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Ngilai has been a naughty boy recently. He has always naturally been a rough and playful bull, always wanting to engage his human family with pushing games as he would his elephant family, but for the past couple of days his behaviour has been the epitome of naughty! He is not usually naughty at milk feeding time but today he went on fighting everyone including his keepers to get to the milk wheelbarrow. Ndotto had to step in and save the situation by disciplining Ngilai and driving him away by pushing his little tusks into Ngilai’s hind. Ngilai repeated this naughty behaviour at the 11am feeding and any keeper who stood in his way he shoved to the side. He finally pushed over the wheelbarrow and all the milk that was still inside poured out. The keepers had to be quick to pick up the bottles that were for the babies still waiting to be fed! Ambo is such a funny little boy and he will hold a grudge against anyone that crosses the line with him. Earlier in the day Malima had shoved him to the side when she wanted to get to a branch that Shukuru had pulled down from a tree. In return Ambo blocked her and Malima cried out, causing Shukuru to step in and send Ambo away. Later on Ambo kept following Malima around and head-butting her in revenge! At one stage Jotto had to step in and help Malima as Ambo was pushing her into a mud pool. Esampu has been causing problems for the keepers at feeding times, always fighting to steal another milk bottle that is not hers. Today Tagwa had been watching her for awhile and as soon as she started to misbehave, Tagwa stepped in and charged at her, driving her away from the milk feeding place!

Just after the midday milk feed we had a heavy downpour which meant Maxwell got very excited and was running around his room, rolling in the mud and water that was running through his stockade! At one point we watched him running and playfully planting his horn into the ground before running and digging a big trench before heaving up a big chuck of soil, leaving a big chunk on his horn as well! He really did have a lot of fun running around and digging up mud. Out in the forest the elephant babies were being very playful as well. Some were rolling in the mud, sliding and bumping into one another while the likes of Esampu, Malima, Tamiyoi, Jotto, Ambo, Enkesha, Emoli, Kiasa, Maisha, Musiara and Maktao were all scampering about, enjoying the running water as they splashed and kicked in the streams. Little ones like Musiara, Maktao, Kiasa, Sattao and Maisha were very happily running into the water and trumpeting when they came across big waves.

Some of the older orphans have become so naughty at feeding times and bullying their younger friends for their bottles as well that the keepers have been forced to feed them last at every feeding time. Ngilai, Mundusi, Malkia, Esampu and even Tagwa have become so troublesome at this time, the keepers feed them last so that they have no one else to bother as everyone has already been fed. This has helped Ngilai, Mundusi and Esampu, who were the core troublemakers, during these feeding times. It has also given the chance for the others to enjoy their milk in peace!

The rainy season continues and we received a heavy downpour today. What started as a small shower around 8am soon turned into very heavy rain for about half an hour. Little babies like Kiasa, Maktao, Musiara and Sattao were brought back to the stockades to protect them from the bad weather. In the wild at such an age they would always have the protection of their mother above them, still being able to fit under her belly. Luggard joined them as well. As the keepers sheltered under umbrellas, some of the orphans gathered by the trees as others trumpeted and ran around in delight. Murit decided to brave the downpour in a different way by taking shelter under one of the keepers umbrella’s as well. Malkia, Ndotto, Lasayen, Esampu and Tagwa rolled around on the ground, digging at the soil with their little tusks and mud on their bodies. Kiko did not seem to be interested in the rain and took shelter in his room, peeping through his windows to catch a glimpse of what was going on outside. Maxwell decided to sleep through this rain storm under the roof in his bedroom, snoring loudly.

Due to the heavy rain yesterday it was very muddy during the visiting hour today, for the keepers, elephants and visitors! The orphans found the paths very slippery and tricky to walk on. Maisha slipped and fell twice before reaching the area to get her milk bottles. As the second group was having their milk, as usual Esampu wanted to get an extra bottle and today she tried with Mteto. Mteto protected her share by going in circles before the keepers managed to help her. The naughty girl did not stop there though as she turned to Sagala whose bottle unfortunately slipped from her grip, spilling all over the floor. Ndotto and Ngilai meanwhile were rolling on the wet soil and spraying some onto their backs, which unfortunately also reached some of the unsuspecting visitors behind!