Our new babies — and firm best friends — Tytan and Notty are improving day by day. The black rhino, who was rescued last month after his mother fell off a cliff, and the little zebra, who also lost her mother under similar tragic circumstances, have already formed a strong bond and do everything together.
On an overcast morning, we opened the orphans’ doors one by one and they padded out of their warm dry stockades. Mzinga and Talek made a beeline down to Kipekee’s door and waited outside. To our surprise, the blue-blanket-clad baby sidestepped the welcoming trunks extended in her direction and headed past her big sisters up the path to see Muridjo. They had no choice but to about turn and follow her! Kipekee walked out to the forest with just Muridjo, rather than all three girls. Perhaps our spoilt baby is becoming choosier in her choice of nannies!
On some days, Kerrio is opting to do her independent thing but this morning she was in the thick of the herd. Lying splayed on the ground, our mini matriarch encouraged new boy Arthi to push against her. Moments later, Latika, Wamata and Muridjo gathered around and Wamata massaged her body against Kerrio’s backside.
In the afternoon, Olomunyak, the current playmaker of our herd, had fun - first with Talek and then with Taroha. Talek climbed on and slid off Olomunyak while he relaxed on the grass. When she wandered away to browse, he sought out his best mate, pestering Taroha and nudging him in the backside. Our gentle bull was left with no choice but to face his persistent friend and accept the challenge. A lengthy and noisy wrestling contest followed.
Today, Kamili led the herd into the bush soon after dawn while Kerrio headed off in her own direction. As the herd spread out to browse after following Kamili, Kerrio remained at a distance but within earshot, choosing to be by herself. Meanwhile, Kamili was enjoying her new maternal role. She was looking after the younger elephants and responding to every tiny rumble or trumpet.
The elephants generally like to browse and then to play once their bellies are full. Some play pushing games while others scratch themselves against trees or roll around on patches of dry soil. Olomunyak and Taroha were playing pushing games again this morning. They pushed heads with trunks entwined, moving one way and then another through the trees. When Taroha decided that he had had enough, Olomunyak would not let him stop. The cheeky bull chased his older brother until Taroha asserted his authority and gave him a hard shove. Olomunyak fell over and was helped to his feet by Latika, who checked on him and stood protectively close.
Our old Nursery baby took a big step today. Rather than pushing Arthi and Kipekee, who have ousted her from her role of adored baby, Wamata was (almost) looking after them. She trunk touched each in turn affectionately while they browsed in the forest – could she be turning over a new leaf and transforming herself into a nanny!
This morning, the rain was drizzling when, one by one, we opened the gates of the orphans’ stockades. One or two were reluctant to leave their warm stables but most were keen to head out to the forest.
Kerrio led the herd up the path and several Keepers brought up the rear, pushing Muridjo and Kamili to keep them moving (because they wanted to wait for Kipekee). Clad in a blue blanket, Kipekee stayed back in her stable until the rain stopped but Arthi headed out with the herd.
Later in the morning, the elephants visited the mud wallow for a milk feed. The weather was not warm enough for swimming but it was perfect for dusting. Kerrio, Arthi, Wamata, Taroha and Talek gathered on the mound of dry soil. Kerrio did her play-cushion act while Arthi rested his weight against her. When they moved away, the other three climbed all over each other. Wamata leant against Taroha, Talek climbed on Wamata, Taroha massaged his backside against the girls – and so the games continued.
In the afternoon, the herd browsed far and wide in the forest. Some elephants (especially Latika and Olomunyak) like rubbing their faces and the undersides of their trunks on dry ground and others do not. Today, Latika enjoyed a lengthy face massage while others browsed around her.
At dawn this morning, the rain was drizzling and the ground was muddy. Rain or no rain, Talek and Pardamat ran out of their stables, trumpeting loudly as they headed towards the forest. Arthi also padded quickly out of his room, rumbling repeatedly. In contrast, greedy Olomunyak did his best to continue snacking on pellets in his warm stockade and had to be persuaded out into the rain.
As it was too cold for Kipekee, she remained in her stable. Predictably, Muridjo, Kamili and Muridjo did not want to leave the stockades because she was not with them. Even out in the forest, the girls browsed while facing home, hoping to nip back when our backs were turned! Nyambeni and Talek also tried to make a dash for the stockades. To our relief, the weather improved and a blue-blanket-clad baby joined her gang of nannies.
In the afternoon, the sun was shining and Kipekee had a wallow. Generally, she stays away from the muddy pool to avoid being squashed by her older brothers and sisters. But, today, Kipekee was so hot that she paddled into the mud and relaxed on her belly. Latika kept guard on one side and Muridjo on the other. The two nannies stood with trunks draped over the baby – they were so close that Kipekee could not roll or splash at all. Kamili joined them and there the three girls remained, trunk touching the little one, until she decided that she had had enough, climbing out for a dusting by a helpful Keeper.
In the evening, a new rescue was flown in from the Maasai Mara. We settled him in a stable where he accepted a bottle and slept well in the night.
As soon as we opened the doors this morning, Mzinga and Muridjo padded down to Kipekee’s stable. They were in luck today as the weather was warmer. Out she came and up the path they went. Out in the forest, Kamili came over to browse with the three elephants. Pulling rank (as she is over a year older than either Mzinga or Muridjo), Kamili chased them away and insisted on having Kipekee all to herself.
Almost all of the time, the elephants respond obediently to our instructions, whether moving off in the right direction when we whistle and push their rumps, or waiting in groups when we send them down to the mud wallow, or moving on after drinking their milk. But occasionally they rebel and are disobedient!
Pardamat is one of the main offenders – quite often he either ignores our whistles or does the exact opposite of what we are asking him to do. Latika has become less and less biddable in recent months, indicating that the five-year-old is ready to graduate. Mzinga is usually obedient but, as she gets older, sometimes sneaks back to the stockades, doing what she wants rather than what she is supposed to do! Nyambeni is starting to show a preference for browsing in the forest rather than heading down the path for a milk feed. Even little Arthi can be naughty, pushing a Keeper when he tries to move him away from the wheelbarrow of milk.
Our new boy, who is around 15 months old, remains in his stable while he gets used to his new family. He is very thin and has an injured leg.
As many orphans were busy browsing in the field this morning, Olomunyak and Taroha began yet another wrestling match. The young bulls pushed one way and then another with trunks draped over each other’s heads. Olomunyak is a very playful boy who loves wrestling against Taroha or Pardamat or Talek. The oldest bull in the herd, Taroha is always gentle and welcoming to Olomunyak and Pardamat who enjoy practising their wrestling skills.
After browsing for a time, Kerrio lay down for her regular body-rub-roll-around on the ground. Today, it was Wamata’s turn to play on the mini matriarch and so the younger girl rested her fore legs on her big belly, slid off, and played the game again. Kerrio is a gentle caring mother figure and also a playmate to Wamata, Olomunyak, Pardamat, Talek and even Kipekee.
Later in the morning, the herd visited the mud bath for another milk feed. We send them down the path in groups of three or four. After emptying their bottles, they spread out around the wallow to graze on supplementary greens. Today, Muridjo, Kamili and Latika clustered around Kipekee, standing so close that she could hardly take a step. While all this fussing was ongoing, Talek and Wamata rolled around on the mound of soil together, after cooling off briefly in the water hole. They lay down in the mud for just a minute before climbing out and covering their bodies in a thick layer of soil.
The herd headed up the path in a straggly line this morning on their way out to the forest. Muridjo, Kamili, Latika, Nyambeni and Mzinga were bustling around in search of Kipekee. For some reason, they were sure that the little girl was at the front of the line. When their search was fruitless, our posse of nannies about turned and headed back to the stockades.
All this time, Kipekee had been with Talek. The two girls had been standing quietly together outside the little one’s stable. When the big girls finally found her, there was an outburst of trumpeting as they gathered around the blanket baby. Whereupon the rest of the herd reacted. Led by Kerrio, every elephant ran back to the stockades - to find that nothing had happened and all was well.
Finally, the whole herd settled to browse out in the field. Olomunyak and Talek were playing a pushing game and then Olomunyak, Talek and Mzinga played rolling-and-climbing-on-each-other games on a patch of dry ground while Wamata browsed with big girl besties Latika and Kamili. After filling her tummy, Wamata began playing with Pardamat. The two played a trunk touching game and then the younger girl clambered on and off the older boy. We were happy to see Wamata becoming more playful.
Back at the stockades, Maxwell was enjoying another laidback day. After browsing on his large pile of pellets with a family of warthogs, Max and the pigs lay down next to each other for a rest.
When Mzinga and Talek walked out of their stockades in the early morning, the two girls hung a right, headed down to pick up Kipekee and shepherded her out to the forest. Today, none of the others made any move in the direction of Kipekee’s stable. A few days ago, Muridjo and Kamili picked her up in the morning and, a few more days ago, Nyambeni and Kamili collected her. It seems that some days are Kipekee-duty days - and other days are a free for all!
Out in the field, the orphans browsed quietly for a long time – in contrast to most days when they eat for a time and then begin playing. Orphans like Olomunyak, Pardamat and Taroha, who are very fond of wrestling, were busy browsing. Orphans like Latika, Kerrio, Kamili, Mzinga, Nyambeni and Talek, who are fond of rolling games on the ground, were busy browsing, surrounding little Kipekee on all sides.
Our recent rescues – an elephant, a zebra and a rhino – are still staying back at the stockades. The elephant is still confined to his stable while he settles in. The zebra, whose name is Notty, and the rhino, whose name is Tytan, spend time every day together in an extended large stockade with an open door and a Keeper. They are free to wander out if they wish – both like to wander a short distance and then back to the stockade.
Later in the morning, the boys were back to their normal selves. Soon after Olomunyak and Pardamat downed their milk at the mud wallow, the bulls got stuck into a wrestling contest – until Muridjo interrupted the game by striding between them. Muridjo commands respect among the herd - and so they did as they were bid and ended the game.
In the afternoon, Nyambeni led the herd deep into the forest. They followed her happily, walking along in a line behind her through the bush.
Tytan the rhino and Notty the zebra have begun walking in the forest with their Keepers, setting out together after the elephants. The newbies have become used to their new family and attached to the Keepers. The rhino was reluctant to leave his stable for many days but is now happy to walk a short distance into the bush.
This morning, the sun was shining and the orphans were in jovial playful moods. Mzinga and Talek were first to disrupt the peace. The girls began mock charging and bush bashing – for no apparent reason – and soon the rest of the orphans followed suit. We were surrounded by 13 elephants running in all directions! Even Kipekee was running around, although it was impossible for her to bush bash as Muridjo, Kamili, Latika, and Kerrio were at their most protective. At any moment, at least two were sandwiching her.
Mzinga and Talek’s next game was the rubbing-faces-and-rolling-around game. Latika, Kamili, Muridjo, Nyambeni and Kerrio piled up against and on top of each other on the dry soil while young bulls Pardamat, Olomunyak and Taroha play mounted their big sisters.
Later in the morning, while the others hosed themselves with soil, Taroha, Olomunyak, Wamata, Talek and Nyambeni wallowed in the muddy pool, splashing mud in every direction. Kipekee was being naughty again. The little girl respects and obeys the Keepers, her human family, but does not behave in the same way to strangers. If an unfamiliar human comes too close, she will be rewarded with a shove!
On their way out to the forest in the early morning, Taroha and Kamili stopped off at Maxwell’s gate. The two elephants stood on one side and the enormous rhino on the other. They stretched their trunks out in greeting while he stood very still, enjoying the moment, until Kerrio arrived. She knocked the gate with her head, whereupon Max walked away and Taroha and Kamili walked on up the path to join the herd.
The elephants browsed peacefully for a long time. Only Taroha was showing off – climbing up and tumbling down a small hill again and again – while the others browsed around him. The forest floor is dry and so the orphans have to reach up high to pull down tasty branches from trees. Luckily, the older girls are happy to share their spoils with Wamata, Arthi and Kipekee.
Later in the morning, after the orphans had their milk bottles, Wamata, Olomunyak and Pardamat climbed into the mud wallow to play and cool off. They slapped the water while rubbing themselves against each other and the sides. Several followed them into the muddy pool while others stood along the edges.
Although Kipekee did not risk getting into the wallow today, she still succeeded in covering her body in thick mud! When Muridjo and Kamili climbed out covered in mud, the little girl stood between them, rubbing herself against their wet necks and bellies.
This morning, Talek was on Kipekee duty! While the other girls headed up the path, she walked down to the little girl’s stable. Kipekee toddled out and Talek escorted her out to the forest where she handed her over to Muridjo and Mzinga.
We are waiting for the short rains and the grass is yellow and short. Therefore, we were not surprised today when Kerrio and Latika led the herd deep into the forest. Often the elephants choose to stay quite close to the stockades but, occasionally, especially during dry times, they wander far afield.
Later in the morning, Pardamat was misbehaving at the mud bath. After emptying his own two bottles, he tried to snatch a bottle from Wamata. Before we could intervene, Wamata dealt with the situation! Despite being over a year younger, she shoved him hard, whereupon he turned tail and headed for the greens on the other side of the wallow.
In the afternoon, it was so hot that Kipekee decided to take the plunge. She padded into the pool with a very tight guard. Latika, Muridjo, Mzinga and Nyambeni stood around her so they could make sure she did not get stuck in thick mud. She lay down for a dip with four trunks fussing over her. When she struggled to stand up, the girls used four pairs of forelegs to support her and push her back onto her feet!
After cooling off, Pardamat and Olomunyak played a wrestling game while rolling on the heap of soil. When Talek tried to join the game, the two boys ganged up on her and pushed her away. Taking this in her stride, our easy-going girl ambled on to drink from a water trough with Mzinga.
Kerrio is becoming more independent, usually choosing to be with her herd but occasionally striking out on her own. This morning, when we whistled to the orphans, gathering them together so we could send them down to the mud bath for a milk feed, Kerrio did not respond. Rather than running for her milk, she continued to browse. We found her in a clearing on her own, browsing contentedly. Her behaviour shows that our wonderful mini matriarch is ready to graduate and embark on the next stage of her journey back to the wild.
Arthi was being Arthi today in the forest. Our cool dude hung out with Muridjo and Nyambeni for some time and then wandered a distance away to browse on his own while always remaining close enough to the herd to feel safe. He was focused on browsing, using the tip of his trunk to twist up every tasty shoot he could find. Our calm friendly boy is not yet very playful but we are sure that he will become more outgoing as he recovers from his ordeal and really bonds with his new family.
In the afternoon, Kamili was being quite possessive of Kipekee. Rather than sharing the baby with her other nannies, Kamili positioned her between her front legs, draped her trunk along her back, and gave warning rumbles if anyone dared to approach!
Today was a hot sunny day and the orphans were keen to cool off in the wallow after their mid-morning milk feed. Olomunyak - our cheerful boy who plays with anyone no matter their age or size - plunged into the muddy water with Mzinga a few steps behind him. The two orphans submerged most of their big bodies in the mud, leaving only their trunks and tops of ears sticking out. Climbing in to join them, Pardamat decided to mount Olomunyak (rather than Mzinga) whereupon Olomunyak trumpeted in alarm as Pardamat is much heavier and the older boy moved away. Kerrio, Arthi and Kamili stood on the edge splashing the water with their trunks while Latika and Wamata paddled in the pool and rested their bellies on the edge. It was a mud-bathing-party day!
In the afternoon, the orphans wandered far afield in the dry forest. They browsed for a time and then either played or massaged their bodies against the ground. Old friends Mzinga, Nyambeni and Taroha stood facing each other in a three-pronged formation, laying trunks over each other’s head in a group hug! Talek and Pardamat were playing over the rocky area – first they chased each other and then Talek rested on the rocks while Pardamat climbed on and off her back. In contrast to some days, she accepted his attentions and made no effort to push him away. Then Arthi joined in and the three young elephants pushed each other around.
This morning, Kipekee toddled out of her room to find three devoted nannies. Muridjo, Nyambeni and Mzinga checked her with their trunks and walked her up the path. The small girl was sandwiched between Muridjo and Mzinga with Nyambeni bringing up the rear. As Kipekee walked past her favourite bench, she stopped off for a morning massage. About she turned to scratch her backside against one corner. Her devoted nannies had to wait until she was finished – only then did our confident baby walk on to the forest.
Tytan, the rhino who was rescued last month after surviving for two days on his own, and Notty, the zebra who was also on her own for a long time, have already a strong bond and do everything together. This morning, they walked slowly out to the forest with their Keepers. Somehow, they manage to walk in step even though one animal has short thick legs and the other long thin ones. They drank their bottles side by side, browsed quietly in the forest as a duo, and walked back to the stockades at lunchtime.
Our calm humble bull was helping the younger elephants in the forest again this morning. Taroha stretched tall to pull down tasty branches for Olomunyak and Wamata. Not only was he feeding them, he was also protecting them. When Pardamat ambled over to Wamata, Taroha saw him off before the mischievous bull had the chance to mount her. Afterwards, the three orphans playing dust bathing and pushing games.
In the afternoon at the mud bath, Nyambeni was being a ‘kali mama’ again. When little Wamata made the mistake of walking over (innocently) to browse next to Kipekee, she was rewarded with a shove (for doing nothing wrong). We decided that it was time for Nyambeni to join Latika, Kamili and Pardamat in the naughty corner!
The sun was shining this morning when the herd wandered out to the forest. They walked a short distance before settling to browse in small groups which kept changing. Kamili stood close to Latika, and then to Pardamat and Olomunyak, and then to Muridjo and Kipekee. All the orphans mingled with each other.
While the older females constantly hover around Kipekee, they are less bothered about Arthi, the second youngest elephant in the herd. Perhaps they are less bothered because they know that he is an independent chap. He is a year older than the baby but he’s also a very calm and friendly boy who likes doing his own thing. Today in the forest, Arthi greeted one Keeper and then another, affectionately nudging them with his trunk.
Later in the morning, we gathered the herd and sent them down to the mud bath for a milk feed in groups. Today, there were four Keepers waiting at the wallow and so we sent them in groups of up to four. We never send more elephants than there are Keepers as everyone in the herd loves milk feeds (with the possible exception of Kerrio) and would really complain if a Keeper was not waiting for him or her.
After drinking their milk, as most of the others stood in the shade of trees flapping their ears to keep cool, Mzinga, Kamili and Taroha plunged into the mud wallow and Kerrio stood on the edge, slapping water on the sides of her body. While Mzinga paddled in the thick mud, Kamili wallowed on her side and Taroha lay on his belly. Our water boy stuck his face in the mud with his bottom in the air and trunk sticking out like a snorkel.
The elephant calf who arrived at the beginning of the month is improving but is still very thin. During the day, we take him from his small stable to a row of four empty stockades with linking gates open. This is so that he can have some exercise and keep moving – until he is settled enough to wander in the forest.
Talek is a quiet girl who does not push back when others push her, even if they are smaller than her. At the mud bath this morning, she slowly drank every drop of milk and then walked over to the mound of soil. She rubbed her face and tummy and lay down on her side for a dust bath. In contrast to Pardamat, Olomunyak and Wamata who prefer swimming, Talek really likes dust bathing.
Muridjo has become a good mother who always keeps eyes on and protects the young ones in the forest. When Kerrio ‘graduates’, she could become the mini matriarch of our herd. This afternoon in the forest, she was looking after Kipekee but also intervened when Olomunyak and Arthi began squabbling. As soon as Olomunyak pushed Arthi hard, she was there. Muridjo pushed between the boys, checked on the younger one, and told off the older one. Calm was restored in a minute!
It has almost become a routine for Maxwell to wait by his gate in the early mornings. He knows that Mzinga is likely to step out of her stockade and walk over to greet him. Sometimes she visits on her own, sometimes she comes with Taroha. When the elephant touches the rhino with her trunk, Max stands still until Mzinga walks on up the path. After she left this morning, he reversed into his enclosure and lumbered round and round his pile of pellets and greens, kicking up clouds of dust. Burst of excitement over, Max settled to graze on pellets alongside several baboons and warthogs with three oxpeckers balancing on his head and back.
In the forest this morning, one innocent impala succeeded in upsetting a whole herd of elephants! As the orphans were ambling into the bush, the impala dashed through them, leaping as she ran. The elephants were taken completely by surprise. Kipekee panicked and ran away and, to our surprise, her reaction spread throughout the herd. Trumpeting, the elephants began bush bashing and lumbering in every direction.
Unusually, they ignored our calls and whistles. We carried on and eventually they calmed down and settled to browse once again. Kerrio and Mzinga had, however, disappeared into the bush and did not return for half an hour. When our two big girls padded back to join the herd, they were welcomed with many rumbles.
About an hour after the elephants had headed out to the forest, we opened the gates of Tytan’s and Notty’s stockades. The stout rhino and the skinny zebra walked out of their neighbouring rooms and out to the forest with their Keepers. They have become used to this routine and no longer stand at the back of their stables. Out in the bush, where one goes, the other follows! When Tytan has a mud bath, Notty stands off to the side, enjoying the muddy spray.
Arthi is a recent rescue who has adapted to his new life more quickly than most orphans. Our new boy is so sociable and friendly towards not only other elephants but also Keepers and even strange human beings encountered at the mud bath. During the day, he often approaches a Keeper with trunk held high in greeting. He does not push or play rough with anyone.
Arthi is also our new vocalist. On his way down the path to the mud wallow, he begins trumpeting for his milk, warning us that he is on his way and very hungry. After gulping his bottle, he likes to demand another, loudly. But today was different. To our great surprise, Arthi walked quietly to the wallow, accepted a bottle, drank his milk and ambled on to browse on greens. We have become so used to his shouting that it was as if he was not there! Moments later, Arthi walked along the cordon with trunk aloft, allowing several visitors to touch him.
Today, Mzinga, a young leader in the family, was in a very excited and playful mood. Emerging from her stockade, she made a beeline for the new rhino’s room. Standing at his gate, Mzinga did her best to play with Tytan. She pushed and pulled his gate and rumbled while the rhino stood warily at the back of his stable. He was not sure what to make of this extremely friendly elephant!
Hearing Tytan squeaking, Maxwell knew exactly what Mzinga was up to! He enjoys their morning meetings and was standing by his gate in expectation. When Tytan did not come forward to his gate, Mzinga abandoned her plan and headed over to the blind rhino’s gate where she was joined by Olomunyak. The two elephants draped their trunks on the rhino for a few minutes.
Calling the shots, Mzinga decided that it was time for the woods. She jogged up the path with the younger stouter orphan running to keep up with her. The two elephants played for a while before settling to browse with the rest of the herd. Half an hour later, they were playing again, pushing each other one way and then another. When Latika invited them to join her running-up-and-down game, neither paid any heed as they were too busy!
Later in the morning at the mud bath, Mzinga paddled into the muddy water for a roll around and a splash. Kamili joined her for a short time before climbing out for a dust bath. Taroha was next and stayed with her until the end of the session. On dry land, Pardamat and Olomunyak were playing the pushing game. As always, the older boy was being quite rough - and the younger one was refusing to give up!
Before heading out to the forest this morning, Olomunyak enjoyed a wonderful play time with the warthog piglets who visit the stockades every day with their mothers. They are still so little that, if Olomunyak meant business, they would be no more with just one kick! But our playful boy was taking great care not to hurt the pigs. He chased them around the stockades with their mothers looking on!
The game came to an immediate end, however, when Kipekee walked out of her stable and toddled up the path towards the forest. The little elephant functions like a remote-control device! Wherever she goes, the big girls follow and, automatically, the rest of the herd follows them. Our device works equally well outside the stockades, in the bush, and at the mud wallow. If Kipekee heads in any direction, we know the whole herd will do so too!
Wamata has accepted that she is no longer the baby of the herd. She is often found browsing with loyal nanny Latika who remains devoted to the little girl and rarely plays with Kipekee. In contrast, Arthi has bonded with the little girl and the two orphans are spending lots of time together. Today at the mud bath, the little boy was hanging with the little girl but treating her very gently. Could Arthi be a Taroha in the making!
Kamili did well today. Our independent girl used to ignore the babies but has changed in recent months. When Pardamat moved to head butt Wamata, Kamili took immediate action. She intercepted him before he could push the little girl and sent him to the other side of the wallow.
Today, a recent rescue was airlifted from the Voi Reintegration Unit to the Nursery. Daba was rescued in the middle of September and has been recovering at the Voi stockades. He is still very thin but is calm – as he is already used to Keepers and stables.
We enjoy watching the orphans walking out of their rooms in the early morning and saying hello and checking on each other. Kerrio likes to walk from one baby to the next, taking more time with some than with others. This morning, Kerrio, Mzinga and Nyambeni went around the stockades of those who were still inside, knocking on each door with their trunks. Minutes later, Arthi, Talek, Wamata and Olomunyak popped out of their rooms to be greeted by three nannies in turn. Only when everyone was present and correct did Kerrio decide that it was time to head out to the forest.
Later in the morning at the mud wallow, Mzinga, Nyambeni and Muridjo were in the first group sent down for their milk feed. As soon as they had finished their bottles, the three girls jogged around the wallow looking for Kipekee. Confirming her absence, Mzinga headed back up the path to the forest followed by Muridjo and Nyambeni. Meeting her along the way in the company of Kamili and Talek, they celebrated with rumbles and trumpets and shepherded her to the feeding point.
On a hot afternoon, Kipekee climbed into the mud pool to wallow with Mzinga. We are always on the alert when the younger orphans are in the wallow, just in case one is pushed under or squashed by an older elephant. But, with Kipekee, we do not have to be vigilant as there are always several older sisters keeping guard! Today, Kerrio, Muridjo and Talek stood on the edge for the whole time that Kipekee was in the pool. If anything happened, her nannies were there to rescue their baby.
A second rescue was flown up to the Nursery from Voi today. The female calf was only rescued a few days ago and is still unused to her new human / elephant family. We put her in the stockade next to Daba, the orphan from Voi who arrived yesterday.
Daba, the young bull who was flown up from the Voi stockades two days ago, spent a short time outside his stockade this morning. We tempted him out with a bottle of milk and he roamed around the area with seven Keepers watching over him. Once he had explored the area, we shepherded him into the row of four empty stockades so he could have more space.
Our not-so-new boy – who was rescued in the Maasai Mara at the beginning of the month – is going for short walks in the forest with Notty and Tytan in the mornings. The little elephant does not stay out for long and has not yet been introduced to the herd as we are waiting until he is stronger.
Pardamat does not like being left behind even when it is his own fault! In the afternoon at the mud bath (asserting his independence now that he is a three-year-old bull!) he walked a short distance away from the herd. As a result, he did not respond when we whistled to gather the herd and was left behind – for a very short time. Realising that that everybody had gone, Pardamat went wild. Trumpeting and trumpeting, he ran all over the place with his trunk held high as he tried to find his family.
Taking pity on the not-so-big-and-brave bull, Kerrio and Mzinga went back to fetch him. Our big girls calmed him down immediately and a subdued Pardamat rejoined the herd.
When we have new babies, before they join the herd in the forest, they are kept indoors for a couple of days or weeks while they get used to their human family and begin to recover from their ordeal. During this time, they are treated to special greens which the other orphans are not given. At present, we have three elephants who are yet to join the herd – and the others know about the new friends and their special greens. Mzinga, Olomunyak, Nyambeni, Kerrio and Muridjo and others are often on the lookout for tasty leftovers!
This morning, while the herd browsed in the forest, Kerrio and Mzinga sneaked back to the stockades, spurred by curiosity and maternal instincts - but also in hope of finding leftovers. The two girls visited one room and then another but were soon found out by the Keepers and ordered back to the forest. They padded up the path obediently, accepting that their attempt had been unsuccessful.
The orphans go down to the mud bath for milk feeds in small groups of two or three or four. Almost always the groups head down without incident – but today there was a bit of drama. As Latika, Nyambeni, Muridjo and Kamili padded down the path, they encountered two male impalas chasing each other. Only Kamili acted her age! The courageous girl continued on without hesitation, as the other three about turned and ran in the direction of the stockades, trumpeting as if they had come across a herd of lions!
Taroha’s character has similarities with Kerrio’s. The mellow boy of the herd is the oldest bull but he never bullies the others or provokes them. Sometimes he even turns his back on conflict and often he protects and cares for the younger ones.
Today out in the field, Taroha did behave aggressively but only to defend two of the younger orphans. He was keeping Kipekee and Arthi company as, for once, the older girls were busy elsewhere. As the three browsed quietly together, from nowhere and for no reason, Pardamat charged over and pushed Arthi away. Taroha reacted immediately and disciplined the bull with a strong shove.
We did not realise that, despite being far away, Kerrio had seen what Pardamat had done to Arthi. She ran over to support Taroha and together they drove the naughty bull away and did not allow anyone near the two youngest orphans for the rest of the day. Kerrio may ignore minor misdemeanours, allowing the other nannies to deal with them, but when the issue is serious, she steps in and means business!
Occasionally, we move the orphans to different stockades, either because of new arrivals or because they have grown and should be in a larger space. Today, we moved Arthi from his small stable to a stockade next to Talek. The little boy accepted the move without a fuss but not the little girl. When she arrived back at the stockades in the early evening, Talek headbutted his gate and tried to push him away. Two hours later, however, her attitude had shifted and the two elephants were rumbling to each other and stretching their trunks through the bars in greeting!
Kipekee was one of the first to pad out of her stockade this morning. She walked down to Wamata’s room - the two girls are becoming friends - and knocked her head on the door several times. To our surprise, Wamata walked out and headed straight for the pellets store, ignoring Kipekee completely. Her tummy had trumped the baby! When Wamata found the door of the store closed, she walked back to greet Kipekee with a rumble and a trunk touch.
It is going to take time for Maxwell – our blind black 19-year-old rhino – to come to terms with the arrival and presence of Tytan. Max was very accepting of Raha and the two rhinos would occasionally stand on either side of his gate together – but she was a female rhino. Tytan is male and Max knows this. His habits have changed since Tytan started going out to the forest up a path which goes past Max’s stockade.
Significantly, Max has shifted his midden from its old spot to a new place. He is sending a signal to the new rhino by not only marking his territory but extending the area. Today, when Max sensed that Tytan was walking up the path, he ran at the fence and pushed against it while the baby rhino increased his pace and jogged away to the forest. We calmed Max down by calling his name several times and are sure that he will get used to Tytan.
The orphans headed out as usual to the forest in the early morning and settled to browse. Our gentle boy, Taroha, was browsing close to Kipekee and Kamili today. When Pardamat challenged him to play the pushing game, he turned down his friend, choosing instead to remain with the baby.
Later in the morning, the orphans visited the mud bath for another milk feed. The sun was shining and several paddled or wallowed in the muddy water. Mzinga and Taroha lay down on their bellies while Kerrio and Latika stood on the edge, slapping the water with their trunks. Arthi and Olomunyak paddled in the mud and then rolled on the mound of dry soil together. We whistled to the herd when it was time to leave the wallow. Almost all responded obediently and began walking back along the path. Today, Latika and Mzinga ignored our calls and had to be persuaded to leave the pool.
Kerrio always comes home at the end of the line and is the last to walk into her stockade. This is not because we send her back to the stockades after the others, it is just because – as the mini matriarch of the herd and a five-year-old elephant who is ready to graduate - she likes to be last. Either she pauses on the path or she hides behind the top stockade waiting for everyone to pass.
This morning, for the first time, Daba joined the herd in the forest – where he was welcomed by everyone except for Wamata and Arthi! We brought Kerrio, Nyambeni and Mzinga back from the bush once the others had settled to shepherd the new boy out from the stockades. All went smoothly and our three girls stood close, trunk touching him before escorting him up the path. Daba stayed calm.
Out in the forest, the other elephants gathered around to welcome the new member of the herd. Kamili and Muridjo welcomed him with many rumbles but Wamata and Arthi were less pleased to see him. Wamata ignored him and Arthi gave him several small shoves. Once again, our babies are having to adjust to another new baby!
Later in the morning, Pardamat and Olomunyak played more pushing and mounting games. The two boys entwined trunks and pushed each other back and forth. Pardamat is stronger and so Olomunyak was pushed backwards – but our plucky boy never gives up, even when he falls over and lands in the bushes. He picks himself up and goes back for more.
Today was also de-ticking day. Every month, our orphans are sprayed with ‘dawa’ to kill off any ticks living on their thick skin. They do not like this at all. This afternoon, as Kamili and Latika padded around the corner past Maxwell’s enclosure, they lifted their trunks and smelled the ‘dawa’. The two elephants came to a sudden halt, trumpeted and took a right, in the vain hope of finding a hiding place.
Kerrio was at her most playful this morning in the forest. She lay on the forest floor, waving her trunk in invitation, and Mzinga clambered all over her big sister. Pardamat play mounted both for a time before picking up a long twisty branch to twirl with his trunk.
Not far away, Taroha was with new boy Daba. Our dominant bull was showing our new bull good places to browse in the forest. On the off chance that Daba could prove a threat, Kamili and Latika were being very protective of Kipekee, sandwiching her close so that no one could approach.
Our mini matriarch spent most of the afternoon with the new boy. Kerrio kept Daba very close to her and trunk touched him regularly. She was protecting him from the older bulls and welcoming him to her family. At one point, when the little boy walked away from her, assistant nannies Mzinga and Nyambeni rounded him up and brought him back to the herd.
In the afternoon, while Latika scratched her belly against a tree stump that was just the right height, Muridjo and Pardamat played pushing and chasing and mounting games. Our feisty girl may have become more maternal - but she is still more than a match for any of the boys!
As the herd wandered out from the stockades this morning, Olomunyak took a detour in the direction of the pellets store. His quest for extra food was unsuccessful as we intercepted him and pushed him in the direction of the forest. Our growing bull is always hungry, perhaps because he is always playing!
An hour later, there was a lovely pile up of big girls on the forest floor. Latika, Kerrio and Kamili – the oldest females in the herd – tumbled over and under each other like enormous puppies while their younger friends carried on browsing around them. When Latika and Kamili tired of the game, Olomunyak was only too happy to take their place.
Even though Kerrio was playing, she was still keeping a close eye on the new member of the herd. While she lay on the ground, Talek was being very friendly to Daba and sticking by him. Only when Kerrio came over to join them did Talek hand over responsibility and walk away. The new boy is very well. Today, when he visited the mud bath with the others, Daba strolled over to the wallow and stood on the edge splashing his body with thick mud.
When it started to rain heavily in the afternoon, we put little Kipekee inside her dry stable. Rather than enjoy the warmth and the extra greens, she trumpeted indignantly, demanding to be allowed to join the herd!
Arthi has adjusted quickly to having his trunk put out of joint by the presence of a new bull in the herd! This morning, rather than pushing him, Arthi was making friends with Daba. With Nyambeni watching over them, the two boys browsed together in the forest for a long time.
Not far away, Mzinga was having a break from her nannying responsibilities. She flopped down onto a patch of greenish grass to massage and fill her belly at the same time. She - and also Muridjo - are very good at multi-tasking and can twist up small clumps with ease from a reclining position. On some days, Mzinga tolerates naughty Pardamat but not today. When he clambered on top of her, she pushed him hard, stood up and strode away.
Kamili and Taroha were browsing together this morning. The two older orphans stood side by side while pulling up trunkfuls of grasses. After feeding for a time, they decided to go for a wander with a stash of greens balanced on each of their heads.
Later in the morning, the herd visited the mud bath for a milk feed. After emptying their bottles, they spread out around the wallow. Some drank from water buckets while others picked up pieces of supplementary lucerne. No one was tempted to get wet on a cool and cloudy day.
Our orphaned elephant herd is growing with the recent additions of Arthi, Daba, the little boy from the Mara, and the little girl from Voi (who remains in her stable while she regains her strength). There are now 16 elephants but only 14 are visiting the mud bath every day. For now, the orphans still visit in one large group but this may change if there are more rescues. We may have to split the herd as we did last year before many of the older orphans graduated. We send them down every day in small groups (depending on the number of Keepers) and the groups change from day to day.
This morning, Olomunyak, Nyambeni, Kipekee and Arthi were in the first group. Both Olomunyak and Nyambeni like to be first and so they raced down the path with trunks aloft. Predictably, Nyambeni was the winner. The second group was made up of Wamata, Latika, Taroha and Kamili in that order. Latika was happy to follow Wamata so she could watch over her favourite baby and the other two walked in quietly. Just Talek and Pardamat made up the third group. Talek drank her milk slowly and Pardamat gulped his bottles before being shepherded away so she could drink in peace. Daba led the last group with nannies Mzinga, Kerrio and Muridjo in his wake. The big girls walked on holding their own bottles while Daba stood still next to a Keeper. After drinking from the water buckets and hosing themselves with soothing soil, the herd ambled back to the forest to continue browsing.
Our herd has also grown with the arrivals of Tytan the rhino and Notty the zebra. Both are thriving in their new lives and gaining in strength every day.