Christmas arrived early in the Kibwezi Forest: We just received the most beautiful gift, in the form of Lima Lima’s brand new baby boy! He is Lima Lima’s first child and our second Umani grandbaby.
Lima Lima in the early stages of labour
The story began on Tuesday, 3rd December 2024. That morning, Lima Lima and her fellow ‘nightclubbers’ linked up with the dependent orphans, as they always do. At the mud bath, we noticed Lima Lima rolling around on the dust pile, clearly trying to soothe her heavily pregnant belly. When she got to her feet, Keeper Evans put his ear to her side — as we joked, she was getting a house call from her personal obstetrician!
A check-up from her 'obstetrician,' Keeper Evans!
In hindsight, Lima Lima was in the early stages of labour. She had been moving slowly and showing obvious discomfort in recent days, so we wondered if this moment was on the horizon. However, the rest of Tuesday passed normally. All the orphans, both dependent and independent, spent the afternoon together before going their separate ways in the evening.
The next morning, more unusual behaviour was afoot. Quanza — who is typically a quiet, placid elephant — ran over to the staff quarters and started making a huge commotion, charging around and trumpeting at the top of her lungs.
The next morning, Lima Lima's baby made his debut
A short while later, we understood why Quanza was behaving so uncharacteristically: She was heralding the arrival of a brand new family member! As Umani Head Keeper Philip drove back from the mud bath, Quanza intercepted him and directed his attention to an area just outside the stockades. Philip saw Lima Lima and Sonje standing sentry, with a tiny, newborn baby sleeping between them.
The proud mum made a beeline home to show off her baby
As soon as word got out, the other Keepers and orphans rushed over. This was exactly the moment Lima Lima had been waiting for: She proudly showed off her baby to her human-elephant family, inviting everyone to come close and admire her son. The celebration was off the charts, with happy rumbling and mile-wide smiles as we welcomed a new baby into our midst.
We have named Lima Lima’s baby Lenny. It means ‘brave as a lion’ — a fitting name for a little elephant whose mother is known for her strength and courage.
Lenny is tiny but strong
Philip notes that Lenny is smaller than Mwana was at birth, but he is ‘tiny and strong.’ Quanza and Sonje took on the role of midwives, helping Lima Lima bring her baby into the world. Kiasa has become the most committed of nannies, even spending her first night out in the forest to look after Lenny. Interestingly, there hadn’t been many wild elephants in the area over the past few days, but that morning, the forest was teeming with them — it was as if everyone wanted to come celebrate the new arrival!
At first, Sonje wouldn't let Lenny sleep
Predictably, the girls are a bit over-the-top in their enthusiasm for Lenny. On the first morning, Sonje wouldn’t allow Lenny to sleep. Every time he tried to lie down, she swooped in and hoisted him to his feet with her trunk. Her concern was admirable but unnecessary — infant elephants need plenty of rest.
Keeper Evans decided to intervene. Pointing at Sonje, he said, ‘Sonje, let Lenny sleep.’ She immediately removed her trunk and allowed the baby to lie down — message received! It’s always incredible to witness how the orphans understand their Keepers and vice versa.
But with a quiet word from the Keepers, he was finally allowed to rest!
Lima Lima may be a first-time mother, but she has the benefit of 19 months of experience nannying Mwana, Umani's first 'grandchild.' Thanks to Mwana’s habit of suckling from her, she is already familiar with the mechanics of breastfeeding. Lenny is feeding well and has a very healthy appetite.
The only one who isn’t fully celebrating Lenny’s arrival is Mwana. No one likes to be dethroned, and our princess of Umani isn’t quite sure about this new baby commanding so much attention from her devoted following! In fact, she uncharitably attempted to back-kick Lenny several times. Kapei, who also dislikes anyone smaller and cuter than himself, joined in the bullying in solidarity — until the nannies swiftly put a stop to his behaviour.
Only Mwana (in front) is less-than-thrilled about Lenny's arrival
Murera, ever the wise mother, prudently took Mwana away from Lenny. She led her daughter back to the stockades, where she could sulk in private. We know that Mwana will eventually embrace her little ‘cousin’; she just needs some time to get used to him.
This is an incredibly exciting moment for our Umani family. This year marks the tenth anniversary of Umani Springs, our reintegration unit created for physically compromised orphans and their companions. A decade ago, five girls graduated from the Nursery to our new unit in the Kibwezi Forest. Sonje and Murera, its first arrivals, were initially very unsettled. Just two days later, they were joined by Lima Lima, Quanza, and Zongoloni.
Lima Lima as a new rescue
Lima Lima was rescued in 2013, a suspected orphan of poaching. At the Nursery, she was something of a shrinking violet — but from the moment she stepped off the moving truck, it became clear that she would be the glue holding the Umani herd together. This remarkable elephant embraced her new home with an infectious passion. While Murera and Sonje were the older two, Lima Lima brought the enthusiasm and leadership the group needed. Something about the forest had a transformative effect on her; she had been a rather unassuming character at the Nursery, but in the Kibwezi Forest, she blossomed.
She really came into her own upon moving to Umani
All these years later, Lima Lima continues to amaze us. Not only is she the nexus of our Umani orphans, but she has also taken it upon herself to be the keeper of her Keepers. At first, the new environment was as unfamiliar to them as it was to their charges, but Lima Lima assumed full responsibility for their safety — a duty she cheerfully carries out every single day.
Lima Lima has always been very protective of her family
We call Lima Lima our scout; she is the eyes and ears of her human-elephant family. When someone gets turned around in the forest, Lima Lima finds them and guides them back home. She has an innate ability to detect danger and is always the first to alert the Keepers to the presence of buffalos, wild elephants, or anything she perceives as a potential threat. While Murera is the matriarch of Umani, her lifelong injuries prevent her from leading from the front, so Lima Lima has taken on the role of her deputy. This extraordinary elephant is brimming with love for her family and plays a vital role in ensuring Umani’s continued success.
Now, she will bring that same loyalty to Lenny
Now, that family includes a child of her own. We know that Lima Lima will be an excellent mother — the wisdom, wits, loyalty, and love she shows her herd will now be funneled into Lenny, too.
Our Umani herd is unique, in that even the wild-living orphans (whom we’ve dubbed the 'nightclubbers') have chosen to lead semi-independent lives, linking up with their human-elephant family every day. This shows no signs of changing, even as the girls have babies of their own. Indeed, Lima Lima has stayed close to the stockades since giving birth, enjoying the attention and support of her Keepers as she embarks on this new chapter.
As for us, we cannot stop smiling. Our elephant family tree has sprouted yet another bud — this time in Umani Springs, a place of miracles. We are so very proud and cannot wait to watch little Lenny grow up.
Lenny is the 67th known calf born to an orphan we rescued, raised, and reintegrated back into the wild. These wild-born babies are the best testament to the success of our Orphans’ Project, showing how one life saved can lead to generations of elephants.