March was the month that Emoli decided to take the next step in his rewilding journey. Instead of returning to the stockades at night, the eight-year-old started peeling off with Ndotto, Ngilai, and Tagwa. The semi-independent quartet typically retire to the slopes of Mzinga Hill — still within sight of the stockades, but feeling very adult.
1 March
On a wonderful morning at the Voi stockades, the dependent orphans enjoyed a milk feed followed by treats of lucerne and range cubes. After spending the night near the stockades, Ngilai, Ndotto and Tagwa joined the herd for breakfast. These three elephants are on their way to a wild life, spending most days with their family but sleeping out on Msinga Hill. Their transition is a gradual one and they may continue with this routine for months. Lasayen and Murit, in contrast, disappeared with some ex-orphans at the end of December and have not been seen since.
Many members of our herd had an early dust bath on the mound of red soil. Ngilai was showboating while Akina struck poses and Epiya squatted with trunk twirling. Itinyi and Ashanti rubbed bodies while Lemeki lay relaxing. Predictably, Emoli and Thamana played pushing games next to them. As the others covered themselves with soil, Ngilai and Godoma stood with trunks entwined near the stockades.
Eventually, the herd headed out to spend the morning browsing over the open grasslands at the foot of Msinga Hill. As noon approached, the orphans crowded under the trees to shelter from the scorching sun while waiting for the milk van to arrive.
After gulping down their milk in groups of three or four, they sprinted down to the baobab tree water trough to drink. Many wallowed in the water hole and hosed themselves with dry soil before browsing some more on the hill.
On a sunny morning, the orphans emerged from their shared enclosures and gathered in the area in front of the stockades. Many enjoyed a dust bath before walking out to browse. Lemeki rolled around on the mound of soil while Ashanti and Itinyi playing pushing games with trunks entwined. As Ndotto strolled along the terraces, Manda joined Lemeki for a dust bath. Ushindi invited Itinyi to a sparring match on the upper terrace, but Itinyi was suspicious of Ushindi’s motives and walked away. Godoma joined the dust bath group, spraying soil everywhere, while Ndotto hugged Ushindi, Kilulu posed elegantly and Ngilai had a nap on top of the pile.
The orphans left the stockades and manoeuvred their way over the rocky Msinga Hill, pulling down delicious acacia branches while walking in the direction of the baobab tree mud wallow. In the afternoon, the herd visited the wallow as usual after another milk feed. Tagwa and Lemeki made a stopover at the water trough before joining their friends in the muddy water.
Later in the afternoon, the herd meandered back to the stockades. Today, Ndotto, Ngilai, Tagwa — and notably, new addition Emoli — chose to stay out for the night, resting on the slopes of the hill.
On another sunny morning, the dependent orphans stood side by side at the feeding trough filling their mouths with range cubes. After a night out, Ndotto, Ngilai, Tagwa and Emoli jogged down the hill to join the herd for breakfast. Ex-orphan Mweya, calves Mwitu and Mwangaza, and fellow ex-orphans Panda, Mbirikani, Kihari, Pika Pika, Arruba, Rorogoi, Sagala, Mudanda, Naipoki and Ndii visited briefly before returning to the bush with Emoli in tow.
Mbegu and Busara, Dabida, Juni, Epiya and feisty Kenderi led the way from the trough to the pile of supplementary lucerne. When Juni blocked Ushindi from joining the group and getting close to Mbegu, the matriarch stretched her trunk out to welcome Ushindi. Unwilling to share Mbegu, Juni waited for Tagwa who was walking behind them.
After breakfast, the orphans settled on the rocky Msinga Hill browsing towards the open plains. Itinyi joined Ndotto and Ngilai who were browsing at a distance from the herd.
In the afternoon, Losoito led the first group of Rokka, Busara, Baraka and Epiya down the hill for a milk feed. Busara quickly finished her bottle and stood hoping for a bonus bottle. We pushed her on to the wallow. After the mud wallow, the orphans resumed browsing in the woods until dusk.
On a bright morning, the orphans gathered at the feeding trough to enjoy range cubes before heading over to the lucerne area. Like yesterday, Mbegu led the babies to the lucerne while Ashanti and Thamana went for an early morning dust bath, hosing themselves with dry soil. Thamana lay on his side relaxing and Losoito posed elegantly on the mound while Ushindi rubbed bodies and clambered on top of her. Moments later, Ngilai and Hildana joined the mini herd on the mound.
The orphans spent the morning browsing over the open grass fields next to Msinga Hill. Mid-morning, Ushindi, Itinyi and Dabida sneaked away from the herd to join a wild herd wandering in the direction of the baobab mud wallow. When the three orphans did not respond to our whistles and calls, we drove south into an area of wooded vegetation as the wild elephants could have kidnapped them. We successfully shepherded our three vagabonds back to their own herd.
In the afternoon, the orphans visited the mud wallow. Afterwards, we took the herd up the hill to avoid any risk of the wild herd kidnapping our babies.
The orphans emerged from their stockades just after dawn, padded down the path, drank their milk and lined up at the feeding trough. Once again, Ndotto, Ngilai and Tagwa spent the night out and joined the herd for breakfast. Ngilai was trunk hugging Godoma at the stockade water trough while Ndotto posed on the boulder by the entrance.
Led by Tamiyoi, the herd headed out. They spent the morning browsing over the open plains. Lemeki teamed up with adopted baby Losoito and best friend Thamana – the three elephants browsed on the thick grass.
In the afternoon, the orphans gathered in the feeding area at the bottom of the hill to wait for the milk truck. Losoito, Ashanti, Busara, Baraka, Rokka and Manda sped off in the first group and rushed down to the mud wallow afterwards.
Almost the whole herd paddled or splashed or wallowed in the muddy water as it was a very hot day. Several played water pushing games before enjoying a roll around on the mound of dry soil. After lots of fun, the orphans ambled away, today choosing to walk to the top of Msinga Hill.
Just before dawn, Mweya’s herd of ex-orphans visited for a short time. They drank from the water trough, ate some lucerne and padded quietly away. Both Arruba and Mbirikani look heavily-pregnant — so we are hopeful of more wild-born babies later in the year!
Our orphans spread out in front of the stockades in the early morning. When Hildana tried to push Juni away from the feeding trough, Tagwa rescued little sister Juni and disciplined naughty Hildana. Mbegu was feeding at the other end of the trough with Busara, Dabida and Epiya. Kenderi and Rokka chose to eat their pellets on the terraces. Rokka does not like crowded places, often choosing to be on her own or with good friend Busara. Thamana, Itinyi, Lemeki and Losoito, her adopted baby, were rubbing faces and splashing on the pile of dry earth.
After breakfast, the orphans settled on Msinga Hill just above the stockades where they browsed for the whole morning before returning for the afternoon milk feed. Later in the day, Dr Limo visited — he checked on the elephant rescued last month who is still very weak and treated a minor wound on Tagwa’s left foreleg.
Last night, Tagwa slept in her old stockade with her friends. After her treatment, she needed time to rest. In the morning, we saw Ndotto and Ngilai on the lower slopes of the hill where they had spent the night. It was not long before they arrived at the stockades. After gulping their milk, the elephants settled down to scoop up pellets and lucerne before setting out on their daily browsing adventures.
Tamiyoi, with Manda and Ashanti in tow, walked up the hill browsing on delicious acacia branches, while Mbegu and several babies remained at the foot, and Godoma, Baraka, Losoito and Lemeki ambled over the grasslands. As the orphans browsed through the bush, a wild elephant family walked past on their way to the baobab water hole.
In the afternoon, we gathered the orphans in a cluster near the feeding area, waiting for the milk to arrive. Restless Ushindi made several (unsuccessful) attempts to sneak away in the hope of being first to be fed. It was a very hot day. Most of the orphans stopped off at the trough to quench their thirst and then carried on to the mud wallow. Ngilai was trunk hugging and kissing Kilulu by the trough and Hildana was mounting Kenderi in the wallow.
In the evening, the orphans returned to the safety of the stockades for the night. When they arrived, Dabida and Manda had a play fight that become serious. Unfortunately, as they clashed, Dabida broke her other tusk. For now, the young elephant will make do without tusks – but they will soon grow back.
While most of the orphans stood patiently waiting for us to open their gates, Epiya and Ashanti were pushing each other as they both wanted to walk out first. After the milk feed, the orphans settled at the feeding trough and around the lucerne where Ndotto and Ngilai soon joined them.
After filling her belly, Ashanti splashed in the small stockade mud wallow while Losoito and Lemeki tumbled on the mound of soil. A few minutes later, Thamana, Itinyi and Kilulu joined them for a playful early morning dust bath.
The orphans soon set out to browse over the peak of Msinga Hill above the stockade compound. Yesterday, we were unable to fill up the baobab tree mud wallow due to a problem with the Mzima Springs pipe. As a result, the herd had their afternoon milk feed and wallow outside the stockades.
After cooling off in the muddy pool, Itinyi play mounted Kenderi, Lemeki stretched and dug into the ground with her growing tusks, Ashanti and Kilulu rolled together on the mound of soil, and Seri scratched her backside on the famous rock. Later on, the orphans browsed over the hill for the rest of the day.
On a gloomy morning, the orphans were also in grey moods. The herd wandered out from their shared enclosures to find Ndotto, Ngilai and Tagwa standing still with eyes closed under the tree after another night out, possibly with the ex-orphans. Kenderi and Rokka browsed on range cubes on the lower terrace while Manda rolled around on the pile of red soil. Hildana scratched himself on the famous rock and then joined Manda. Godoma also hosed herself with soil while Tamiyoi sat on her backside posing on the mound. Epiya, Mbegu and Ushindi enjoyed a morning mud wallow. Kenderi and Itinyi were sparring on the terraces, but Lemeki and Losoito were standing in the walkway, waiting to head out to the bush.
After browsing far afield in the morning, the herd visited the mud wallow as usual in the afternoon before ambling back to the stockades with their Keepers. In the early evening, a herd of wild elephants took their place around the wallow.
On another cloudy morning, the orphans lined up on the feeding trough, scrambling for range cubes after the milk feed. While Ashanti knelt to scoop up pellets, we stayed close to protect her from naughty elephants like Hildana and Dabida who could try to push her away from the trough. Tagwa was standing next to the fence line resting her trunk on the rock while Rokka, Ushindi and the rest were picking up pieces of lucerne. After breakfast the orphans left the stockades for their usual browsing adventures on Msinga Hill.
In the afternoon, Ashanti and Baraka had a squabble over milk. When Baraka tried to pinch Ashanti’s bottle, Ashanti gave her a shove. Watching the drama, Busara drank her milk extra quickly and walked on to join her friend Rokka at the water trough - without asking for a bonus bottle.
While some orphans wallowed, Thamana massaged his backside against the peacock tree, Godoma rubbed hers against the baobab, and Busara and Lemeki covered themselves in red soil dust. Refreshed, the herd wandered back out to browse.
Ngilai and Ndotto played a sparring game by the water trough after walking down the hill and almost arriving late for breakfast! Manda, Losoito, Lemeki, Ashanti, Thamana and Akina enjoyed an early morning dust bath. Kilulu posed and scratched on the famous rock while Tagwa trunk hugged Dabida. Hildana, Baraka and Godoma stood in a line on the terrace enjoying range cubes while Mbegu, Juni, Kilulu, Busara, Baraka and Akina gathered around the lucerne.
After breakfast the orphans spread out on the hill where they spent the morning before walking back to the stockades in the afternoon for another milk feed. Hildana was mounting Kenderi and Godoma was doing yoga poses on the pile of dry soil. Then Godoma and Juni massaged themselves against the famous rock. Itinyi posed on the terraces before playing mounting games with Epiya. After these games, Thamana sparred with Itinyi while best friend Lemeki rode on his back, and then Itinyi climbed on top of Thamana.
In the early evening, Mweya’s herd of ex-orphans visited the stockades to drink from the trough before padding back to the bush. Emoli, Tagwa, Ndotto and Ngilai did not sleep in their stockades.
It was a cloudy morning and the orphans were not in playful moods. They stood quietly at the feeding trough – except for naughty Dabida who was pushing Busara and Epiya. While the others moved on to the pile of lucerne, Mbegu and Busara walked out from the stockades to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill. The rest of the herd soon joined them followed by Ndotto, Ngilai, Emoli and Tagwa who had spent the night on the hill.
In the afternoon, the orphans gathered at the feeding area waiting for the milk truck to arrive (even though Emoli, Godoma, Mbegu, Ndotto, Ngilai, Tagwa and Tamiyoi are no longer milk dependent). Afterwards, they walked down to the baobab mud wallow where they drank from the trough and stood around the water hole.
The herd ambled back out to browse. As they wandered along in a line, frisky Kenderi kept trying to mount Ashanti - until Tamiyoi told her off and shoved her away from the younger female.
Soon after dawn, Mweya’s herd of ex-orphans with Ndotto, Ngilai and Tagwa in tow arrived at the stockades. Mweya, calves Mwitu and Mwangaza, Panda, Mbirikani, Kihari, Pika Pika, Arruba, Rorogoi, Sagala, Mudanda, Naipoki, Ndii, Ndotto and Ngilai left soon after. Emoli also walked out with Mweya’s herd but Tagwa stayed back with Mbegu’s herd.
Our orphans spent the morning browsing in small groups over the grasslands before visiting the baobab tree mud wallow in the afternoon. Many wallowed in the muddy water today. After cooling off, Kilulu rolled out of the wallow, clambered to his feet and challenged Kenderi to a sparring match. As many submerged their bodies in the water, Hildana tried to mount Ashanti.
Mud bathing was followed by dust baths. Lemeki and Losoito lay together on the mound of soil while Thamana did elephant yoga next to them. Mbegu and Busara scratched their backsides against the baobab and then Busara rubbed her body against Thamana after he lay down. Itinyi and Kenderi played a sparring match with Itinyi standing on the trough. Manda massaged himself on the baobab tree before joining the herd as they wandered back to the bush. In addition to our three routine ‘nightclubbers’, Emoli did not come back in the evening.
This morning, Rokka and Losoito chose to feed on range cubes on the terraces rather than at the feeding trough, avoiding the risk of being shoved out of the way by Thamana, Hildana, Kenderi or Dabida. When Thamana pushed Dabida at the trough, he walked away to the lucerne area. Busara, Epiya, Juni, Baraka and Seri were sticking close to Mbegu at the trough, enjoying her protection while they scooped up cubes.
As always, the orphans soon headed out to browse around Msinga Hill. In a pattern established over the past two months, Ndotto and Ngilai walked away to spend time but rejoined the herd later in the day. We did not see Emoli or Tagwa today and feel sure that they are with Mweya’s herd.
In the afternoon, the orphans cooled off in the mud wallow. Juni posed on the edge while Godoma, Baraka, Itinyi, Ashanti and Losoito lay submerged in the middle of the pool, slapping their trunks on the water while climbing on top of each other. Even Ndotto got wet today, paddling before lying down on the edge. Thamana was showing off on the mound of red soil while Kilulu and Kenderi playing a pushing and wrestling game next to him.
Afterwards, the herd ambled back to the safety of the stockades for the night, quietly walking up the path and into their shared enclosures.
Mweya and her herd of ex-orphans arrived at the stockades as the orphans were feeding on range cubes and lucerne. They joined our orphans for breakfast and then hung around for some time. Baby Mwangaza lay down for a nap under the tree with a cluster of nannies standing guard.
Losoito, Lemeki and Thamana hosed their bodies and rubbed faces on the mound of dry soil, Ushindi struck poses next to the famous rock, Busara and Itinyi played a sparring game while Juni squatted on her rump next to the lucerne, Godoma strolled around twirling a thick branch with her trunk, and Ashanti dug into the ground with her tusks.
Mweya, babies Mwitu and Mwangaza and the ex-orphans spent the morning browsing with our herd on the slopes of Msinga Hill before disappearing into the bush.
On another wonderful morning, the dependent orphans enjoyed range cubes and lucerne after the milk feed. Juni tried to push Ashanti away from Mbegu at the feeding trough, as Losoito and Rokka ate pellets on the terrace away from the crowd, Itinyi and Kenderi had a wrestling match, and Tamiyoi stretched her trunk over the fence to pull down acacia branches. Akina, Baraka, Dabida and Epiya joined Losoito on the terraces while Mbegu and Ngilai stood close with trunks entwined, and Kenderi took on Kilulu in another sparring game. Before heading out, Lemeki and Losoito had a morning dust bath and Ngilai ate range cubes next to Baraka and Dabida.
The dependent orphans spent the morning browsing peacefully on Msinga Hill and the afternoon at the mud wallow. The whole herd padded into the muddy water today. Climbing out, Ashanti, Busara, Epiya, Godoma and Kilulu tumbled around on the mound of dry soil. Ndotto and Ngilai joined them for a dust bath. As Kilulu rolled on the ground, Ngilai accidentally stepped on his hind leg. Kilulu stood up and walked away calmly as if nothing had happened. The orphans later resumed browsing deep in the bush.
The orphans gathered in front of the stockades in the early morning. Rokka and Busara trunk touched as the two browsed in the lucerne area. Ndotto, Ngilai and Tagwa joined our herd after spending the night on the hill with the ex-orphans but Emoli did not visit. Soon, Rokka, Losoito, Tamiyoi, Lemeki and Ashanti led the herd out to browse on Msinga Hill.
On a hot afternoon, most of the herd drank from the water trough and then plunged into the mud wallow while Lemeki did her best to clamber into the trough. Her attempt was unsuccessful and so she just stood there splashing water. As many orphans wallowed and rolled against each other, Rokka kept her distance. She stood under the baobab tree and had a solo dust bath, reluctant to swim with rougher elephants like Hildana, Dabida and Kenderi. Ndotto enjoyed a massage against the baobab after a wallow before ambling out with the dependent herd.
In the early morning, Godoma, Ashanti, Lemeki and Seri stood side by side at the range cubes feeding trough while the rest of the herd clustered around the supplementary lucerne. Ndotto, Ngilai and Tagwa joined the herd for breakfast but there was no sign of Emoli – we have not seen him for several days. Mbegu and Rokka stood close together by the entrance while Kenderi and Itinyi played their daily wrestling game.
The orphans left the stockades and spread out to browse on Msinga Hill. In the afternoon, they padded down the hill to the mud wallow. Itinyi, Ashanti, Losoito and Juni plunged into the mud bath while Busara rolled around on the dry ground. Kenderi and Itinyi began a sparring match until they were interrupted by a jealous Kilulu. Itinyi walked away to the trough and Kilulu took his place.
Old friends Rokka and Manda led the orphans back out to browse. The herd had a peaceful afternoon browsing on the slopes of the hill.
The scorching sun was out and so were the orphans. After spending the night on the hill with Mweya, calves Mwitu and Mwangaza, Panda, Mbirikani, Kihari, Pika Pika, Arruba, Rorogoi, Sagala, Mudanda, Naipoki, Ndii and Emoli, Tagwa, Ndotto and Ngilai browsed on lucerne with our still-dependent orphans. Emoli and Tagwa remained the herd of ex-orphans rather than visiting the stockades for breakfast.
Ashanti finished her bottle of milk, ran to the water trough to top it up, and strolled back hoping that we might give her an extra bottle. We took the bottle and shepherded her on to the feeding trough. Hildana and Dabida were in the next group padding down the path for their milk feed. The two orphans are rivals who often shove each other around. Today, Dabida drank half her bottle, pushed Hildana for no reason, and went back to drinking her own. The milk-dependent orphans then joined the older orphans for pellets and lucerne.
In the afternoon, the orphans returned to the stockades. After another milk feed, Manda massaged his rump against the terrace wall, while Kenderi play mounted Ashanti, wrestled with Kilulu and scratched himself on the famous rock. The herd headed back to the field before returning to their safe enclosures for the night.
After spending the night outside the stockades, Mweya’s herd of ex-orphans, including Emoli, headed out just before dawn while our herd waited for their gates to be opened. Ndotto, Ngilai and Tagwa joined the ex-orphans on their way out – they browsed with Mweya and the others for a time before joining Mbegu’s herd later that morning.
The orphans spread out over the rocky Msinga Hill to browse. Tagwa and adopted baby Juni ambled over the open grasslands as the rest of the herd walked on the lower slopes. Tamiyoi, Lemeki, Ashanti and Losoito climbed up to the top in search of tasty greens.
In the afternoon, the dependent orphans returned to the stockades for another milk feed. Kenderi and Itinyi began a wrestling match, Rokka and Losoito scratched themselves on the famous rock, Juni, Manda and Ashanti enjoyed a dust bath, Seri and Hildana stood close with trunks entwined, and feisty Kenderi play mounted Ashanti. Mbegu and Busara, with Epiya and Baraka in their wake, led the herd back out to browse in the late afternoon.
On a wonderful sunny morning at the stockades, the orphans were enjoying their breakfast. Matriarch Mbegu stood close to Busara, trunk hugging the younger girl. Manda and Ashanti soon joined them. Baraka was showboating on the terrace wall, flaring her ears and lifting her trunk, while Godoma twisted down acacia branches across the fence. Dabida and Epiya were squabbling – when Dabida pushed Epiya away from her position close to Mbegu, Epiya walked away, pretending to have given up the space, but then turned around and knocked Dabida from behind. Trumpeting, Dabida walked away. Mbegu watched the drama but did not react or interfere.
It was an uneventful afternoon - the orphans visited the mud wallow and went back to browsing over the open fields. Many clambered all the way to the top of the hill in search of green browse.
As some orphans stood quietly in front of the stockades in the early morning, others played pushing and wrestling games. Itinyi played an exciting sparring game with Kenderi on the dust hill before abandoning her and clashing heads and tusks with Thamana. Thamana took a break in the middle of the match and then resumed the game.
The herd headed out to browse with Ngilai, Ndotto and Tagwa who arrived as usual soon after dawn. After browsing for a time, the orphans took shelter under the canopies of large trees as it was a very hot day. In the afternoon, as we had been unable to fill up the baobab tree mud wallow, the orphans returned to the stockades for a milk feed and a mud bath.
In the early evening, Ndotto and Ngilai took a break from browsing to engage in a wonderful sparring game. Afterwards they – and Tagwa - followed the herd back to the stockades, stood under the tree for a time, and ambled out to spend the night on the hill.
In the very early morning before it was light, a herd of wild elephants arrived at the stockades and gathered around the water trough. In the midst of the herd was Murit! Ten-year-old bulls Murit and Lasayen wandered away with Mudanda’s herd of ex-orphans at the end of December and we have not seen them since. Lasayen was not with the herd – we think that he must be with another wild herd, especially as there are many around.
When the wild herd left, Murit stayed. He joined Ndotto, Ngilai and Tagwa (who arrived just before dawn) in the lucerne area. Ndotto was very happy to see Murit and the two bulls stood close with heads touching and trunks draped downwards. They ate range cubes together and had a sparring match. When the other orphans came out of their stockades, many greeted their old friend. It was a special morning.
The herd later left the stockades for the field. Tagwa browsed next to our elephants today but Ndotto, Murit and Ngilai wandered a distance away while remaining within sight. In the evening, our almost-independent orphans spent the evening outside the stockades and the night on the hill.
The morning was wonderful. After spending the night on the slopes of Msinga Hill overlooking the stockades, Murit, Ngilai, Ndotto and Tagwa arrived in good time for breakfast. They joined the dependent orphans at the feeding trough. Ndotto and Murit engaged in a friendly sparring game, showing off to their curious younger friends. The orphaned elephants later left for the field. Ngilai and Ndotto browsed with Murit while Tagwa stayed with Mbegu’s herd.
In the afternoon, the baobab tree water hole was full of wallowing elephants. Ashanti lay contentedly until Kenderi spoilt her peace by playing rough and pushing her under the water. After being rescued by Lemeki, Ashanti climbed out of the pool and joined other friends for a dust bath.
As the elephants were leaving the water hole, a herd of wild elephants arrived. Mbegu and Tagwa moved forward protectively to block their path, but then moved aside and caught up with the rest of their herd.
Tagwa, Juni and Tamiyoi led the herd out to the browsing grounds this morning. The orphans ambled along in single file with Mbegu trying to keep adopted babies Busara and Rokka close to her. She likes to keep both close to avoid jealous squabbles.
The herd spread out over Msinga Hill. Teenagers Murit, Lasayen and Ngilai again browsed at a distance but within sight of the others while Tagwa stayed close.
In the afternoon, the orphans were in playful moods. Itinyi took advantage of a lying-down Thamana to climb onto his back. Mbegu came to Thamana’s rescue and then took Busara out of the water, guarding her as she scratched her backside against a tree. Tamiyoi was embracing Baraka, massaging her neck along her back, until a jealous Losoito pushed a way between them, hoping for the same treatment from Tamiyoi. Ashanti, Lemeki and Losoito rolled around together on a patch of dry soil.
Murit, Ngilai and Ndotto arrived just after dark when the orphans were in their stockades. They drank from the trough and ambled back to the hill. Tagwa was not with them – we felt sure she was with Mweya’s herd. We have not seen Edie’s herd of ex-orphans this month.
The milk-dependent orphans came out of their stockades and sprinted down the path for another feed before joining their senior friends at the range cubes trough and around the pile of fresh lucerne. Today, the herd spread out to browse on the western side of Msinga Hill. Tamiyoi stayed close to adopted baby Juni while Mbegu browsed with Busara, Rokka and Ashanti.
In the afternoon, the orphans jogged down to the milk feeding area in groups of five and then on to the baobab tree mud wallow. They stood around the pool, drinking from the trough or massaging themselves against trees.
Water baby Itinyi plunged into the wallow despite the overcast day. His impressive splashing persuaded Ashanti to join him. When she lay down in the muddy water, Itinyi could not resist clambering atop her, pushing her under. Lemeki charged to the rescue, Ashanti climbed out of the wallow, and Itinyi and Lemeki began a water sparring match. After the game, the two orphans caught up with the herd as they headed back out to browse.
It was a wonderful beginning to the day. The orphaned elephants were full of excitement and played a version of hide and seek in front of the stockades, trumpeting as they charged all over the terraces. Mini matriarch Mbegu calmly watched all the action with adopted baby Busara. Ndotto walked over to join Mbegu and Busara. He stood close to the younger elephant and touched her with his trunk whereupon Busara stretched out her trunk to Mbegu, asking for reassurance that the older bull would not hurt her. Mbegu assured her she was safe and Busara relaxed.
In the morning, Ndotto, Ngilai and Muri walked off in a different direction from the herd but returned to the stockades at dusk and spent the night under the tree.
In the afternoon, the sun was shining and many elephants paddled or wallowed in the pool. They lay down to wallow with trunks twirling and ears flapping. After yesterday’s sparring game, Itinyi would not stay away from Lemeki. He followed her out of the water and persuaded her to another wrestling match with him, this time on dry land.
After a short time in front of the stockades, the herd headed out to explore the bush. Arriving on the southern slope of Msinga Hill, Ashanti and Busara squeezed their chunky bodies into a narrow erosion trench and rubbed against each other. Murit and Ngilai played a noisy wrestling match, showing off their strength to the herd.
Later in the morning, Murit led Ndotto and Ngilai away from the others. The three bulls walked towards the north, browsing as they ambled far from the herd. After over three months away from the stockades, Murit has become a bush veteran! They did not return in the evening, choosing to spend the night out.
As it was sprinkling with rain, we brought the herd back to the stockades for their afternoon milk feed. They enjoyed lying on the mound of red soil, rolling around with their friends before later leaving for browsing.
Dr Limo visited the stockades today to treat the elephant rescued last month. He was pleased to report that the wound was healing well and is hopeful of a full recovery.
It was raining this morning when we opened the doors of the elephants’ stockades. They ran out in groups, excited at another milk feed. Losoito was trumpeting so loudly when she reached a Keeper waiting with her bottle that Baraka – who had been drinking quietly next to her – abandoned her bottle and moved along to the next Keeper! Reacting to Losoito’s shouting, Mbegu and Godoma came running, only to find her greedily gulping her milk.
While the wonderful rain continued to fall, Losoito, Itinyi and Akina stood side by side scratching their backsides against a terrace wall while Hildana watched Itinyi and Kenderi play a tough wrestling and pushing around game. When Itinyi gained the upper hand and Kenderi walked away, Hildana touched Itinyi’s head with a congratulatory trunk touch.
The orphaned elephants wandered out to browse without Ndotto, Murit and Ngilai. Our three big bulls did not visit this morning after being led away yesterday to explore by Murit.
The dependent orphans feasted on milk, range cubes and lucerne before being walking out to the bush behind Tagwa and Juni. Busara and Rokka browsed on either side of Mbegu, standing so close that they were leaning against the matriarch for most of the morning. They succeeded in sharing their favourite big sister and she was happy to be with them both.
After visiting the mud wallow in the afternoon, the herd explored the northern side of Msinga Hill. When something spooked the orphans, they began charging all over the hill, trumpeting as they bush bashed. Kilulu, Hildana, Itinyi, Kenderi, Akina, Seri, Epiya and Dabida got a fright and ran down the hill, heading in the direction of the stockades. We ran after them, calmed them down and, eventually, the whole herd went back to browsing.
In the evening, Ndotto, Murit and Ngilai did not visit and so Tagwa was left standing outside on her own. We shepherded her into Mbegu’s stockade so she did not have to spend the night by herself. She padded up the path contentedly and settled down for a sleepover with her old friends.
The elephants gathered around the pile of lucerne in the early morning. After feeding for some time, Dabida surprised her friends by lying down on the pile as if it was a mattress. Was she playing or was she trying to hide the tasty grass from the others? Soon, Dabida stood up and wandered away with her mouth and trunk stuffed with grass, leaving the others to enjoy the rest. Following her lead, Manda also picked up a considerable amount of lucerne and carried it away from the herd.
Today, Itinyi was pursuing Losoito in the hope of a sparring game. Losoito kept moving away from him, even though Itinyi had his trunk around Losoito’s head.
Eventually, the playful boy gave up and the herd headed out to browse over Msinga Hill. They meandered along in single file this morning before spreading over the hill. Most of the Voi Kids climbed up to the top while Mbegu and Godoma stayed at the bottom with Rokka, Busara, Baraka and Ashanti.
In the afternoon, the orphans visited the mud bath for a brief wallow. Itinyi and Kenderi abandoned their sparring match to catch up with the herd as they left for another browsing session. Ndotto, Ngilai and Murit did not visit us on the last day of the month.