01 March 2012

As soon as the Nursery elephants emerge from their Night Quarters in the morning, they regroup and go to Murera’s Stockade to greet her before heading out to browse in the forest, Kithaka closely guarded by Mutara and Shukuru. They know the timing of their milk feeds and are always ready and waiting for the wheelbarrow to bring all the bottles. Makireti always tries to down her share before Kasigau and Kilabasi have finished theirs, hoping to be able to snatch a bottle! She is intolerant of strange humans, pushing them gently away with her trunk.

02 March 2012

It amazes us that the Orphans also seem to understand the days of the week, knowing that every Friday is when their bodies are oiled with Coconut as part of good skin care! Kihari especially does not like this ritual, and every Friday she makes a point of feeding well away from all the others, prepared to escape as soon as the Keepers arrive with the bottles of oil! The Keepers have to surround her in order to apply it!

03 March 2012

Murera can’t go far from her Stockade, so this morning all the elephants joined her, without noticing that Kithaka had remained behind taking his milk and rehydration. As soon as they saw him approaching they all rushed towards him to welcome him, Sities in the lead.

04 March 2012

Kithaka appeared much weaker today, so he was returned to his stable for an infusion of Dextrose and Sities, after which he felt much better, and wanted to rejoin the others. All the older elephants were delighted to see him again. There was a Rescue Alert today, but just as the Rescue team was leaving, a phone call informed us that the orphan had died.

05 March 2012

Orwa, who has been on Murera duty, has been missing his noon mudbath, and tried to join the Youngsters at noon. However, not wishing to leave Murera without company, we persuaded him to return to her, but allowed him to come at the 3 p.m. Private Viewing slot, which he greatly enjoyed, returning to Murera afterwards.

06 March 2012

Because Murera can’t move far, the Keepers cut vegetation for her, searching out special soft plants and leaves, which all the other elephants also relish. Whenever they are with Murera, they enjoy the left-overs when competition for the leaves is intense, amongst the bigger elephants, especially Ishanga, Mutara, Shukuru and Makireti. Today Sities joined the competition, and Mutara drove the others away standing guard so that Sities could have a turn uninterrupted.

07 March 2012

Tano, who occupies the stable next door to baby Kithaka, is very caring of him, just like a real mother. She stands close watching him until he settles down, and in the morning waits patiently at his door for him to emerge before escorting him to Mutara and Shukuru, who then take over. Today it was Turkwel’s turn to have Kithaka. She was with him the entire day, and when Kainuk accidentally bumped him, Turkwel drove her out of the herd, and would not allow her any access to the baby.

08 March 2012

Kithaka enjoys suckling on Mutara’s ears, something she doesn’t seem to mind, and even enjoys, since it gives him comfort and pleasure. Naipoki is antagonistic towards Orwa ever since he began remaining with Murera, obviously jealous of her affection for him. Makireti disciplined her for knocking Orwa, and also disciplined Ishanga, who was trying to bite Sities’ tail.

09 March 2012

Another Friday – and Coconut Oiling Day, so Kihari made herself scarce. The Keepers had to round her up in the forest and bring her back, after which she got a good oiling! All then enjoyed dusting themselves in a pile of red soil just outside Maxwell’s gate. All thoroughly enjoyed the mudbath today, Mutara and Makireti displaying their football skills, which thrilled the guests.

10 March 2012

Kasigau, having recovered his strength, has the edge on the others because of his tusks, focusing especially on Ishanga, who previously used to enjoy bullying him! Today Ishanga lay on him as he was soil dusting and would not leave him until the Keepers intervened. Kasigau then went after her and disciplined her. At the mudbath, when she pushed Kilabasi, Kasigau again went after her, driving her out of the mudbath and back into the forest, cheered on by the visitors who could see that she deserved it!

11 March 2012

Solio was reluctant to leave her Stockade this morning, moving around and making her “wanting” mewing noise. The Keepers then brought her a good helping of Lucerne and after that she was ready for the day’s outing. In the afternoon she returned home early at 3.30 p.m. happy to settle down for the night! Kithaka is still unwell, all the female elephants fussing over him to comfort him and try and make him feel better.

12 March 2012

Kainuk and Kihari have long been rivals. Today, before finishing their milk, they engaged in a Pushing Fight, in which Turkwel had to intervene to separate them. As it was an extremely hot day, all the orphans thoroughly enjoyed their noon mudbath, Naipoki playing with the soccer ball in the water, which amused the visitors. Sonje was reluctant to go in due to her injured back leg, but Turkwel splashed water over her to cool her down.

13 March 2012

Today Murera and Orwa were on their own all day, since the Orphans went a long distance into the forest in search of browse. Her paralysed leg inhibits her greatly, but Mutara, Shukuru and Turkwel lavish great affection on her, aware that she is handicapped and suffering. However, Orwa is the “Wonder Boy” who is her constant companion and moreover, enjoys that role.

14 March 2012

Solio has always had a mind of her own. Today, having quenched her thirst at the water bin outside her Stockade, she went in the opposite direction to her usual beat, ignoring the Keepers who simply had to try and follow her. Having done the rounds out in the forest, she returned to her Stockade to play with Maxwell, after which she followed her Keepers in a docile mood, settling down to browse in the forest. Kasigau developed two large Elephant Warts on his trunk, but after homeopathic Thuya, they are about to fall off. Today, at 7.30 p.m., during the process of enjoying a dustbath in a pile of earth beside his Stockade door, Maxwell almost brought the door down, demonstrating the enormous strength of these ancient animals. The door had to be repaired and reinforced.

15 March 2012

All the female orphans want to take care of, and be close to little Kithaka, the baby of the Nursery. The Big Girls, Mutara, Shukuru, Makireti and Turkwel express their affection to all the younger ones such as Kainuk, Naipoki, Ishaq-B, Kihari and Sities, but Kithaka is the Nursery favourite of them all. Kasigau enjoys showing his dominance over the Big Girls, since he has longer tusks. Mutara enlisted the help of Shukuru to put him back in his place, after which he walked peacefully amongst the herd, but distanced himself from them once in the Browsing Area.

16 March 2012

Another Oiling Day, so the Keepers kept a close watch on Kihari, Kasigau and Kilabasi, who do not enjoy this ritual. Even Murera, Orwa and little Kithaka had an oiling, and a dustbath afterwards, the Keepers helping Murera with the dusting. The Vet came to look at Murera again, almost certain now that she has a pelvic injury which will take a long time to mend.

17 March 2012

Ishanga and Kilabasi were the first to greet Murera today, accompanying her and Orwa and Murera shuffled out of her Stockade. Today little Kithaka remained with his Keepers who tried to encourage him to take his milk. Turkwel and Kainuk remained behind to be with him when the others headed out to browse, rumbling to him to encourage him.

18 March 2012

On their way out to browse, the orphans encountered the resident herd of impalas, who frequent the vicinity of the Headquarters where they feel safer from the lions. Makireti, Sities, Ishaq-B and Kihari chased them off, Sities pursuing them further afield, being always eager to charge the warthog piglets who enjoy leading her a dance. She was trumpeting and bush-bashing on her return journey, obviously very proud of herself.

19 March 2012

Solio again gave her Keepers the slip today, leaving them trying to follow at a distance and calling her. She turned up back in her Stockade, and settled down to enjoy a Lucerne meal, much to their surprise. After this, she was more obedient, and followed them out into the bush.

20 March 2012

A Rescue was on the Cards today, this time an orphan from Ol Malo Ranch in Laikipia, who had been without his mother for sometime, and had part of his tail bitten off by hyaenas. The calf arrived back in the Nursery at 4 p.m. He eagerly accepted some milk, despite still being aggressive towards humans, and later was greeted warmly by all the Nursery elephants when they returned for the night. Tano, Ishanga, Makireti, Shukuru, and Mutara welcomed him warmly, Tano reluctant to leave him and return to her stable. He occupied Shukuru’s former Stockade, between Mutara and Ishanga, Shukuru having been relocated next door to Kasigau, about which she complained loudly. She was then moved into Mutara’s stockade, next door to the newcomer, and Mutara took her place next door to Kasigau. The newcomer was given the name “Kanjoro” after the place where he was found.

21 March 2012

Kanjoro was greeted warmly by all the orphans this morning, to which he responded warmly. Mutara, who spent the night in her new Stockade next door to Kasigau was first to approach him. He will be held in the Stockade for a few days until he has calmed down and trusts the Keepers. Murera’s injured leg has swollen badly again, which is of concern.

22 March 2012

Kanjoro is taking his milk well, and without too much aggression on this, his second day in the Nursery. When the others left for the bush, he was lonely and upset, becoming resentful against any human he saw, banging on the door, wanting to be allowed out. However, he soon cooled down.

23 March 2012

Solio wandered around the compound today, urinating to mark her territory. She did not want to follow the Keeper into the bush, but instead went to Maxwell’s door and engaged him in a play fight at the door which took the strain! The Keepers managed to entice Solio away, fearing that the door might come down.

24 March 2012

This morning Kithaka was stronger and more active. Turkwel and Kainuk were waiting outside his stable door to welcome him. As soon as the door was opened, Kainuk pushed past the Keeper and wound her trunk lovingly around Kithaka’s neck, rumbling to him. She then pushed him gently with her foreleg, so Kithaka emerged, to receive the same welcome from Turkwel. Turkwel and Kainuk then escorted Kithaka to the others, who likewise were delighted to welcome him. Thereafter the day passed peacefully and well.

25 March 2012

At around midday, having again given her Keepers the slip, Solio turned up where Murera and Orwa were feeding. The Keepers were unaware of her presence but noticed that Murera was trying to hurry, dragging her injured leg more rapidly than usual. At first they thought that she might have seen the wild buffalo that hangs around the Headquarters and went to investigate, only to find Solio confronting Murera and Orwa, with her head down. The Keepers alerted Solio’s Keepers, who were still searching for her, and together they all managed to steer her away from the two elephants.

26 March 2012

There are two sittings of milk at the mudbath, since there are not sufficient Keepers to feed all the orphans at the Nursery at the same time. Shukuru, who belongs to the second sitting, broke away and rushed to the mudbath ahead of all the other older orphans, eager to get her milk first. There she bellowed and trumpeted for her milk, exciting the mudbath guests who were just a few metres away behind the cordon.

27 March 2012

Today, Kanjoro was taken out to join the other orphans, who remained nearby in order to be fed their 9 a.m. milk feed at his door, after which he would be let out of his Stockade. Tano was first to enter his Stockade and after a few moments walked out with Kanjoro following her. At first he seemed a bit confused, smelling all the orphans one by one as they crowded around to welcome him into their midst. After a while, all headed out into the forest to browse, surrounded by the Keepers in order to ensure that Kanjoro did not try and escape. He accompanied Turkwel’s group to the mudbath, eyeing all the visitors suspiciously, and having taken his milk, pushed the Keeper around a bit, wanting more. After mudbath, he settled down, and when it was time to return to the Stockades for the night, he went in without any hesitation.

28 March 2012

The Keepers surrounded Kanjoro to ensure that he did not try and escape as he emerged from his Stockade in the morning. Fortunately, Mutara and her older group were there to assist, so there was no problem. All then went peacefully off into the forest to browse. At the mudbath, Kanjoro tried to sneak away, but the Keepers followed him. He ended up with Murera and Orwa, where he waited until Turkwel and her group came by to collect him. He joined them willingly so the afternoon passed peacefully.

29 March 2012

The orphans all gathered outside Kithaka’s stable, Sities rumbling to him as he emerged, putting her trunk into his mouth to kiss him. Mutara and Makireti pulled down some tree branches for him. Ishanga and Naipoki meanwhile were waiting outside Kanjoro’s Stockade, waiting for him to come out. At the 3 p.m. Private Viewing, Mutara blew dust over little Kithaka, and with her body shielded him from the sun as would a caring mother.

30 March 2012

Whilst browsing out in the bush, the Keepers noticed that Kanjoro was not amongst the group, and Ishanga and Naipoki were also slightly apart, obviously indicating the direction in which he had gone. The Keepers tracked him, and found him near the mudbath, with his tail stump bleeding. They concluded that Ishanga must have bitten it, since of late she has been prone to biting the tails of the others. When the other elephants joined him, he was nervous and wanted to escape again, obviously fearing that his tail stump might again be chomped! The Keepers applied green clay on the wound, and did their best to comfort him.

31 March 2012

The Orphans were woken up by a roaring lion, who passed close by their Night Quarters at 5 a.m., and proceeded on down past the mudbath area, roaring intermittently. Sities, Naipoki and Kainuk were especially happy to welcome daylight and their Keepers, playfully romping around the yard waiting for little Kithaka to emerge. Later, there was another Rescue Alert, this time from Rumoi National Reserve in the Kerio Valley below Eldoret where a baby elephant had become bogged in the mud of a drying waterhole, so the Rescue team, armed with life supporting Saline and Dextrose, plus milk and all the usual paraphernalia were soon on their way in a Chartered Plane. The new Orphan – a 6 – 8 month old female, was in a condition of such extreme emaciation that she had to be put on a drip to save her life before even being loaded into the plane. She arrived at the Nursery after dark at 7 p.m., by which time she was able to stand and take some milk, but later collapsed again so the drip had to be continued. It will be touch and go during the coming days for this baby, who has been named “Kerio”.