Last month, Mbegu and co. delivered Manda back home. He had been absent for ten months after being kidnapped by a wild herd. Initially, Manda enjoyed a return to his familiar routines, joining the dependent herd for their daily circuit and settling into his old bedroom at night.
As usual, the herd gathered in the area in front of their stockades in the early morning. After staying in his stockade while he learned the routine and got to know his new home, Lumo joined the herd properly a few days ago. He is spending time with new friends Serenget and Busara.
The elephants drank their milk in groups and moved on to the feeding trough full of pellets. Staying behind, Lumo stood outside the milk room, staring into the room to ask an extra bottle. After a few minutes, he gave up and joined the others for a morning dust bath, splashing himself with dust on the lower terrace. Kilulu was drinking from the trough while Ashanti finished off every pellet she could find on the upper terrace.
The dependent orphans spent the morning browsing over the side of Msinga Hill facing the pipeline area. Sileita was loitering behind the herd and so we shepherded her back to be with the others. We wondered if she was looking out for ex-orphan Tamiyoi.
In the afternoon, the orphans returned to the stockades for their milk feed and mud wallow. Itinyi was posing on the terraces, hoping for extra pellets, while Kenderi rolled around on the mound of dry red soil
As the sun rose, the orphans gathered at the gates of their shared stockades. Losoito was being her bossy self, pushing the others away so she could be first out. We gave little Serenget her morning bottle in her stockade to avoid any squabbling with Losoito and Ashanti. Hildana was stretching up to browse on acacia branches across the electric fence line while Itinyi was having a morning dust bath with Ushindi and Busara.
Sileita led the way out from the stockades and over the rocky Msinga Hill to the browsing fields. Lumo, Serenget and Busara browsed over the savannah as Ashanti and Dabida led the herd to the summit of the hill.
In the afternoon, because of sightings of lions near the baobab tree mud wallow, the orphans returned to the stockades for their milk feed. After emptying his bottles, Kenderi rushed to the pile of red soil for a dust bath followed by Mushuru, Lumo, Epiya and Serenget, while Epiya, Hildana and Kilulu drank from the trough. Today, it was Ashanti’s and Kilulu’s turn to stand outside the milk room asking for a bonus bottle.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans settled to browse high on the hill and then Rokka led them back to the stockades for the night.
On a wonderful sunny morning, the orphans enjoyed their bottles of milk in groups and lined up at the feeding trough full of range cubes. Lumo had his milk feed after the other orphans and joined them at the trough. When naughty Serenget gave him a push, Busara came to his rescue.
The dependent orphans left the stockades to browse on the northern side of Msinga Hill. Lemeki led the herd towards the grass plains beyond the hill. It has not rained for a few weeks and the plains are no longer green. Juni was looking after Lumo and then walked away to be with Baraka who is her favourite. Serenget was browsing side by side with Ushindi who has become another deputy to Lemeki and likes looking after the young ones.
In the afternoon, the orphans had their milk feed in front of the stockades. Kenderi loves dust bathing — as soon as he finished his bottles, he went straight to the mound of red soil where Lemeki was hugging Serenget. Rokka scratched herself on the terrace wall and Seri had a light wrestling game with best friend Hildana. Then, ex-orphan Ndotto arrived at the stockades and had a dust bath with the herd.
The elephants headed back out to browse and returned to the stockades around five o’clock in the afternoon.
Ex-orphans Ndotto, Murit and Ngilai visited us this morning. After breakfast, Ndotto was hanging out and bonding with Itinyi, who loves being with older bulls like Ngilai and Murit. Lemeki and Murit were standing close with trunks touching. At eight years old, Lemeki is getting closer to choosing an independent life, but we do not know if it will be months or several years until this happens. Epiya was scratching herself against a rock and Kilulu was showboating in the compound.
The orphans set out from the stockades on their usual browsing adventures and settled in the open grasslands. Lumo took the lead, browsing in front followed by Serenget and Rokka, while Lemeki stayed close to Losoito and Busara.
The ex-orphans walked out in a different direction — with Manda. We called the young bull back but he ignored our calls and walked away with the three older bulls. When Manda first came back last month, he seemed happy to be with his old family but he did not fully settle. He has lived in the wild and has chosen to return to his wild herd.
After the afternoon milk feed, Lumo had a nap under Ushindi’s feet surrounded by Lemeki, Juni, Serenget, Losoito and Busara. On the other side, Thamana, Seri and Kilulu lay on the red soil relaxing.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans resumed browsing deep in the woods before returning to their stockades.
This morning, ex-orphan Ndotto padded up the path at dawn to join our herd for breakfast. The orphans drank their milk and settled either at the feeding trough or on the terraces. After drinking his milk, Lumo was showboating as he strolled over to the trough for range cubes. A hungry Ndotto pushed Hildana away from the trough to make space and then sparred with long-time friend Thamana.
While Sileita, Mushuru and Rokka browsed on the upper terrace, Lemeki stood on the lower terrace and stretched up her trunk to hug little sister Rokka. Thamana, Dabida and Busara were rubbing their backsides against the boulders near the entrance.
The orphans ambled out to the browsing fields and spread over the grasslands. Kilulu and Serenget browsed side by side and Thamana and Mushuru stood tall to pull down acacia branches.
In the afternoon, the herd visited the baobab tree mud wallow. Seri rolled on her back in the muddy water; Ashanti and Thamana played and posed on the edge; Akina slid into the water feet first; and a very wet Ushindi showboated after cooling off in the wallow. Ndotto joined the herd in the wallow and disappeared into the bush.
The orphans browsed some more as they made their way back to the stockades for the night.
In the morning, the orphans gathered around the pile of lucerne, pushing each other occasionally as they jostled for position. Ashanti squeezed her way through and held onto her position, with the protection of Thamana from bullies like Hildana and Baraka.
Avoiding the scramble, Sileita was already making her way out to the browsing fields followed by Mushuru, Sholumai, Dabida and Akina. It was not long before the rest of the herd also headed out from the stockades.
The orphans spent the morning browsing quite close to the baobab mud wallow. When some zebras approached the wallow to drink, Ushindi and Epiya chased them away from ‘their’ pool of water. The two elephants kept up the chase for a long time before turning back to the herd.
In the afternoon, the orphans waited around the feeding area for the milk van to arrive. It was a few minutes late today. When an impatient Losoito heard the van approaching, she sprinted to the feeding area before the car had stopped and we had unloaded the milk! Rokka, Busara, Serenget and Lumo ran down behind her.
After their milk feed, the elephants walked on down to the wallow where they found ex-orphan Tamiyoi. Water baby Seri rolled in the mud, showing off in her favourite wallowing spot. Many of the others paddled and splashed around her, including Tamiyoi. Akina massaged her bottoms against the wall of the wallow next to Tamiyoi while Ashanti and Thamana rubbed their bodies against the baobab tree and Mushuru rolled in the dust after cooling off in the water.
When the orphans walked away from the baobab tree to continue browsing, a family of wild elephants took their place.
Ex-orphan Tamiyoi visited her old home at first light this morning. She stood under the tree while we prepared bottles of milk and opened the gates of the stockades. As soon as we had filled the trough with cubes, she began scooping up trunkfuls of pellets.
Soon there was commotion at the feeding trough as everyone tried to secure a place. Ashanti stood stubbornly in the feeding place she prefers because of her short trunk while Juni, Kenderi, Itinyi, Rokka, Mushuru and Sileita sensibly opted to enjoy their pellets on the terraces. Lumo was roaming around while playful Kilulu was showboating again.
The herd later left the stockades for the browsing fields and spread out over the hill for the morning. Sholumai, Akina, Kenderi and Thamana climbed to the top while Juni, Ushindi and Epiya stayed at the bottom with Serenget and Lumo.
On a cloudy afternoon, the orphans came down in groups for their milk feed and walked on to the mud wallow. Only Kilulu paddled in the muddy water while most of the others drank from the trough or massaged themselves against trees and Serenget browsed on vegetation next to the wallow.
Kilulu was left behind scratching against the peacock tree when the herd headed back out to browse. He caught up with the others as Lemeki led them deep into the woods on their way back to the stockades.
The dependent elephants spent the shortest time in front of the stockades this morning. Almost as soon as they had finished their milk, they walked out in a long line to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill.
Serenget and Lumo joining the herd has changed the dynamics and Losoito is still adjusting. She used to be the favourite baby but no longer as Lemeki is giving lots of attention to Lumo and Serenget. When Losoito and Baraka tried to push the newbies around on the hill this morning, Ushindi stood up for Serenget and Lemeki protected Lumo. Naughty Losoito was sent away to browse with the older orphans.
After the milk feed, the elephants rushed down to the mud wallow to quench their thirst and cool off in the muddy water. Many, including Akina, Ashanti and Rokka, plunged into the main wallow. Afterwards, Akina posed by the wall and Rokka and Ashanti tumbled together in the dust. Losoito, Itinyi, Thamana and Kenderi were having a good time in the mini mud wallow, Thamana submerged his body completely as the rest stood around him splashing.
As the rest of the herd lined up at the feeding trough for range cubes, Lumo was asking (again) for a bonus bottle outside the milk room. He is becoming a confident feisty young bull.
While Kilulu continued browsing on range cubes at one end of the trough, Kenderi massaged his backside on the boulders near the water trough; Mushuru enjoyed a solo dust bath, splashing herself with red soil; and Itinyi and Ashanti climbed all over each other on the mound of soil. When Itinyi walked away, Mushuru took his place.
In the afternoon, the sun was scorching. The orphans rushed down the hill for another milk feed and sprinted to the baobab tree mud wallow. Baraka plunged into the mini mud hole while Kilulu, Kenderi and Seri stood on the edge splashing water everywhere. Juni and most of the others paddled or wallowed in the larger pool.
Afterwards, the elephants headed back out to browse and returned to the stockades around five o’clock in the afternoon.
On another wonderful morning, the elephants walked out of their stockades and lined up at the feeding trough. Hildana tried to push Ashanti away but the little girl stood her ground and refused to budge. Itinyi and Seri chose to enjoy their pellets in peace on the terrace and Lumo strode around the compound showing off and being bossy.
Hildana headed out first this morning and settled to browse on the hill behind the stockades. Led by Sileita, the others soon followed him and the herd spread out over the hill. As most of the elephants browsed in small groups, Itinyi and Seri scratched themselves against some boulders.
In the afternoon, the herd returned to the stockades for a milk feed and a mud wallow, rather than visiting the baobab tree water hole. After emptying her bottles, Losoito approached Lumo while he was still drinking. Lumo is wary of Losoito as she has pushed him around a couple of times. He allowed her to trunk touch him and she did not try to steal his bottle.
On a hot afternoon, almost all the elephants paddled or wallowed in the muddy water. Mud bathing was followed by dust bathing. While Juni, Sholumai and Baraka rolled on the dry soil, Ashanti, Akina and Itinyi drank from the trough.
In the mornings, the orphans, including Serenget but not Lumo, drink their milk in groups. Sweet Serenget sips her milk slowly with the others, but Lumo has his milk after everyone else.
Hildana was causing commotion at the feeding trough today. While the others tried to calmly scoop up cubes, the big bull walked from one end to the other, spoiling their peace.
Kilulu walked off to scratch his bottoms against the rock next to the water trough, Thamana stood tall to pull down branches of trees on the other side of the fence, and Kenderi opted for an early morning dust bath. He rolled around happily until Hildana arrived. The feisty bull pushed him with his head and even mounted him.
The quieter orphans remained on the terraces. Sileita and Mushuru stood together while Seri leant against the terrace wall and Juni, Baraka and Epiya leant against each other.
Before long, the herd ambled out from the stockades in a long line. Most padded quietly, twisting up clumps of browse along the way, but Kilulu and Itinyi could not resist some more showboating, shaking their heads and twirling their trunks.
After browsing for the morning, the orphans returned to the stockades in the afternoon. Juni, Baraka and Busara wallowed in the pool, Rokka massaged herself on the famous rock, Sholumai and Serenget posed by the terrace wall, and Epiya, Seri, Itinyi, Lemeki and Kenderi tumbled against and over each other on the mound of dry soil.
As the orphans walked off to resume browsing, Ushindi picked up Lumo, who tends to lag behind, from the mud wallow. She trunk hugged the newbie and shepherded him out to catch up with the herd.
The herd was keen to get going this morning. With no encouragement from the Keepers, they gathered in the walkway and, led by Sileita and Mushuru, began walking towards Msinga Hill. Ushindi and Busara browsed together on acacia trees. Rokka joined them and then Ashanti did too. Sholumai and Kenderi climbed to the summit of the hill but Lumo, Serenget, Busara and Ushindi were happy to stay at the bottom.
In the afternoon, Serenget led the first group of Ushindi, Lumo, Sileita and Mushuru down the hill for the milk feed. They padded on to the mud wallow and the second group made up of Lemeki, Thamana, Kilulu and Dabida followed minutes later. In the third group were Ashanti, Itinyi, Baraka, Epiya and Akina. They skirted around the wallow and headed for the area of dry soil for a dust bath. After covering themselves in soil, Epiya and Baraka rubbed their bottoms against some boulders. Juni and Hildana arrived last and stood close with trunks entwined.
After mud and dust bathing, the elephants walked out for a final browse of the day. At five o’clock, they returned and settled for the night in their stockades.
On a wonderful sunny morning, the dependent orphans feasted on range cubes at the feeding trough and played on the terraces. Arriving at first light, Ndotto scrambled at the feeding trough with Thamana, Lemeki, Ashanti, Losoito and Baraka. After some weeks away, ex-orphans Tagwa and Mbegu padded in late to join the dependent herd for breakfast.
The orphans left the stockades and settled to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill. Today, they walked over the summit and down the other side, climbing over boulders along the way. Dabida was bonding with Losoito, trunk touching her as they ambled along, Hildana was feasting on green acacia shrubs, and Baraka was showboating.
In the afternoon, the orphans rushed down the hill for the milk feed. Rokka led the first group and Dabida led the second to the feeding area.
Hildana took centre stage in the mini mud wallow, slapping his trunk on the muddy water. Lemeki walked over to join him and climbed on top of her friend. Meanwhile, Akina was rolling onto her sides in the main wallow, Epiya was massaging her belly against the wall, Kilulu was showboating on the edge, and Itinyi was browsing next to the mud hole.
After covering themselves in dust, the orphans padded back out to browse in the bush.
Ndotto is visiting almost every day this month by himself rather than with any ex-orphan friends. When we opened the gates this morning, he was already standing next to the feeding trough. We filled the trough and opened the gates so the others could join the big bull. Serenget and Ushindi stood belly to belly at the trough – Ushindi has become a very good nanny to little Serenget and we see the two girls together more and more.
Rokka, Busara, Itinyi, Mushuru and Sileita opted for the pile of range cubes on the terrace rather than the trough where they were soon joined by an ever-hungry Ndotto. Meanwhile, Lumo was standing outside the milk store asking for an extra bottle in what has become a daily routine for the newbie.
After filling their bellies, Lemeki and Ashanti hosed dry dust along their backs and rolled together on the ground. Kenderi walked over for a dust bath and then Hildana and Thamana. The two oldest bulls played on the dry soil and, predictably, Hildana tried to mount Thamana. Not far away, Baraka, Hildana and Akina were posing next to the famous rock while Kilulu was showboating next to the water trough.
After exploring the bush in the morning, the herd (and Ndotto) visited the baobab tree mud wallow in the afternoon. Kilulu squatted on his backside on the mud wall and Rokka, Sholumai, Ndotto, Akina, Seri and Losoito splashed and wallowed in the muddy water.
The dependent orphans set out from the stockades in the early morning to browse on the northern side of Msinga Hill overlooking the plains. Lemeki was with Rokka and Losoito, and Serenget was trailing them from a distance. Akina, Seri, and Thamana were browsing together on acacia trees and smaller shrubs.
Later in the morning, the herd was browsing close to the baobab mud wallow. A wild bull approached the elephants and the Keepers but did not come close. He stood waiting under the peacock tree while the orphans continued browsing.
In the afternoon, the orphans had another milk feed and went down to the water hole. Lumo splashed in the mud while Busara squatted on the wall and Itinyi browsed on greens around the tree.
As the orphans walked off to resume browsing, the wild bull strolled up to the water trough, having waited a long time for a drink.
We have not seen Manda since he chose to leave the stockades at the beginning of the month but are not worried — he spent many months living in the wild before being brought back to us by Mbegu last month.
The dependent orphans spread out in front of the stockades for their breakfast routine. Ex-orphan Ndotto was not so gentle this morning — he pushed every single orphan away from the trough except for playmate Thamana. We intervened so the orphans could return to the trough. Juni walked over to join them but Lumo, Serenget, Busara, Rokka and Ushindi stayed on the terraces for range cubes. Ashanti and Kenderi opted for an early morning dust bath and Lumo wandered around the water hole.
Sileita led the orphans out to browse. When the herd headed out, Lumo hung back to be with Ndotto. As we did not want to run any risk of our newbie going off with Ndotto, we brought back Rokka and Busara to pick him up and rejoin the others who had settled to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill.
In the afternoon, the orphans had their usual milk feed and rushed down to the mud wallow to quench their thirst and seek shelter from the scorching sun. Today, they were not in playful moods. Rather than splashing in the wallow, they stood in the shade for a short time before walking out to browse some more on their way back to the stockades for the night.
Ex-orphan Ndotto was punctual again today, arriving early in the morning to join his dependent friends for range cubes. Feeding in peace with the gentle bull, the elephants lined up at the feeding trough or gathered on the top terrace. Lumo scooped up a few trunkfuls and then drank from the stockade water trough.
Dust bathing babies Ashanti and Itinyi were enjoying an early morning roll around on the dry soil. While Ashanti lay on her belly, Itinyi leant against her with his trunk draped along her back.
The herd soon headed out to browse over Msinga Hill. Looking tired and sleepy after a long night of browsing walks, Ndotto stayed back and rested his head on a rock. After resting for a time, Ndotto walked off in the orphans’ wake and caught up with them by the afternoon.
As usual, the orphans drank their milk and padded on to the mud wallow where they cooled off in the muddy water or stood in the shade of the baobab tree. Ndotto stood close to a big male buffalo but was at peace with him. The sunshine was very bright and so Baraka sought shelter under Dabida’s flapping ear.
It was a peaceful morning. The dependent orphaned elephants sprinted out of their stockades, down the path to the milk feeding area, and on to the range cubes trough. Today, it was Kilulu’s turn to ask for an extra bottle of milk. Lumo arrived for his milk last and walked on to join the others once they had settled to browse at the trough. Ex-orphan Ndotto arrived at dawn and stayed close to Dabida.
Rokka led the herd out to the browsing fields with Lemeki bringing up the rear to push along any stragglers. The orphans spread out to browse over Msinga Hill. Ndotto stayed with the dependent orphans for the whole day.
After a busy mud bathing session, Mushuru squatted in a shallow soil bathing hole and stretched out her trunk in invitation to Sileita. The two girls played pushing and tumbling games before catching up with the rest of the herd.
Some of the elephants stood in the shade of trees on their way back to the stockades to shelter from the sun. Others continued twisting up clumps of browse or played pushing games with their friends.
Early in the morning, the dependent elephants joined Ndotto for breakfast. They found the big bull waiting for them at the feeding trough. After milk and range cubes, the orphans bonded and played in front of the stockades. Young Lumo was spending time with Ndotto.
Rokka and Sileita led the herd out from the stockades to the northern side of Msinga Hill where they settled to browse over the open slopes.
In the afternoon, Serenget and Lumo led the first group down to the feeding area and on to the mud wallow. Ndotto and Busara stopped off at the mini mud wallow while the rest of the orphans carried on to the water trough. Sholumai, Baraka, Dabida, Epiya and Akina clustered around the trough and drank deeply.
Mushuru was posing on the ground by the wallow while Seri, Kilulu, Ndotto and Itinyi splashed in the main wallow, slapping the water with their trunks and submerging their bodies in the cooling mud.
The orphans resumed browsing and spent the afternoon on the slopes of the hill overlooking the plains. Towards five o’clock in the afternoon, Lemeki led the herd back to the stockades for the night.
Not only Ndotto but also ex-orphans Mbegu, Ngilai and Tagwa — who is heavily pregnant — and a wild bull visited the stockades today! Ndotto, Tagwa and the wild bull stood on the terrace while Mbegu and Ngilai waited next to the tree near the entrance.
The dependent orphans emerged from their sleeping quarters. Many of the elephants were rumbling and trunk touching the older visitors in welcome, especially former matriarch Mbegu.
After feasting on range cubes, Ndotto engaged the wild bull in a wrestling game and Itinyi draped her trunk over Busara at the water trough. Then the wild bull got into the trough and tried to drink from the tap. Confident Itinyi stretched out her trunk in greeting to the bull while Ndotto trunk hugged Lemeki.
The orphans left the stockades and settled to browse over Msinga Hill. Independent Epiya climbed to the top while Serenget stood close to Juni and Ushindi at the bottom.
In the afternoon at the mud wallow, Rokka was scratching her bottoms and Losoito was itching her stomach against the wall as Serenget, Sholumai and Juni were splashing in the mud. After cooling off, the herd ambled back to the stockades.
In the evening, we received a call from Voi Safari Lodge about a female calf found trapped in a septic tank who had been abandoned by her herd. We rushed off on a rescue mission. The baby was rescued and spent the night in the stockades. Sileita and Busara helped to calm her down by rumbling and touching her with their trunks.
Ex-orphans Ndotto, Ngilai, Godoma, Tagwa and Mbegu walked into the stockade area this morning. Our orphans ran out of their shared rooms and the two groups mingled on the terraces. Godoma was posing on the water trough, Mbegu was standing close to the younger elephants at the feeding trough, and Lumo was leaning against the rock having a nap.
The little girl rescued yesterday rested in the night and accepted a bottle. We put her in our vehicle this morning and drove her to the airstrip from where she was flown to the Nairobi Nursery.
Our herd headed out as usual to browse for the morning before visiting the mud wallow in the afternoon. Sent down in the first group for milk, Ushindi and Rokka had a race which Ushindi won.
Most of the herd cooled off in the mud wallow today. Lemeki and Losoito were rolling and splashing in the mud. Ashanti and Thamana were also having a good time in the wallow. After climbing out, Busara and Dabida lay on their backs to rub themselves against the ground. Then Losoito, Busara and Lumo got back in for another wallow while Rokka, Lemeki, Thamana and Ndotto scratched their bottoms against the peacock tree.
Ex-orphans Ndotto, Ngilai, Mbegu, Godoma and Tagwa walked into the area in front of the stockades again this morning and joined our herd for breakfast. Ashanti enjoyed range cubes in her favourite place after finishing her morning milk bottles while Sileita, Ushindi and Rokka hung out on the terrace with Serenget.
Ngilai had a morning dust bath with the younger orphans on the red soil while Ndotto stood by watching the show and Lumo scratched himself on the famous rock.
Rokka led the herd out to the browsing fields with Lemeki bringing up the rear. Some elephants played in erosion trenches while others climbed up the hill to browse.
In the afternoon, Sholumai rushed down to the feeding area and on to the water trough before coming back to the mini mud hole for a wallow. Padding along behind her, Serenget, Baraka, Akina, Kilulu and Hildana also rushed down to the baobab trough and into the mud wallow. Thamana was soon wallowing in the mud with Kilulu, Akina, Itinyi and Dabida standing around him. He lay full stretch so there was no room for even one friend!
After the mud wallow, the orphans resumed browsing on acacia trees and shrubs, spending the afternoon on the open slopes at the foot of the hill.
On a wonderful sunny morning, the orphans were out of their stockades and having their breakfast treats as usual. After playing for a short time in front of the stockades, they set out and spent the morning browsing over Msinga Hill. We have not had any rain for several weeks and there is very little green browse.
In the afternoon, Rokka led the first group of orphans down for the milk feed. Today, there was little activity at the baobab mud wallow afterwards. The elephants drank from the trough and rubbed their bodies against the trees or browsed around the mud wallow. Serenget browsed next to the mud bath while Losoito walked a distance away.
In the afternoon, we received a call from Voi Wildlife Lodge about a young male buffalo abandoned next to the water hole. A resident hippo had pushed the little buffalo into the water and was swimming with him. Our team responded and rescued the two-month-old baby. He was taken to Kaluku on the following day.
On an overcast morning, the dependent orphans spread out over the feeding area to enjoy range cubes before leaving for their daily adventures. Sholumai, Losoito, Busara, Serenget and Ushindi gathered on the terraces to enjoy range cubes while Ashanti and the others pushed and jostled for space at the feeding trough.
The orphaned elephants later left for the field led by Mushuru and Sileita. They browsed in single file, with Ushindi staying close to Serenget and Lumo. After browsing for a time, Losoito leant against a large boulder on the southern slopes of the hill, rubbing each part of her body. Kilulu was playing on the hill, showboating with ears flared wide, while Sileita, Rokka and Juni walked to the summit in search of fresh browse.
In the afternoon, the herd visited the baobab tree mud wallow. Baraka gulped her milk and stood close to Seri; she was tempted to grab her bottle but did not, so as to avoid a fight with her stronger friend. On a cool cloudy day, only Ashanti and Lumo paddled in the wallow while the others stood around quietly in small groups.
This morning, Hildana made a move to push Ashanti at the feeding trough; luckily, Ushindi was there to protect her and shoved the older bull away. Lumo has never had enough milk; even after the usual two bottles he follows the Keeper through the fence and stares into the milk room asking for an extra bottle.
Rokka and Sileita, followed by Mushuru and Losoito, led the orphans out to the browsing fields on the northern side of Msinga Hill while Lemeki, Serenget and Lumo wandered along far behind the line of elephants.
On a cloudy afternoon, the orphans waited at the feeding area for the milk truck. They drank their milk in groups of three or four and padded on to the baobab tree mud wallow. Serenget — who has made lots of friends in the herd — joined Kilulu, Akina, Baraka, Seri and Hildana at the water trough. The orphans hosed themselves with dry soil or stood under the baobab tree. Only Lemeki was being playful — she was squatting on the edge of the wallow scratching her bottoms.
When we whistled, the herd ambled away from the wallow and back to the bush to browse on their way back to the stockades.
Ex-orphans Mbegu, Ndotto, Ngilai, Tagwa, Murit and Godoma arrived at the stockades for breakfast and were welcomed with rumbles by many of our orphans. Tagwa settled at the feeding trough, standing between Lemeki, and Ashanti. Minutes later, Mbegu and Godoma joined them while Akina and Ngilai drank from the trough.
Kenderi and Ashanti were playing a sparring game until Kenderi made the mistake of mounting Ashanti. Ushindi — who has become a protective mini matriarch — pushed Kenderi off her and challenged him to spar with her instead. Ashanti walked away to show off her dust bathing skills. Meanwhile, Epiya and Baraka were spending time together, playing and trunk hugging. When Ushindi approached Baraka, the younger girl turned her back and stayed close to Epiya.
The dependent herd headed out to browse on the northern slopes of the hill and spent the morning browsing on shrubs. Kilulu and Kenderi had a sparring game while Dabida and Seri played a pushing game.
In the afternoon, we shepherded the orphans down the hill to the mud wallow. Rokka led Itinyi, Kenderi, Sileita and Mushuru to the feeding area and Losoito led Lumo, Serenget and Ushindi. The orphans padded in the wallow, covered themselves with dust and walked back to the stockades.
Mid-afternoon, we received a report of an abandoned baby elephant with a spear wound on his front leg in the Dida Harea area. We rescued the elephant with the support of the KWS team and brought him to the Voi stockades.
In the morning, the orphans settled at the feeding trough and on the terraces enjoying range cubes. Lumo drank his bottles of milk and joined the others at the trough.
The new orphan slept well in the night and was feeding on fresh greens. The walls in his stockade have many gaps and some of the older girls greeted him in the morning. The vet visited again today to treat his wound.
The dependent orphans headed out for their browsing adventures along the slopes of Msinga hill. Ushindi has adopted both Serenget and Lumo and the trio were walking side by side. Rokka used to be Serenget’s main nanny, but Ushindi has taken her place and looks after Serenget and Lumo on most days.
After the milk feed in the afternoon, the orphans walked down to the baobab mud wallow. Today, no one got wet. Instead, they drank from the trough, stood around the tree, and walked away to continue browsing.
On a bright sunny morning, the lucerne truck arrived early while the orphans were still in their shared stockades. The elephants rumbled in excitement as the truck drove in to the stockades — as they have not had supplementary lucerne recently. When we opened the doors, some of the orphans bypassed the Keepers waiting with bottles of milk and headed straight for the large pile of lucerne.
Hildana balanced a stash of lucerne on his head and walked away to feed on his own. Dabida picked up her own little pile and walked away. She did not let Losoito come close and guarded her share. Today, Lumo achieved his goal of an extra bottle because some orphans did not bother drinking milk but opted instead for lucerne. After filling their bellies, Rokka, Lemeki and Busara drank from the trough.
The new orphan is coming along well. He is still stressed but calmer than yesterday and eating lots of greens.
The herd soon walked out to browse. As they ambled out in a long line, they met up with Mbegu’s herd of ex-orphans on their way to the stockades. The two herds walked past each other and carried on in opposite directions.
As the sun rose in the sky, the orphans were out and having their breakfast. Ashanti lined up at the feeding trough next to Lemeki, Baraka, Dabida, Juni and Akina. Hildana came later and squeezed his way in, displacing Juni who walked away to join the terraces crew made up of Sileita, Rokka and Mushuru.
Rokka led the way out to the browsing fields over the rocky Msinga Hill. Ushindi browsed side by side with Serenget and Lumo at the bottom of the hill while the rest of the herd climbed to the top in search of fresh foliage. Ashanti and Losoito reached the summit and came down the other side which overlooks the baobab water hole.
In the afternoon, the orphans waited for the milk truck which was running late. As usual, Losoito became impatient and started complaining by rumbling. Her rumbles attracted the attention of Lemeki, who was hanging out with Rokka. She came running over to find out what the (non-existent) problem was. Minutes later, the truck arrived and Losoito, Rokka, Busara and Serenget rushed down to the feeding area.
On a calm and cloudy afternoon, the mud wallowing session was not so active as most of the orphans headed straight to the water trough. Mushuru, Itinyi and Ashanti were posing under the baobab tree; Akina and Dabida were scratching their bottoms on the wall of the wallow; and Kilulu was playing pushing and sparring games with Thamana.
After an absence of many weeks, Murit visited his old family this morning! At first light when the orphans were still in their stockades, he led ex-orphans Mbegu, Godoma, Ngilai and (a very pregnant) Tagwa up the path. Ndotto was not with them.
The ex-orphans settled to browse on lucerne while the younger elephants gulped down their morning milk and walked on to the feeding trough. Lumo, Sileita, Mushuru and Sholumai avoided the trough and joined the visitors around the pile of lucerne.
Soon all the elephants were around the lucerne. Kilulu was side by side with Losoito, Hildana was catching up with Dabida, and Ashanti was browsing by herself. Close by, the recent rescue was enjoying fresh greens in his stockade.
When it was time to head out to the bush, the visitors went off towards the Voi River and our herd headed for the hill as usual. After browsing for the morning, they visited the mud wallow in the afternoon. As it was a hot day, many cooled off in the muddy water. Sholumai stood splashing on the edge while Serenget and Akina rolled around in the middle.
Ex-orphans Ndotto, Ngilai, Godoma, Tagwa, Mbegu and Murit were waiting outside the stockades in the early morning. We opened the gates of the shared stockades and the two groups mingled at the trough and around the lucerne. After feeding on lucerne, Mbegu was babysitting Baraka and she was hiding her face under Mbegu’s ear. When a curious Kilulu approached, Mbegu checked him with her trunk extended, protecting the younger orphan.
Sileita, Mushuru and Rokka later led their friends out to the field at the beginning of a busy browsing day. The ex-orphans finished off all the lucerne and headed out half an hour later. The rest of the morning was peaceful as the orphans walked all over the hill in search of browse.
In the afternoon, we sent the younger orphans down first for a milk feed and a wallow. After drinking her milk sip by sip, Serenget sprinted in amazing strides towards the water hole, following Losoito and Busara to join Baraka, Mushuru, Sileita and Sholumai.
The herd paddled and splashed in the baobab wallow. Epiya was being protective of newbie Lumo while big bulls Thamana and Hildana had a wrestling match on the edge. After covering themselves in mud and dust, the herd ambled out in a long line to browse on their way back to the stockades for the night.