The following is information on the Elephant Orphan named: SOLANGO  (foster now)

Latest Updates on SOLANGO:

• 7/5/2011 - THE DEATH OF LOISABA
• 2/6/2011 - Solango comes home for help
• 3/10/2010 - The return of Burra
• 4/26/2008 - Update on the Voi Unit Orphans
• 6/18/2003 - SERAA, MPALA & MORANI GRADUATE FROM THE NAIROBI NURSERY
• 5/27/2002 - Mweya and Sweet Sally leave the Nursery

View to Location map for SOLANGO (opens a new window)

Most Recent Keeper's Diary Entry: (view all the latest entries for SOLANGO)

4/7/2013 - It was a rude shock for the Keepers after a long and sleepless night to find that no Orphans had returned so at first light they set out on foot to search for the Elephants. Meanwhile news was received than an orphaned baby gerenuk was amongst some goats at the Manyani Prison Camp so a vehicle headed off to collect that orphan. Soon the Keepers on foot happened upon Shimba who was in a terrible state having been mauled by a lion, which alarmed the Keepers who separated into three groups. Two escorted Shimba back to the Stockades, the second group used the Vet’s vehicle to drive deep into the Park southwards while the third team went eastwards on foot. Three hours later the foot patrol came across 9 of the older elephants – namely Lesanju, Wasessa, Sinya, Mzima, Lempaute, Tassia, Taveta, Layoni, Kivuko and Rombo, but still 4 babies were missing, Kenia, Ndii, Dabassa and Emsaya. The search was boosted by the Trust Supercub with one Keeper aboard, which had come from the Kuluku H.Q. to assist in the search as well as collect the baby gerenuk. After some time the air team spotted 3 more orphans and radioed their location to the ground team, who eventually caught up with Kenia, Ndii and Dabassa, but Emsaya was not in the group. She was later spotted in a small herd that had 2 calves of her age. She seemed happy to be with this family and even having been called by the Keepers, refused to come, but kept on following the herd. The wild Matriarch was very aggressive, charging the vehicle every time it came close to try and isolate Emsaya. Buzzing the herd from the air also failed, so in the end the Keepers had to give up and return with the other elephants back to the Stockades. There Shimba’s wounds were cleaned and green clay applied after which he was left to rest in the large Invalid Enclosure where other injured Elephants such as Solango and Ndara have remained to recuperate. It had been a very dramatic day!

The Two Latest Photos of SOLANGO: (view gallery of pictures for SOLANGO)

Morani playing with Solango photo taken on 10/20/2004	Solango at Voi taking a midday mudbath photo taken on 9/16/2004

ORPHAN PROFILE FOR: SOLANGO (foster now)

Zoom / Enlarge Rescued from Seraa Group Ranch, 20 miles North East of Shaba National Reserve, having fallen into a deep rocky catchment "well" which holds water in the dry season, this tiny bull elephant came in severely sunburnt, the top of his ears burnt to a frazzle by exposure to the sun; the back of his ears still tinged with pink, the tell-tale sign of a very young elephant infant younger than 6 weeks, therefore an October 2001 baby. He is a feisty little character, who resisted being pushed towards his stable by the Keepers, bellowing protest. Finally, the Keepers were told to simply walk away, and, predictably, rather than find himself alone again, he was happy just to follow. For a few hours after being brought in, he cried a lot, fearful of his new surroundings and the strangeness of those that were doing their best to comfort him. However, once he spotted the other orphans as they came in for the night, he immediately calmed down, and began to accept milk. Overcome with exhaustion, that night he slept "like a baby", and the next morning he was one of the gang, adored by both Nasalot and Mulika, who are always overjoyed to welcome a new member to their elephant "family". Mweya looked somewhat askance at the newcomer, as usual, and Sweet Sally's passion for sucking the Keepers' fingers over-rode all other concerns. Thoma was bent on putting him in his place, a bit "pushy" and Seraa simply ignored him, which means that she probably did know him, but was not yet ready to play - and nor was he. Salango is a very brave and already is proving to be a forceful character, no doubt the makings of a dominant bull in the fullness of time, his genes honed through millennia by evolution in a challenging environment where only the fittest of the fit ever make it. When he feels like his milk, he wants it now and even though tiny, doesn't hesitate to shove the Keepers all over the place until he gets what he wants! His sunburnt ears have to be protected from the sun, so a Keeper is in constant attendance holding aloft a large umbrella, and his little body sheltered from the chill of the Nairobi wind by a soft blanket strapped around his middle. When he begins to play, which is always the moment to rejoice, the girl elephants in our little Nursery will have their hands full!

Please see the resources above for more information on SOLANGO

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