The girls began their graduation training in early May. At four years old, they were the oldest females at the Nursery and were clearly beginning to age out of this first phase. Sholumai and Mushuru, who were rescued at the slightly older age of two, had always been somewhat aloof. More recently, they had started spending increasing time away from the nuclear herd and testing their independence.

Sileita was a bit different. She had risen to be the much loved and respected mini matriarch of the Nursery herd. But despite the leadership position she held, she is still a young elephant herself and deserved the older mentors, broader horizons, and new experiences that a Reintegration Unit offers.

Sholumai and Mushuru were model students, striding confidently onto the moving truck from the very first day of training. (An enticing bottle of milk always helps!) Sileita, meanwhile, flatly refused to step aboard. Even when her Keeper stood deep inside the compartment with the bottle, she would stretch forward on her tiptoes, leaning as far as she could to drink without actually setting foot inside.

On the morning of the move, we got an early start. Everyone gathered at 3:00 AM to lead the girls to the truck. True to form, Sholumai and Mushuru strolled inside without too much fuss. Sileita — despite a calming dose of Stresnil — still resisted, but with some persuasive, gentle shoving, she too was safely in her compartment. Peter and Geoffrey, two of the girls’ favorite Keepers, accompanied them on the journey.

The truck made good time to Voi, stopping regularly so the girls could enjoy fresh greens and milk bottles. Sileita was placed in the first compartment, closest to Peter and Geoffrey, which allowed her to interact with them throughout the journey. Despite her earlier apprehension, she remained calm on the drive and enjoyed wrapping her trunk around her Keepers.

At 9:30 AM, the truck and its precious cargo pulled into the Voi compound. The Keepers gathered Tamiyoi, Rokka, and Busara to welcome the new arrivals. Tamiyoi was so excited she could hardly contain herself. At nine years old, she is more than twice their age and significantly larger. She kept bowing down in an effort to appear more approachable to the youngsters.

Busara was grappling with a bit of jealousy—she immediately clocked that the newcomers were even younger than her and thus a threat to the undivided attention she enjoys from her nannies. Rokka, on the other hand, was wonderfully welcoming. She refused to leave the girls’ sides, following them around like an exceptionally conscientious shadow.

After giving Sileita, Mushuru, and Sholumai a few minutes to get their bearings, the rest of the Voi herd arrived. Even semi-independent Ndotto, who had been away in the wild for several days, turned up to join the welcoming party! Everyone enjoyed pellets by the compound, and then the herd led their three new sisters out into the bush.

Sholumai and Mushuru embraced their new surroundings with gusto. At the Nursery, both had been wallflowers — Sholumai had been downright skittish, while Mushuru tended to melt into the background. It was incredible to witness their instant transformation.

Sholumai was right in the thick of things, enjoying every minute with her new herd and showing a confidence we had never seen. When the herd went down to the mud wallow, Mushuru was feeling the Tsavo heat and so excited that she dove right into the water trough and splashed around, while the rest of the herd watched on with bemusement. Busara — still nursing some jealousy — seemed downright judgmental of the new girl’s unbridled joy!

Sileita, meanwhile, was a bit more reserved, sticking close to her Nursery Keepers as she took it all in. The other orphans seemed to intuit that she was unsure of things and went out of their way to be friendly. This is why we always have Nursery Keepers remain with new graduates until they’re fully settled in— it’s a big step, and it’s only natural that they would want their trusted support system by their side.

It’s now nearly a week since the girls graduated — and all three are beginning to feel at home. As Voi Keeper Walter noted, “The new graduates Sholumai, Mushuru, and Sileita are adapting well to the Voi herd and Tsavo life. Sholumai and Mushuru have been excellent so far. Sileita was slower to pick up, but her progress is good. Rokka and Busara are on the front lines, bonding with the girls and showing them around, and Tamiyoi and the other girls are also helping them settle into the herd.” It’s particularly wonderful to see how Busara has changed her tune and become a good buddy to the new arrivals.

As always, the Nursery herd was a bit glum following the graduation. They clearly missed the big girls and felt their absence. But, true to form, the other nannies stepped up to help everyone adjust, and within a couple of days, the herd was back to their usual playful, cheerful selves. Kerrio has learned a great deal from Sileita over the past few years and is more than ready to take up the mantle of mini matriarch.

Seeing Sileita, Mushuru, and Sholumai frolic in the green fields of Tsavo, it’s easy to forget their tragic beginnings. All three girls have particularly fraught rescue stories. In March 2022, Sileita was found standing beside the body of her mother, who had been killed in a human-wildlife conflict. Though small and frightened, she showed remarkable bravery, refusing to leave her mother’s side. It was a somber scene as the little girl was airlifted from the parched scrubland. But over the years, Sileita healed from her trauma and blossomed into an exceptional mini matriarch — a young but capable leader, known for never playing favourites.

Mushuru was found alone in the Amboseli ecosystem in February 2023. She had a spear wound, which indicated another tragic case of human-wildlife conflict. It remains unclear whether she was speared after becoming orphaned or if it was the cause of it. Fortunately, Mushuru healed well and filled out quickly once she arrived at the Nursery. Building trust took longer, which was understandable given all she had been through.

Sholumai was found collapsed in April 2023. When the vet arrived on scene, it was easy to mistake her for dead. But closer inspection revealed the was the faintest pulse, the shallowest breath. We feared she wouldn’t survive the journey to Nairobi, but we knew we had to try. Once at the Nursery, Sholumai remained comatose for five hours as we plied her with drips — until, miraculously, she returned to the land of the living. Sholumai became known as the shy girl with the long tusks.

The past few years have been transformative for Sileita, Mushuru, and Sholumai. The Nursery gave them a place to heal from the traumas of their past — and in the process, they found a new family. At Voi, they will continue that transformation, blossoming into the wild elephants they were always meant to be.

Reintegration is a gradual, individual process that unfolds at each orphan’s own pace. Every elephant we have raised has embraced this next chapter after the Nursery, because at heart, they are wild animals. In the months and years to come, these girls will remain dependent, shadowing older friends and learning the ways of the wild. When they feel ready, they will choose to reclaim their place among Tsavo’s elephants — a process that typically takes five to eight years. We will be there to support them every step of the way.