We always look forward to December. It is a festive time for our elephant family: the rains have arrived (although they were disappointing this year), the landscape is green, and ex-orphans near and far return 'home for the holidays'—many bearing brand-new babies, whom nature has brought into the world at the most opportune time.

This week, our Voi herd enjoyed a bounty of blessings. On the morning of 3rd December, our Keepers awoke to find several long-absent friends outside the stockades: Edie and Kenia's ex-orphan herds, whom we haven't seen for a year and a half, along with Tundani, who has been away for nearly four years!

It didn't take long to realise there were two tiny additions in the mix: Kihari and Panda had just given birth to baby girls! Two more 'kids' had come home for the holidays so they could celebrate new life with the people who raised them. We named Kihari's daughter Kiki and Panda's Panya, which means 'mouse' in Swahili.

This is a special moment for us, to see two orphans of poaching now become wild mothers.

We rescued Kihari in September 2011. Based on her dangerously poor condition, she had been without her mother for some time. Her first days at the Nursery were touch-and-go, as she hovered in a state of collapse. But drips and milk worked their magic, and we brought Kihari to the other side. She has always been a beautiful little elephant, with large, bright eyes and a spirited disposition. Today, she is instantly recognisable because she has just one tusk.

We rescued Panda the following year, in July 2012. Like Kihari, we believe she lost her mother to poaching. She was found a stone's throw from our Voi stockades, so she bypassed the Nursery phase and grew up as an original 'Voi Kid.' We actually witnessed Panya's conception—nearly two years ago, an admiring bull struck up a romance with Panda just outside the stockades!

It is a wonderful time at Voi, with so many members of the family gathered. After so long away, Edie and Kenia's herds look to be in excellent health, as does Tundani, who is as gentle as ever. We are particularly proud of Kenia for leading her herd so competently, as she only went wild fairly recently. She is lucky to have the mentorship of an experienced matriarch like Edie.

Edie and Mweya's kids — Ella, Eden, Eco, Enzo, Mwitu, and Mwangaza — are growing up fast, and the girls have their work cut out for them as deputy nannies! Naipoki, who had been away since she helped return our truant orphans, also returned with her own newborn, Nsimba, as did Mbirikani and little Mica. We aren’t sure how long everyone will stick around, but we cherish every minute with them.

Already this season, Voi has welcomed four new grandkids — each one a reminder that saving one life can pave the way for so many more. We treasure these visits from our ex-orphans and look forward to watching Nsimba, Mica, Panya, and Kiki blossoming in the years and decades to come.