Now living wild, though he continues to visit us regularly
Current age
22 years old
Gender
Male
Rescued date
28 September 2003
Rescue location
Tsavo Ecosystem, Tsavo East NP
Date of birth (estimate)
1 May 2003
Reason orphaned
Man-made cause for separation
Age at rescue
4 months old (approx)
Current location
Living Wild
We immediately drove there and discovered that the calf had fallen into a Pipeline Manhole comprised of two compartments, each about 4 ft x 31/2 ft and 4 ½ ft. deep, covered by a single concrete slab. The tanks could be accessed through an opening of about 2 sq. ft., one holding water, and the other just oozing water. Fortunately, the calf was trapped in the drier compartment, otherwise it would have drowned having been trapped head downwards. The calf was small - only about 4 – 6 months old, so Nairobi was alerted, and a rescue team consisting of Keepers and De-Snarers was mobilized from Voi.
We named the new baby “Buchuma” to reflect his origin, and although very bruised and sore, he took his milk eagerly and was in pretty good physical shape. By the next morning he was no longer aggressive towards the Keepers and sufficiently settled to be allowed out with the others. There was great excitement when the others were let out of their Night Quarters. Immediately they practiced their newly acquired trumpets by first chasing their baby warthog friends around, and then hurried to greet the newcomer, who looked decidedly bewildered to find himself suddenly in amongst others of his kind and size! Since he seemed so happy to be among them, and quiet enough to be trusted around humans, and having been a totally wild elephant just 12 hours earlier, amazingly he was out and about with the other Nursery babies the very next morning. He spent the morning with them, doing little sorties out on his own into the bush searching for his lost mother, but returning to the group in between while. During the mud bath hour, he was returned to the stable, hoping that he would sleep, but again he immediately became extremely disturbed, trying to climb the walls, and threatening to fall over backwards, so we moved him to the Stockade next door to that occupied at night by Galana. There, able to see out, and in a much larger space, he was much calmer and after another antibiotic injection, plus anti-inflammatory and Vitamin B, and with the help of homeopathic Ignatia, Camomile and Rescue Remedy, when nightfall came, he finally fell asleep (and so did Madiba!) Both had a good night! Obviously, being enclosed in a stable held very bad connotations for little Buchuma, probably reminding him of being trapped in the Pipeline manhole, so he spent his nights next door to Galana and soon settled to become the sixth member of the Nursery group. Following the death of two babies, who arrived so mutilated that we were unable to save them, it was good to have one whose prospects for survival were so hopeful.
Today Buchuma is a healthy wild bull living free in the wilds of Tsavo, having been successfully reintegrated from the Ithumba Stockades, choosing to visit every now and then with the female ex-orphans when he is in the area.
We immediately drove there and discovered that the calf had fallen into a Pipeline Manhole comprised of two compartments, each about 4 ft x 31/2 ft and 4 ½ ft. deep, covered by a single concrete slab. The tanks could be accessed through an opening of about 2 sq. ft., one holding water, and the other just oozing water. Fortunately, the calf was trapped in the drier compartment, otherwise it would have drowned having been trapped head downwards. The calf was small - only about 4 – 6 months old, so Nairobi was alerted, and a rescue team consisting of Keepers and De-Snarers was mobilized from Voi.
View diary updates from across all our orphan units as written by the Keepers
Of all the reasons that elephant calves are orphaned, one strikes a particular chord of claustrophobic dread. Ndara, Ndii, Mayan, Buchuma, and Taita are all survivors of this twist of fate. Now, Natibu joins their ranks.
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