After exactly a year away, Jotto and Musiara — two wild-living Ithumba orphans we have known since they were just weeks old — returned home for a visit.
Jotto's 2016 rescue
Jotto was rescued in March 2016, after herdsmen brought their cattle to a well and were surprised to find a newborn elephant stranded at the bottom of it. Less than a year later, in January 2017, Musiara came along. Like Jotto, he was just an infant when he was orphaned. He was discovered emaciated, dehydrated, ebbing away in the shade of a tree. (Musiara is pictured in the banner photo.)
Musiara's 2017 rescue
Both boys were pint-sized when they arrived at the Nursery. They were little darlings — extremely affectionate and completely hooked on their Keepers, who were the only family they had ever really known.
Enchanting little Jotto as a Nursery baby
Jotto graduated to our Ithumba Reintegration Unit in 2019, followed by Musiara a year later. As is typical of orphans rescued at such a young age, they approached their reintegration journey at a gradual pace. We encouraged them to take as much time as they needed — elephants have a lifespan that mirrors our own and there is no rush to grow up.
Sweet Musiara during his 'blanket baby' days
Last year, after tiptoeing into their independence, Jotto and Musiara decided they were ready to embrace their wild lives. For several months, they continued to link up with the dependent herd on a near-daily basis. Then, they well and truly flew the nest. Their last visit to the Ithumba stockades was in April 2024, although the pair were spotted in November near the Tiva River.
Baby Jotto and Edwin
Fast forward a year to 30th April 2025. At eleven o'clock in the morning, the Keepers led the dependent herd down to the mud bath, as is their daily schedule. To our surprise and delight, we found Jotto and Musiara waiting for us!
Jotto and Musiara waiting expectantly by the mud bath (April 2025)
The boys were relaxing by the pool, as if they had never left. Every day at 11 o’clock, the herd gathers at the mud bath for their milk bottles. Despite all the time that had passed and all the adventures they must have had, Musiara and Jotto remembered their old routine to the hour and exactly when and where to meet their human-orphan family.
Musiara, centre, catching up with Mukutan and Olorien (April 2025)
Jotto was slightly reserved, but Musiara greeted everyone and even hopefully inspected the milk crates for leftovers. Our new boys — Mukutan, Choka, and Loldaiga — were amazed to be in the presence of such large but gentle comrades. Olorien entwined trunks with Musiara, while Suguroi tried to coax Jotto out of his shell. Later, Musiara and Jotto followed the orphans to the browsing field, perhaps wanting to catch up on a year’s worth of news.
Jotto, right, chatting with Suguroi (April 2025)
For the Keepers who raised Jotto and Musiara, it was a joy to reunite with their once-clinging vines. Both boys appear to be in excellent condition and are clearly thriving in their wild lives. We can only imagine the new corners of Tsavo they explored and the experiences they had over the past year.
Reintegration is always a bit bittersweet, as our no-longer-so-little babies spread their wings — but it’s overwhelmingly rewarding to see them back where they belong: living wild and free, as every elephant deserves. It's heartwarming that, even after all this time away, our wild-living orphans slot right back into the routine and savour every minute with their family and friends.