Keepers' Diaries, November 2010

Nairobi Nursery Unit



For the Nursery elephants, it has been an exciting month, involving the training of Suguta, Melia and Tumaren to the new Elephant Moving Truck which will be taking them to the Ithumba Rehabilitation Centre at the beginning of December. The month also brought the rescue of little “Ishanga” on the l7th from Tsavo West National Park, rescued just in the nick of time, lions having seized her by the throat as the De- Snaring Team rescuers were moving in to surround and capture this lone calf who was obviously an orphan. A Ranger who was with the team fired two shots in the air to drive the lions off the calf. Having come into the Nursery extremely traumatized, emaciated and wounded, Ishanga then collapsed and had to be revived by the intravenous infusion of Dextrose through an ear vein. Amazingly, she was up the next morning, and sufficiently calm to be introduced to the other orphans in the yard at 8 a.m. There she was warmly welcomed by Suguta, Olare and Tumaren, but also by Junior Matriarchs Mutara, Kudup and Kalama who clearly sensed her need for reassurance and comfort. However, Melia and Murka were not quite so friendly towards her, and had to be disciplined by the Keepers when they tried to push her away. Sadly another November rescue, this time of an orphan from Shaba National Reserve in Laikipia, had to be aborted because the elephant calf died before the Rescue Plane could reach it. November has been memorable also due to the regular presence of hungry Nairobi Park lions who have been targeting the resident warthogs who hang around the elephants and their Keepers, where they feel safer. Naisula and Kitirua, both relative recent arrivals who enjoy spending quiet time feeding close together out in the Park forest separated from the others as they come to terms with the loss of their natural family, have found themselves face to face with the lions on several occasions, and have fled back to their Keepers, triggering a stampede of all the others en route! At such times Suguta and Olare (main Nursery Matriarchs) rush to surround and protect little Sities, who is their favourite baby. During the morning of the 8th when the lions were roaring all around the Orphans’ Stockades, the Keepers had their work cut out keeping a close eye on their charges, who like to playfully chase one another around the shrubbery near the compound. And on the 11th it was brave little 6 month old orphaned rhino “Solio” who put the lions to flight who were eyeing her! Unhappily, on the 14th several newborn baby warthogs fell prey to the lions, having recently emerged from their natal burrow and on the 15th when the lions were taking too much interest in the younger orphans, including Naisula and Kitirua, a Keeper had to snatch the blanket from the back of Sities and flap it at them in order to deter them! On the 22nd it was not lions but hyenas who caused panic amongst the orphans, so there has never been a dull moment for the elephants and their Keepers at the Nairobi Nursery this month.

01 November 2010

Kitirua and Naisula, best friends, who were feeding apart from all the other orphans caused a stir when they ran back, wide eyed and obviously disturbed. First to spot their retreat was Kandecha, who took off at high speed. Upon seeing this Suguta, Tumaren and Olare ran to little Sities and all then also ran away, the Keepers following trying to call them back. Mutara and Shukuru heard the Keepers and also began to run. The Keepers went to investigate the cause of such disturbance and came across two buffalo bulls feeding peacefully close to where Kitirua and Naisula had been feeding. Following this commotion Kitirua and Naisula remained closer to the main group whilst Suguta and Tumaren kept little Sities close. The rest of the day past without incident.

02 November 2010

At the noon mudbath hour, Sities stole the show, running after the football and up and down the visitors’ cordon entertaining the visitors. She then spotted some rather noisy small local school children who came to watch the orphans, and ran towards them which made them run away screaming! However Sities’ play was cut short when she wanted to run to her friend Mutara and in passing pushed Chemi Chemi, who was standing on the edge, into the mudbath before he was ready to go in! He instantly shot out and head-butted Sities so hard that she fell down screaming. The Keepers ensured that he kept his distance from Sities for the rest of the mudbath hour.

03 November 2010

As the orphans headed out to browse after their 9 a.m. milk feed, with Shukuru and Kudup bringing up the rear, Kibo remained behind to check out a new Keeper. He sniffed the new Keepers all over, and then ran obviously to tell the Big Girls, who all came running back to investigate the newcomer! Tumaren wanted to chase him away because he smelt different to their established human family, but Suguta intervened to prevent her from doing so. They all then resumed browsing, with little Sities sandwiched between the older girls while Kalama and Mutara played a pushing game, Kalama going down on her knees so that Mutara could mimic mount her and wave her trunk in triumph! Kibo immediately noticed Kalama on her knees and rushed to try and also mount onto her, pushing Mutara away. Kalama bellowed and the Keepers shouted at Kibo, who rapidly ran to hide behind some bushes. Kalama and Mutara returned to browsing.

04 November 2010

It was a cold drizzly day, so none of the orphans were tempted to wallow, but Sities entertained the visitors with her usual running up and down the cordon. Kalama decided to overturn the water bins for want of something else to do, which drew applause from all the visitors. Sities tried to do the same, while Makireti and Turkwel enjoyed rolling in the red earth. Chemi Chemi challenged Mutara to a pushing match and found himself pushed beyond the cordon and in amongst the visitors. He charged Mutara, but she took refuge close to Kalama, so Chemi Chemi decided it was not worth Kalama’s revenge!

05 November 2010

Baby Wasin had a happy moment when she was introduced to the older orphans, all of whom were overjoyed to have a tiny baby in their midst. All the older elephants began pushing and shoving each other in order to get as close as they could to the baby, so the Keepers had a busy time. Most persistent were Olare and Mutara who were determined to be close to the baby. Eventually, it all became so hectic that the Keepers removed Wasin, after which Olare went in search of her, leaving Sities with Kalama, who was overjoyed to be in charge for once!

06 November 2010

Again, Kitirua and Naisula separated from the others and went deeper into the forest to feed. However, when a warthog emerged from his burrow, they fled in disarray causing all the others to follow suit, fleeing back to the Keepers. Kandecha happened to run in a different direction, and finding himself alone, began bellowing as he ran back to the Keepers. Suguta, Olare and Tumaren ran to retrieve him with their ears wide out.

07 November 2010

The weather was chilly, so all the orphans browsed peacefully. Only Kibo and Kandecha took time out to play their usual pushing game. Because it was so cold Wasin had to spend most of the day inside the stable with a Keeper, since it was too cold to allow her out.

08 November 2010

When the orphans emerged from their night quarters in the morning, the Keepers remained very close to them because four lions were nearby. Tano, Shukuru and Mutara usually enjoy charging around behind bushed to greet each day, so the Keepers had to keep a close eye on them. Kandecha tends to try and bully the youngsters by taking any opportunity to try and mount them. Suguta, Melia, Olare, Murka and Tumaren noticed the pile of Grewia that had come from Tsavo and settled down to bark them. Once the Keepers were sure that the lions had dispersed, they escorted the orphans out to browse in the forest.

09 November 2010

Today a film crew arrived very early to film the orphans being let out of their Night Stables and Stockades. The orphans were in a playful mood, so the film crew were very happy with their shots. Chemi Chemi challenged Mutara to a pushing match and found himself knocked down, so he ran to the bench, near which Melia and Kandecha were standing. He then put his front legs on the bench to show Mutara he was taller than her!

10 November 2010

As the Keepers were taking their early morning tea out in the forest, Kibo snatched a branch from Tumaren and tried to escape with it. However, Tumaren caught up with him, knocked him over, and retrieved her branch. During the afternoon Wasin was brought amongst the older elephants so that the film crew could film the reunion, which was highly charged. It was very difficult for the Keepers to separate Wasin from the other older elephants once the filming was finished.

11 November 2010

Having opened up the elephants, as well as the orphaned rhino named Solio, and as we were with them in the forest, four lions appeared hunting a warthog. They spotted us and remained close by watching us for l0 minutes. Solio charged towards the lions, which sent them off. Kitirua and Naisula, who are close friends, became afraid when a plane flew low overhead, and they surprised the Keepers by fleeing in a different direction to one another.

12 November 2010

Today, we decided to see whether the older elephants would take their milk from a bucket instead of the bottle, when there is always the danger of some going down the wrong way. The orphans refused to use their trunks to suck up the milk from the buckets. Kandecha and Kitirua simply tried to overturn the buckets, so in the end we reverted back to the bottles! Mutara is becoming a Matriarch. Every morning, as soon as she emerges, she stands next to Wasin’s stable, waiting for her to be brought out.

13 November 2010

As the Keepers were escorting the rhino Solio, she found a pool of rainwater and began enjoying a wallow until she suddenly got up and ran back to the Stockades. The Keepers went to investigate what had frightened her, and came across Shida who was on his way back to the Stockades for the visiting hour. One of the Keepers returned to the Stockade to find Solio greatly disturbed. It was a while before she calmed down.

14 November 2010

Two baby warthogs who usually followed Solio each morning were killed today by the lions. They liked to remain close to Solio, perhaps thinking that she was their mother!

15 November 2010

Kitirua and Naisula, who like to feed separately from the others, suddenly spotted a lion heading towards them, and ran to the Keepers for protection. The Keepers grabbed the blanket that was covering Sities and flapped it to scare the lions off.

16 November 2010

Early in the morning, two lions were roaring at the orphans’ mudbath in front of Dame Daphne’s house. The Keepers kept Kitirua and Naisula under close surveillance since they tend to wander apart from the others, and become more vulnerable to attack by lions. Today some of the orphans enjoyed their noon mudbath, since the temperature was more conducive but Suguta, Melia, Murka and Tumaren tested the water with the tip of their trunk and only put a foot in!

17 November 2010

Today saw the rescue of a new orphan found alone in Tsavo West National Park by the Trust’s anti-poaching De-Snaring team, who had been mauled by a lion around the neck as the men were in the process of surrounding her. The calf was about one year old, and arrived in the Nursery in an extremely emaciated condition. The arrival of a newcomer meant that Kalama had to move into a stockade, but she protested so loudly that we had to return her to the stable she liked. In the end Kudup was moved the new orphan was put in the stable previously occupied by Kudup, which solved the problem. She was named “Ishanga”.

18 November 2010

The new orphan “Ishanga” joined the other orphans in the yard at 8 a.m. and was welcomed very warmly into the fold, especially by the main Matriarch, Suguta, and also Olare and Tumaren, but also by Junior Matriarchs such as Mutara, Kudup and Kalama. All warmly embraced her.

19 November 2010

Nowadays Wasin has been appearing at the noon mudbath open visiting hour, and has been the centre of attention for the visiting public due to her tiny size and the strong bonds she has with the Keepers who are her human family. Kalama, Kudup and Mutara are always in close attendance, doing their best to entice her away, but without success. Wasin is a very gentle, quiet and lovely baby, who plays by rubbing her had and ears against the Keepers legs.

20 November 2010

Clear skies promised a sunny day and all the orphans were able to enjoy their noon mudbath. Kalama’s baby group came for the first milk sitting, after which Sities embarked on her usual trick, running up and down the visitors’ cordon, and scaring the visiting local school kids. Suguta’s older group came next, Kandecha and Murka, who are very greedy, leading the herd in a rush. After taking their milk, all then also enjoyed an exuberant mudbath which left the visitors very happy.

21 November 2010

Immediately “Ishanga” was let out of her night stable, she ignored Kalama’s smaller orphaned group and pushed past them to the older elephants, who welcomed her warmly as did little Sities. Ishanga settled down instantly to browse amongst them. However, at the mudbath, Ishanga repeatedly tried to run away, not being used to the visitors, but the Keepers encouraged her to return and be amongst the other orphans.

22 November 2010

It was an usually cold morning, so all the young orphans emerged from their night stables still wearing their blankets. Once out in the forest, the orphans encountered some hyenas, spotted first by Suguta, Tumaren and Melia. Suguta and her group then charged after the retreating hyenas, bush-bashing as they went, reinforced by the Keepers who were shouting to scare off the hyenas. After several minutes of bush-bashing, all the orphans resumed browsing.

23 November 2010

The orphans had a wonderful day today, playing together and enjoying their noon mudbath. After the mudbath Olare and Kibo challenged one another to a wrestling match which deteriorated into a fight. Suguta moved in to separate the two, after which she spent time close to Olare as though talking to her, before moving to push Kibo out of the herd to discipline him. The Keepers believed that Olare had told Suguta that it was Kibo who started the fight!

24 November 2010

We received a phone call from Lewa Downs that there was an orphan in Shaba in need of rescuing. By the time the rescue plane arrived at Shaba airfield, they found the orphan, emaciated and weak. It was about one year old. Immediately they inserted a life saving drip into an ear vein, attempted to lift her to her feet, and give her some milk, but she could barely even swallow and died in the process. It was heartbreaking that she had been brought in too late to be able to retrieve.

25 November 2010

It’s a Training Day for Suguta, Melia and Tumaren, who will be leaving the Nursery for Tsavo in a few days time. It is always difficult to persuade them to go into the Truck on day one, but Tumaren, who loves milk and is greedy, went in, followed by a much more reluctant Melia. Suguta refused to go in, and did the same during subsequent milk feeding times. However, Olare who will not be going this time, decided to join the other two and go in.

26 November 2010

Ishanga has joined Kitirua and Naisula in having a difficult time from Murka and Melia, who often try and drive them out of the group. It is difficult to understand why Murka and Melia, who have undergone similar traumas, should behave like that. However, it makes the Keepers compensate by paying the three more attention that the others. Kudup spent time with Ishanga to comfort her and reassure her that she was, in fact, part of the elephant family, inviting the newcomer to indulge in rolling and pushing games. Kudup will be a fabulous Matriarch in the years to come. Today, at last, Suguta decided to go into the truck in order to take her milk.

27 November 2010

It was a cold, drizzly morning, but Solio was up and knocking at the Gate of her Stockade at dawn, eager to be let out and begin the day, even before taking her 6 a.m. feed. As she became damp, she began charging around playfully as the Keepers prepared her milk. She failed to calm down even having taken her milk, but insisted on running up and down. The Keepers were anxious because so many lions are still around but Solio likes her browse soft and fresh, preferring to feed early, and rest during the afternoon. Meanwhile Kandecha and Kibo enjoyed testing their strength in a pushing match. The Training of the three big Elephants who will be leaving soon was successful. All went into the Truck.

28 November 2010

An Australian Film Crew arrived to film the orphaned elephants at 5 a.m. in the morning, They had a successful time, the orphans all responding well to an audience. Kalama knows instinctively how to behave before the camera. Since the training of the three due to leave began, Naisula and Kitirua have joined the younger group led by Kalama, leaving Murka, Olare, Kibo and Kandecha to escort the Trainees to the truck.

29 November 2010

The orphans left their Night Stockades in a happy mood today, trumpeting and knocking down small shrubs. Suguta was especially happy, running round the young ones, the smile on her face telling all. During the afternoon the Australian Film Crew joined the orphans out in the bush, concentrating on Sities, Shukuru and Tano, who they filmed taking their 6 p.m. feed and going back into their Night Stables.

30 November 2010

Kudup has been showing Ishanga more concern, especially when Ishanga has to have her throat wounds cleaned. After this, Ishanga decided to remain apart from the others, and Kudup joined her to comfort her. The IMAX Producer and Sound Crew arrived in the afternoon to record the Keepers’ voices as they spoke out in the bush.