Tusuja rolling on the wild junior
The wild junior, who appears to be enjoying the company of the orphans, reported early at the stockade compound on his own. When the orphans were let out, he was happy to have their company. Namalok exchanged morning greetings with Karisa while the wild junior had a game of rolling on ground. Tusuja was attracted by his game and so came to roll on him. Kauro, Kuishi and Jotto settled on scratching and shortly later, Orwa and the rest of his herd reported and joined the orphans too. Bomani played with Olsekki while Tusuja engaged the wild junior in a pushing game that he lost a few minutes later.
Just before noon at mud bath time, the sun was really hot and so all the orphans participated in wallowing after having their milk bottles, and later they went to roll around in the big piles of soil for a dust bath to dry off too. Barsilinga didn't attend the mud bath as he refused to join his friends, and he was left behind browsing.
In the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse in between Imenti and Ithumba Hill. Later in the evening the orphans walked back to the stockades for the night as usual, and Barsilinga, who likes to do his own thing these days, walked back on his own around 7pm, and was allowed in to join his friends in the stockade compound for the night.
Malima was the first one to leave the stockades this morning, followed by Ambo. Mapia left the stockade with a piece of stick in his mouth as Namalok headed straight to the water trough to drink some water.
Out in the bush, Mapia and Kuishi briefly settled for a soil dusting exercise. Shortly later, the orphans were joined by Kibo, Suguta, Kainuk, Orwa, Bomani and the wild junior. Sities was missing, and hopefully she had gone to give Mutara some company and comfort as she continues to have close to ten bulls following her around.
Challa joined the dependent orphans briefly at mud bath. Though the sun was shining, the orphans refused to go into the water to swim, and instead opted for a brief soil dusting exercise. In the evening Bomani and Olsekki had a pushing game that ended soon when Bomani attempted to climb on Olsekki.
As soon as the orphans left the stockade, Tusuja and Rapa engaged in a strength testing exercise that went on for quite some time. Rapa quit the game when the going got tough for him, leaving Tusuja still charging around in a playful mood. Tusuja then lay down to have a lone game of rolling on the ground, when Olsekki came over and tried to push him up.
The orphans settled to browse on the eastern side of the stockade until mud bath time, when Kuishi led the way to the Kalovoto mud bath. On the way, Mundusi tried to challenge Tusuja but he was soon overcome by him, so he decided to just continue walking towards the mud bath quietly.
After having their milk bottles, the orphans participated wallowed in the water, before going back to continue with their browsing. The afternoon was quiet as the orphans concentrated on browsing. Orwa and his herd didn't join the orphans today, but browsed close to the stockade the entire day.
Soon after leaving the stockades, the orphans headed straight to the water trough and had some water before walking out into the Park. Tusuja settled to play with Malima but abruptly changed his mind simply because Malima was too small and not strong to give him a proper challenge. Tusuja moved to tackle Mundusi and this game went on for quite a while. Kamok had a brief chat with Ambo as Malkia complained after Wanjala pushed her.
The orphans settled to browse in the Kone area up to mud bath time, when Kuishi led the first group. Mundusi, Tusuja and Olsekki were the last ones to finish wallowing. At one time, Tusuja tried to block Olsekki from coming out, but Olsekki fought his way until Tusuja surrendered.
Shortly after the orphans finished wallowing, six wild bulls emerged from the western side and slowly approached the water trough, where they quenched their thirst before relaxing under a nearby tree. The orphans settled to browse west of Ithumba Hill where they were joined by Zurura. Later in the evening, Zurura escorted the juniors back to the stockade. Barsilinga, who lagged behind feeding, reported later at six o'clock in the evening.
The sky was clear in the morning which most likely meant a hot day a head. Karisa, Mundusi and Sapalan headed straight to the water trough soon after leaving the stockade. Kamok and Kauro had a brief strength testing exercise as Tusuja tackled Naseku. The orphans settled to browse just close by, as this was the day Sattao, Dololo and Musiara were to arrive from Nairobi.
At eight thirty in the morning, the lorry carrying the three new babies arrived at Ithumba. As the new arrivals walked out of the lorry to have a milk bottle and assimilate with their new surroundings, they were welcomed by Jotto, Ambo, Kuishi, Malima and Mapia. Mapia tried to show the three new boys that now he was senior to them and attempted to bully them. The Keepers cautioned him not to try his naughty games with the new babies. Maramoja, Kuishi, Malkia and Sana Sana spent more time with the babies as they tried to make them comfortable and show them their new environment.
At mud bath time the sun was shining. At first the orphans were hesitant to go in the water, and made sure to test the temperature first. Karisa and Tusuja decided to take the first step and were the first two to jump in, while their friends still took their time deliberating. Some decided to join Karisa and Tusuja, while the others decided not to even step foot into the mud bath water. The new arrivals were very hesitant due to the sheer size of the water hole at Ithumba! With time, the new babies will get used to everything here.
Tusuja and Olsekki had a soil bathing game that later turned into a pushing game. Shortly later, Tusuja quit the game and went to play with Mundusi. In the afternoon, Kauro had his own game of rolling on the ground. Malkia played a nanny to Musiara for quite some time. In the evening, the new babies were escorted back to stockade by Jotto, Ambo and Malima who will be their roommates. Ex-orphans Zurura and Challa showed up at the stockade compound and left later after spending time in a pushing game.
When the gates of the stockades were opened this morning, Musiara and Dololo walked out as they knew exactly where they were going. One would have thought that the two boys have been here for a long time. Upon getting close to the water troughs outside the compound, Musiara and Dololo appeared to have come to the end of the road and they didn't know which direction to go in, so they stopped and rumbled asking their more senior friends which direction they would prefer to take. Karisa the street-wise boy overtook them, and led the way out to browse. Musiara and Dololo might be feeling confident, but they don’t quite yet have the knowledge it takes to lead the herd!
Later out in the bush, the dependent-orphans were joined by Orwa, Bomani, Chemi Chemi, Chaimu, Challa and Zurura again. Challa and Zurura didn't stay for long but left a few minutes later. Orwa and Chemi Chemi had a strength testing exercise that didn't last for long. Later, Orwa tackled Olsekki who surrendered soon when the going got too tough for him.
Mapia teamed up with Ukame to browse while Dololo teamed with Sattao as Orwa moved to join Siangiki to feed. At mud bath time, Kuishi led the first group to the mud bath. Soon after having their milk bottles, half of the group decided to wallow in the main water hole. Karisa and Tusuja emerged as the stars of the day as they had a prolonged swimming session, even after the rest of the herd had left the water. The orphans finalized their mud bath activities by participating in a soil bathing exercise.
In the afternoon, the orphans settled on the western side of Ithumba Hill. Kamok, who didn't go swimming at noon, began to feel the heat of the day and so decided to take a break from feeding and relaxed under a tree until the temperature dropped, and only then did she resume browsing.
Soon after walking out to the bush to browse, the dependent orphans were joined by Kibo and later his friends Orwa, Bomani, Chemi Chemi and Chaimu. Sattao led the way deeper into the bush where the orphans had a quiet morning as they browsed calmly without any major distractions.
At mud bath time, though the sun was hot, none of the orphans dared to step into the mud bathing water. Sattao led Dololo and Musiara back into the bush where all the other orphans followed. At the moment the three new boys appear to be controlling the group because whatever direction they take, all the other orphans follow suit.
In the afternoon Bomani climbed on Tusuja while Kuishi teamed up with Mapia to browse. Later Mapia moved to join Kibo who was feeding. In the evening, ex-orphan Rapsu showed up at the stockade compound and teamed up with Orwa, Bomani, Chaimu, Chemi Chemi and Kibo.
Soon after leaving the stockade in the morning, Barsilinga, Tusuja, Oltaiyoni, Sapalan and Karisa settled for water before heading out. Karisa woke up in a playful mood. As soon as he had enough water, he tried to persuade Sapalan to join him in a pushing game, by pushing him from behind. Sapalan turned and engaged Karisa in a game that ended in a draw. Karisa then moved to play with Jotto before heading to have his own game of rolling on the ground. The orphans settled to browse in the Kone area where Kuishi teamed up with Bomani to browse. Later, Olsekki engaged Bomani in a strength testing exercise.
Zurura and a wild friend had arrived earlier at the mud bath and were there when the orphans arrived, just relaxing under a tree. Soon after the orphans had their milk, Suguta leading Turkwel, Kainuk, Kithaka, Garzi and Lemoyian showed up at mud bath. The first thing they did was to go and check whether there was any milk left, but unfortunately there was none, as these orphans have been independent for some months! Turkwel, Kithaka, Garzi and Lemoyian left their human family on the 27th December last year, and this is their first appearance since they left. Turkwel was surprised to see new babies and walked to say hello to them, while Lemoyian wanted to find out how much strength he has gained by engaging Tusuja in a pushing game. Only Musiara and the wild elephant decided to have a mud bath in all the excitement. In the afternoon, the sun was still hot and the orphans took a break from feeding to relax in some shade, before browsing again and then returning home in the evening.