The most apt word to describe the move would be ‘uneventful’ — in the best way possible. We began preparations several weeks prior, getting all three orphans used to the truck that would carry them to Tsavo. It was little surprise that the take-charge girl in the group, Muwingu, set the tone. On the very first practice run, she strode onto the truck without a backward glance. Kitich and Mageno came to a halt on the ramp and refused to budge. Perhaps Muwingu gave them a pep talk, because the very next morning, the boys boarded the truck and happily drank their milk there. From that day onwards, they were old pros.

We got a very early start on the morning of the 9th, gathering our graduates at 2:30 in the morning. Enticed by milk bottles, the trio strode on board without much fuss. Two of their favourite Nursery Keepers — Peter and Harrison — joined them for the journey to Tsavo, to provide comfort on the road and much-needed continuity as they settled into their new home.

It’s a long drive to Ithumba, which sits in the remote, northernmost corner of Tsavo East National Park, but the benefit of leaving early was that the roads were relatively empty. The convoy stopped several times en route to treat the orphans to fresh greens and more bottles of milk. They made good time, and just before 9 o’clock, the truck pulled into Ithumba.

The trio calmly exited the truck, enjoyed an inaugural milk bottle, and then were met by a very special welcoming committee: their old Nursery friends Mukutan, Choka, and Loldaiga, who made the same journey six months prior! There was instant, delighted recognition among the group. Choka was particularly excited to see three familiar faces and was also eager to demonstrate that he now held a more senior position.

Our friendly boys Vaarti and Mayan arrived next, followed by the rest of the dependent herd. Everyone was very kind to the newcomers, embracing them with their trunks and greeting them with warm rumbles.

After mingling a bit, the herd led their newest members down to the mud bath. Although it was chilly by Tsavo standards, Muwingu, Mageno, and Kitich — who are accustomed to the cooler temperatures of Nairobi — felt inspired to get in the water and splash about. Loldaiga and Choka seemed puzzled as to why the newcomers were so interested in wallowing — despite the fact that they did the very same thing as new graduates earlier in the year!

The rest of the day was calm and convivial. The trio stuck together as a unit, curiously shadowing Mukutan, Loldaiga, and Choka — who seemed to be relishing being tutors to their old friends. Naleku, Suguroi, and Olorien were very attentive, welcoming the opportunity to nanny elephants younger than themselves.

It has now been more than a week since Mageno, Kitich, and Muwingu graduated to Ithumba. There was barely an adjustment period — all three have taken to their new home with great enthusiasm. They share ‘Class One’ — the stockade reserved for Ithumba’s newest residents — and already know all the routines and rituals of their new home. Just as she did at the Nursery, feisty Muwingu runs the show. We were reminded of this one evening when Mageno was leading the way back to the stockades — a privilege he seems to relish — only to be overtaken at the last minute by Muwingu!

Muwingu is also smitten with ex-orphan Sities’ three-month-old baby, Sunni. In fact, she loses her head when he is in the picture: One morning, Muwingu and Suguroi seemed to be in competition over who would win over Sunni. Sunni enjoyed the competition for his affections and happily ran around the two girls. When Sities finally walked her baby to the water trough, Muwingu followed him closely, clearly intending to snatch him. She nearly succeeded — until a jealous Suguroi blocked her path. In the end, the Keepers decided to walk the orphans to the browsing field early in order to give Sities some respite from the aspiring kidnapper!

This is a poignant moment for our graduates, all of whom were orphaned in the 2022 drought that devastated Kenya’s elephants. We rescued Mageno on 15th June 2022, after a pilot spotted a collapsed calf in the parched landscape. He arrived at the Nursery on the brink of death. Because of his fragile state, he was too weak to join the bigger orphan herd — so instead, we placed him in the ‘blanket brigade’ with infant girls Nyambeni and Mzinga. Despite being several months older, he seamlessly slotted into their little gang. We marvel at how gentle and patient he was with them, almost like a mini matriarch in bull form.

We rescued Muwingu on 9th September 2022. Much of her story remains a mystery, but she was either a victim of the drought or human-wildlife conflict. Despite having been on her own for quite some time, she arrived at the Nursery full of fight. Most new rescues calm down within a few days, but Muwingu worked on her own schedule. It took a full three weeks to earn her trust, as the Keepers plied her with fresh greens, nutritious bottles of milk, and constant reassurance.

Kitich was instrumental in Muwingu’s trust-building. He was rescued just five days after her, on 14th September 2022. Like Muwingu, he was found on his own, either a victim of the drought or related human-wildlife conflict. Unlike her, he seemed resigned to his fate when he arrived at the Nursery, exhausted, weak, and defeated. His bond with feisty Muwingu and Weka helped him muster the resolve to pull through.

In the nearly three years they spent at the Nursery, Mageno, Muwingu, and Kitich healed physically and emotionally. At Ithumba, they will continue to blossom in a nurturing, supportive environment. Reintegration is a gradual process that unfolds at an orphan’s individual pace. In the years to come, our graduates will remain in our care as they slowly learn the ways of the wild. At a time of their choosing, they will reclaim their place among Tsavo’s elephants — a process that typically takes five to eight years. Just as we have from the very beginning, we will be there to support them every step of the way.