We had been preparing for this move for quite some time. Graduations always require preparation, but we knew we had to approach it thoughtfully for Toto, who is particularly resistant to change. Even transitioning him from a baby stable to a stockade required weeks of gentle, step-by-step acclimatisation.

Equally, it was clear the boys were ready for the next phase in their journey. Rescued as infants, each has a remarkable story that started at Kaluku.

Toto was the first of the trio to come into our care — and incredibly, he was rescued by elephants. On 1st April 2022, ex-orphans Loijuk, Naisula, Kitirua, and Olare arrived at the Ithumba stockades with a days-old calf in tow. Aside from Loijuk, who had her own daughter by her side, none of the females were old enough to be pregnant or lactating, and certainly none of them were the baby’s mother. We believe they came across Toto and, knowing he was an orphan in need of help, delivered him into safe hands.

Mwinzi was rescued on 22nd September 2022, at the height of the drought. Upon reaching the little orphan, we feared it was already too late: he was lying, gaunt and unresponsive, beneath the baking sun without another elephant in sight. This was a fraught time of constant rescues and emergencies. First responders Roan and Taru Carr-Hartley quickly administered drips and then airlifted the baby, along with Keeper Justus, to a nearby airstrip and set them up in the shade of a huge acacia tree while they rushed to help another dying elephant just a stone’s throw away. On their return, they were stunned to see Justus with the baby elephant on his feet. The drips came in the nick of time and made all the difference bringing him back to life.

On 13th March 2023, Natibu was discovered trapped inside a manhole along the Mzima Springs water pipeline outside the National Park. At first glance, it looked like an optical illusion: Peering into the tiny space, you could make out the head of a baby elephant. The rest of his body was squashed inside, invisible and impossibly claustrophobic. It took Natibu a long time to heal from the psychological effects of his time in the manhole.

Toto and Mwinzi are now four years old, and Natibu is three and a half. While Kaluku was the perfect place to spend their infancy, they were growing to an age that craves broader horizons, both literally and figuratively — more stimulation, the company of older elephants, and a bigger, wilder environment where they could start to explore their independence.

For several months now, we have been giving Toto, Mwinzi, and Natibu milk feeds in the moving truck, stationed by the airstrip. Predictably, Toto was the most reluctant to enter the truck, but within a few weeks he stepped aboard without a backward glance. In recent weeks, the trio would approach the parked vehicle at a steady clip, eager for the bottles they knew were waiting inside.

On the morning of the move, we rallied the troops to see the trio off: Little Korbessa, with her new sidekicks Lamuu, Subi, and Wangalla, led the boys down to the airstrip and watched as they boarded the truck. It was a remarkably calm affair — Korbessa and co. watched as their friends were secured inside the truck, then about-turned to spend the day in the bush as usual. Elephants are such intelligent creatures, and we can’t help but think that the orphans understand what graduations are all about, having seen it before.

Keepers Joseph, Sammy, and Lekoli accompanied the boys on their journey. They have all played important roles in their upbringing: Joseph has been by Toto’s side since the day he was rescued; Sammy trained as a Keeper with Toto; and Lekoli has years of experience at both Kaluku and Ithumba.

After an eventful drive, with Mwinzi’s door working itself open on the rough roads, the truck and its precious cargo arrived at its destination. Mwinzi and Natibu strode right off the truck and tucked into their milk bottles, while Toto was predictably a bit more overwhelmed.

A few minutes later, Mayan and Vaarti were brought in to greet the graduates. This was a reunion among old friends: Mayan and Vaarti also grew up at Kaluku, although they graduated to Ithumba two years ago. There was immediate recognition among the boys — Mayan got particularly excited, to the point of overwhelming the newcomers!

Slowly, slowly, the other orphans came to meet the graduates. Together they were ushered to a nearby waterhole. While the Ithumba orphans piled into Kone Dam, our new babies tentatively padded around the edges. Ithumba has had so much rain in recent months, with a bounty of grass, wild flowers, and creepers. This was irresistible to the boys and feasting dominated the day.

Cognisant that we didn’t want to overwhelm Toto, we felt it better to separate the groups for the rest of the afternoon. While the Ithumba orphans continued with their daily routine, we kept the trio closer to the stockades, where they settled and got to know some of the Ithumba Keepers.

They enjoyed a leisurely afternoon browsing with Keepers old and new. A few minutes before the rest of the herd arrived home, we showed them into their bedroom — a shared stockade between Class One and Class Three, where they would be surrounded by their new herd. Joseph and the other Keepers kept a close eye on them throughout the night, while neighbours Mageno and Kitich were particularly attentive.

At dawn the following morning, the boys were led out of their stockades and spent their first full day with the Ithumba herd — and they haven’t missed a beat since. Natibu is a burly, competitive young bull and has been busy sizing up the rest of the herd. In keeping with his imperturbable reputation, Mwinzi seems largely unfazed by the transition. Toto is slowly but surely settling in. As expected, he was initially very clingy to his Kaluku Keepers, but as the days progressed, he has been busy introducing himself to the other orphans and Keepers.

Ithumba Head Keeper Benjamin has this to say about their first week:

The three boys are getting used to Ithumba life. Kitich, Kindani, Kinyei, and Olorien show a lot of interest in them and take turns spending time with them each day. In the evenings, as the orphans return to the stockades, Toto always runs ahead when he draws close so he can be the first to get his milk.

Kaluku Keeper Joseph, who is still at Ithumba, added:

The three boys are settling in well at Ithumba. Toto is the only one who is a little shy and prefers to stay close to us, but he is gaining confidence. Natibu is not nervous and interacts often with the bigger elephants. Mwinzi also seems to understand that he is in the right place.

The boys also have a very special roommate, who has made such a difference. All three were initially quite restless at night, especially Natibu. Kinyei, who sleeps several stockades over, seemed very concerned about them and was communicating with gentle rumbles. We decided to let her sleep in their room — and her presence had an instantaneous, calming effect. Now, all three lie down to sleep at her feet, with mama Kinyei watching over them.

The years that Toto, Mwinzi, and Natibu spent at Kaluku were formative ones. Each was rescued with the odds stacked against him: Toto, a fragile neonate; Mwinzi, an tiny emaciated drought victim; and Natibu, psychologically scarred. It took utter day-and-night dedication to bring them to where they are today.

Now, at Ithumba, the boys will spread their proverbial wings in the same loving, supportive environment that has brought them to this point. Their transition to the wild will be a gradual one that will take many years still to unfold at their chosen pace. And even when they are big bulls presiding over the wilds of Northern Tsavo, they will always have a family in us to return home to.