara joined Kanjoro and had fun together in the water. Chaimu joined Karisa and Namalok in soil dusting before heading back to the bush while Olsekki engaged Lemoyian in a pushing game. 

Kanjoro pays a visit to the stockade

Kibo

Kauro

June 23rd

The orphans settled for lucerne soon after leaving the stockade and were joined by Mutara’s herd. After feeding on lucerne, the orphans headed back out to browse where Barsilinga and Kainuk spent some time in a pushing game. Wanjala played with Namalok while Bomani settled scores with Garzi. Sities and Suguta competed over who would spend time with Dololo and both of them ended up following Dololo together. 

At mud bath time Kanjoro went straight into the water again followed by Kilaguni and Mutara. Later a few of the other orphans joined them in a wallowing exercise and in the afternoon, they settled west of Ithumba Hill where they were joined by Challa. Olsekki took a break from feeding to play with Lemoyian while Kibo played with Challa. In the evening, five wild bulls showed up at the stockade and had some water before leaving.

Wanjala and Namalok sparring

Challa and Kibo sparring

Kanjoro wallowing

June 24th

The orphans settled for lucerne soon after leaving the stockades this morning. Out in the bush the dependent orphans were joined by Mutara’s herd. Turkwel, Sities and Suguta surrounded Dololo and spent time with him. Sana Sana settled to browse with Karisa while Barsilinga teamed up with Garzi. Kainuk settled to browse with Mundusi. At around ten o'clock in the morning, the orphans were joined by ex-orphan Zurura who later escorted them to the mud bath. Ten wild bulls were present at mud bath and enjoyed wallowing to the fullest. Olsekki played with Sities and after followed his older friends back out to the bush to browse. The afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated on browsing for the rest of the day. Four wild bulls showed up in the evening at the stockade and were joined by Mutara’s herd as well. 

Orphans enjoying Lucerne

Barsilinga and Garzi browsing together

Dololo, Turkwel, Suguta and Sities

June 25th

The orphans briefly settled for lucerne in the morning. Lemoyian tackled Olsekki as Namalok played with Tusuja. On the way to the browsing field, Ambo was in a playful mood and decided to play with the street-wise boy karisa. Sapalan settled to browse with Mundusi while Esampu found a nice bend in a tree that she used to scratch her itchy neck on. Olsekki and Lemoyian continued with their pushing game. Later, Lemoyian tried to play with Kamok but Kamok didn't show much interest in playing, so Lemoyian left her along and went to find someone else to play with.

At mud bath time the weather was chilly and none of the orphans showed any interest in wallowing. Kanjoro, who wallows every day, was missing and appears to have left to join his wild friend who he arrived with a few days ago. In the afternoon, Ndiwa settled to browse with Mteto while Wanjala browsed with Karisa. Namalok played with Olsekki while Suguta and Sities gave Dololo good company. In the evening three wild bulls, Challa and Zurura showed up at the stockade compound. 

Karisa and Ambo strength testing

Kamok leading

Ndiwa browsing

June 26th

Mutara and her group joined the orphans immediately after they were let out. Sities walked straight over to Dololo for morning greetings. Dololo had a light pushing game with Sities as he tried to learn some pushing techniques from her. Mapia settled for a pushing game with Lemoyian which he lost. Lemoyian moved to play with Jotto and later Olsekki. Kithaka engaged Siangiki in a pushing game that ended in a draw. 

Later, the orphans were scared by something but the Keepers didn't see what it was, but the orphans came running over to them. The Keepers calmed them down and then all went back to normal.  

At mud bath time, the dependent orphans were joined by Rapsu, Challa, Zurura and a wild elephant who fully enjoyed a wallowing session in the mud bath as the orphans just watched on, and later went back to browsing without swimming themselves. 

In the afternoon the temperature soared, making Suguta, Sities and Turkwel lead Sattao and Dololo to fine some nice shade where they relaxed until the temperature dropped. In the evening on the way back to the stockades, the orphans had a road side mud bathing exercise on the way.

Mutara and Kibo

Rapsu and a wild friend in the wallow

Mapia strength testing with Lemoyian

June 28th

Barsilinga, Kamok and Tusuja passed by the water trough to have some water before leaving for browsing this morning. Sities held a brief meeting with Dololo to find out how his night was. On their way out, Oltaiyoni and Kauro came across some nice rocks that they used to scratch themselves on. Galla, Jotto and Pare had a game of pushing, lying down and climbing on each other. Karisa and Sapalan stopped and had a brief chat to decide which direction to take and finally concluded to follow the rest of the herd. 

Later in the day Sattao settled for soil dusting with the big girls. The sun was hot but at mud bath time, the orphans had their milk bottles and some water before going back to browsing without swimming. Mapia played with Tusuja while Kuishi played with Galla. 

Later the orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill where Orwa had a brief run-in with Roi when he decided to climb on her without her permission. In the evening, the orphans had a road side mud bath before heading back to the stockades. 

Kamok, Barsilinga, Tusuja having a drink

Kauro scratching

Orwa riding on Roi

June 30th

Galla, Dololo, Sapalan and Sattao started their day activities by scratching on some rocks they had come across. Tusuja decided to have his own game of rolling on the ground. Ambo teamed up with his elder adopted sister Siangiki while Karisa tackled Sapalan. Mundusi played with Galla and later moved to play with Namalok. Rapa was not left out in these pushing games as he went to look for Tusuja and they had a pushing game together. Kainuk and Malkia shared the same tree to scratch themselves. Sities settled to browse with her favourite Dololo while Suguta took care of Sattao. 

At mud bath time, the orphans had their milk bottles and some water then went back to browsing without wallowing in the mud bath. The afternoon was hot however, making the orphans take a break from feeding to relax under a tree that provided nice shade. The orphans resumed browsing later when the temperature dropped.

Sapalan on the hill

Malkia browsing

Rapa having a drink of water

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