01 March 2000

Emily's Group went to feed within the Compound fence, and as usual Loisaba wandered off on her own after the mudbath. At the Stockade in the evening Emily and Imenti played. Malaika's Group left the Stockades in the early morning for the Hill. Edo was absent.

02 March 2000

On the 2nd Malaika and family were at the river today, but came to the mudbath. Again Loisaba left the little group to spend time on her own, a pattern that was repeated on 3rd, 4th and 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th when Malaika was not seen at all. On the 4th Aitong enjoyed chasing a baboon around the mudwallow.

10 March 2000

Loisaba was much more playful in the mudbath, (indicating that she is just beginning to overcome her grieving.) However, on the 10th, 11th, 12th, l4th, 15th, she again chose to spend long quiet periods alone and away from the others. Emily and Imenti were very playful at each mudbath.

16 March 2000

On the 16th March 2000, a young Bull Elephant, which was obviously an orphan because he was so friendly, turned up at Crocodile Camp outside the Eastern Boundary of Tsavo, and about 20 Kms. From the Sala Gate. Our Keepers were dispatched to establish the identity of this young bull and it was OLMEG. Other elephants were in the vicinity, but he had obviously left the herd to come and greet some human friends. We immediately begged the Lodge Manager on no account to feed him, or allow any of the guests to do so, since this would jeopardise the survival of the elephant by setting him on the path to becoming "a problem animal". He assured us that these instructions would be followed, that the Lodge refuse was not accessible, and that a mock electric wire would be erected around the Camp to discourage Olmeg further. We later heard that, in fact, apparently on the instructions of the Lodge Owner, a Mr. Rudin, Olmeg was being fed sugarcane in order to encourage him to hang around as an exhibit for the Lodge guests. Daphne has taken this matter up at a high level.

16 March 2000

On the 16th Malaika turned up at the Stockades in the evening and Aitong and Lewa caressed each other fondly. Malaika left at 7 p.m. but she was there in the morning, when Imenti left with them, returning to the Stockade to join Emily in the evening.

18 March 2000

Emily's Group went to feed below the Research Centre and again Loisaba disappear on her own and had to be brought back. In the evening Lissa, her baby and her Group were at the Stockades, and Lissa's baby showed aggression towards the Keepers.

19 March 2000

On the 19th Imenti again left with Malaika's group heading towards the Eastern side of Mazinga Hill, and again Loisaba kept disappearing. On the 20th Emily and Imenti played a lot and so did Mweiga with Aitong. Emily and Imenti played again the next day.

20 March 2000

At 8 a.m. Emily's group seemed very excited, trumpetting loudly. Malaika and the boys came to the Stockade, but left again after a while, returning in the evening to give Emily's group a jovial welcome.

21 March 2000

On the 21st Malaika's group left with Emily's group, but separated at the Spring Gate. Imenti and Loisaba were separate from the others today, feeding together.

22 March 2000

On the 22nd Loisaba and Mweiga were first in the mudwallow. Malaika and the boys turned up at the Stockades at midnight, and spent the night outside.

22 March 2000

On the 22nd Loisaba got lost for two hours and was found near the Education Centre.

23 March 2000

On the 23rd Malaika's group left with Emily's, parting at the Spring Gates. They came back to the mudbath, but did not wallow. Malaika and family then left but returned to the Stockades at 10 p.m. They slept outside.

24 March 2000

On the 24th, Malaika's group left without Lewa, who this day went with Emily's group into the fenced area. Imenti kept following Lewa and mounting on him, trying the same on Loisaba and Mweiga but being reprimanded by the Keepers. Malaika returned at 5.30 p.m. to meet up with Emily and take over Lewa again.

25 March 2000

On the 25th Malaika again left with Emily's group, parting at the Spring Gates. In the evening Malaika came to the Stockades, where there were some CFTW visitors. Emily was very concerned about Mweiga.

25 March 2000

On the 23th, 24th and 25th Loisaba again isolated herself and had to be rounded up to join the group again. On the 25th she again spent time on her own, but played with the Keepers back at the Stockades in the evening.

26 March 2000

On the 26th Loisaba again left the group to be alone. On the 27th Emily's group met an impala which excited them very much and again Imenti was a pain, trying to mount both Loisaba and Mweiga, and having to be reprimanded by the Keepers.

26 March 2000

Catherine and her group were feeding up the hill and came to water at the Stockades at noon.

27 March 2000

On 27th Edo joined Emily and her group, but was shown out when they went into the fenced Section. Again Loisaba spent several hours alone. Back at the Stockades they met Malaika and her family who had spent the day up the hill.

28 March 2000

On the 28th Loisaba again went missing and had to be rounded up. Back at the Stockades they met Edo.

29 March 2000

On the 29th Malaika came to the Stockade for water and Emily and Malaika embraced each other.

30 March 2000

On the 30th Emily's group passed through the mudwallow early in the morning. Imenti started his tyre game again. At 11.30 a.m. Loisaba and Mweiga took a mudbath whilst Emily and Imenti played together. Malaika and her group came to the Stockades at 10.15 a.m. in the morning for water before leaving in a westerly direction.

30 March 2000

On the 30th March 2000 TARU turned up briefly at the Voi Stockades, just to say "Hi", but was soon off again. Taru was born in August 1987, and is about 6 months younger than Olmeg. He has been absent with the wild herds for over two years now, so it was super to see him, and see him looking so huge and handsome! Meanwhile, only faithful Edo has been a regular visitor to the Voi Stockades, travelling with, or meeting up with, Malaika much of the time. Lissa and her baby with Mpenzi as Nanny are regular visitors to the Stockades if they happen to be, in the area, as is Catherine and her family.