Kaluku Neonate Unit
While orphaned elephants and rhinos remain in our care for many years, the reintegration journey of most creatures unfolds at a much quicker pace. As a result, our eclectic Kaluku herd is always shifting, as orphans reclaim their place in the wild and others enter the fold. We haven’t seen Mkubwa the buffalo and his girlfriend, Kidogo, in quite some time — this makes us happy, as it means they have linked up with local buffalo herds. Right now, it is Susu the big eland, Billy the little eland, and Kwale the hartebeest who make up the herd. They spend most of their day with Twiggy the giraffe. In fact, the quartet have become such a unit that we now refer to them as the ‘four musketeers’.
Apollo the orphaned rhino:
Much to everyone’s dismay, Apollo is back to his old tricks and pulling his classic disappearing acts again. Usually, the Keepers can tell when he is getting ready to run and head him off at the proverbial pass. On a few occasions, however, he managed a proper escape. Our wayward rhino doesn’t do this for any particular reason; he loves his daily routine and is very attached to his Keepers. Like any unruly adolescent, it’s as if he’s just trying to test the limits and see what he can get away with!
One day, Apollo ran all the way to a landmark we call Sundowner Rock before a pilot spotted him. His poor Keepers were exhausted by the time they escorted him back to Kaluku — and to add insult to injury, he continued his day as normal, nonchalant and seemingly oblivious to the fact that he had just led everyone on a massive scavenger hunt! When Apollo isn’t on his own missions, he loves to chase the ‘four musketeers,’ Susu and Billy the elands, Kwale the hartebeest, and Twiggy the giraffe. They enjoy these games of tag as much as he does.
The orphaned elephants:
As we shared last month, Doldol is no longer the only neonate on ‘her side’ of Kaluku. While she surprised us all by warmly welcoming the new arrival, she is still an only child at heart. She adores all her Keepers, but especially Mishak, who has been with her since day one. (All the Keepers insist they don’t have favourites, but we know Doldol has a special place in Mishak’s heart, too!) However, Doldol is very inquisitive and warmly greets anyone who happens to visit her stable. She recently developed a habit of eating small stones, which sometimes didn’t sit so well in her tummy. It is now a daily fight between her and her Keepers to remove the stones from her clutches. She makes quite a noise if her favourite tasty stone is removed from her mouth!
At the larger orphan compound, we have also welcomed several new rescues. Neonates are very fragile, so we are taking everything one day at a time, as we must. It has been interesting to see how the other orphans have responded to the newcomers. We have been most surprised by Manda’s response to one tiny bull. Manda has never been the most nurturing soul — actually, he is known around Kaluku as a ‘tough boy’ — but from the onset, he has paid very specific attention to the new little one, taking him on as his particular friend. Aware of his new status as an honorary big brother, Manda has been on his best behaviour and does not go off on his own as much as before.
Mini matriarch Rokka is also a reformed mischief maker — but she still can’t resist the occasional hijinks! She loves to mock charge, especially visitors who she doesn’t know well. She is all bluster, but seems to enjoy the reaction she gets from people. Usually, however, she is usually focused on looking after her favourite little boy, Mwinzi. While most of the larger elephants enjoy chasing Apollo, Rokka is wary of the rhino and always maintains a healthy distance from him.
Mwinzi is such an affable chap. We often find that the youngest orphans resent when they are usurped by even newer and smaller rescues — but not this little boy! He is happy-go-lucky, self-assured, and really unfussed by anything or anyone. He adores the mud bath and is always the dirtiest of the lot once they head back to the bush. The recent rains have left a bounty of tasty greens in their wake, and Mwinzi’s tummy is getting even rounder — which is a feat in and of itself!
Mayan and Vaarti have always been best friends, and as they are getting older, their relationship is only getting stronger. Vaarti is a full year younger than Mayan, but because Mayan struggled with his health so much as an infant, they are evenly sized. One could forgive Mayan for being competitive with his younger friend, but that thought never crosses his mind. He is such a light-hearted, gentle young bull.
Vaarti shares Mayan’s soft-natured spirit. He is obsessed with one particular Keeper, named Kingoo. Whether it be at the mud bath or out in the bush, he is always looking for Kingoo, sidling up to him for a long cuddle.
Twiggy the orphaned giraffe:
At long last, the rains have arrived in Kaluku. It seems like Twiggy can’t believe her luck — during the first deluge, she just stood there in the pouring rain! After a while, she took off, galloping through the puddles and mud. One could see that she was really, really enjoying herself. Twiggy spends a lot of time with Susu and Billy the elands and Kwale the hartebeest. Interestingly, she has picked up some of their eating habits! Usually, giraffes only lean down to drink water, but she stoops low to eat lucerne pellets, just as her friends do. However, Twiggy is also an expert browser, knowing to reach high into the trees for the sweetest leaves.
