Mweya rubbing against a buried tree branch
Daily updates
April 1st
After mudath, Mweya went to rub against an antihill. She then inserted her trunk into one of the openings, which was bitten by the ants. She screamed, and the Keepers rushed to pull off those sticking to her trunk.
April 2nd
Mvita and Mukwaju had a disagreement today and were separated by Laikipia. Mvita was so frustrated at not being able to punish Mukwaju that she bit her own trunk, but later the two browsed peacefully together.
Mkwaju fighting with Lolokwe
April 3rd
A large Cobra was seen where the orphans were browsing at the foot of Mazinga Hill. We all hurriedly left, choosing another feeding place.
Feeding time for the orphans
April 4th
Salama and Tsavo chased off a buffalo who was drinking at their waterhole at noon. It was cool so none of the orphans went into the mud, although Burra contemplated doing so, trying to entice the others to join him, with no luck.
Salama drinking
April 5th
It was a warmer day today, so the orphans went early to the mudbath, and had a wonderful time, running in and out, and trumpeting with happiness. The game came to an end when Morani fell down, screaming when one of the others stepped on him.
Ilingwezi at mudbath
April 6th
Emily, aitong and Sally came to the Stockade in the early morning to escort the babies. They were with them until 2 p.m. when they wandered off.
Sweet Sally scratches against a tree trunk
April 7th
The orphans scented Emily’s group who were up Mazinga Hill. They went to join her, and later she led them down again and went with them to their normal feeding grounds. Emily peeled off at 4.40 p.m. taking Ndara with her, but Ndara returned to join the other orphans half an hour later when they were on their way back to the Stockades.
Emily scratching
April 8th
Emily’s unit met up with the babies on their way back to the Stockade in the evening. Ndara remained with Emily, Aitong and Sally outside the Stockade until Emily left, when Ndara came on in.
Mweya and Aitong
April 9th
Laikipia, Salama and Sosian remained up Mazinga Hill, where they were feeding in the morning, when the other orphans went for their noon mudbath. Ten minutes later the three boys came running to join the others, charging and breaking branches. Their arrival brought “sheer” happiness.
The orphans having fun at mudbath
April 10th
Emily, Aitong and Sally joined the orphans at the Stockade in the morning. The two groups trumpeted and rumbled, stretching their trunks in greeting. They all went feeding together for the entire morning. Emily and her group wandered off after the noon mudbath.
Emily and the orphans at mudbath
April 11th
Lissa, Uaso and Lissa’s two wild-born babies, Lara and Lali, came from the Eastern side of Mazinga Hill to take water at the Stockades in the evening at 5 p.m. Lara went to wait at the back of the Spring Gate to greet the other orphans when they returned, escorting them back to the Night Quarters before leaving with her mother, sister and Uaso.
Lisa, Lali, Lara & Uaso drinking at the stockades
April 12th
On the way out in the morning, Salama went ahead and blocked the passage of all the others. Anyone that tried to go past got pushed, so the Keepers had to go and reprimand him so that everyone could proceed.
An orphan with his keeper
April 13th
Naomi’s group (the wild herd led by the wild Matriarch, Naomi) joined the orphans at 10 a.m. which created great excitement. The orphans were very happy, running here and there and playing pushing games with wild age-mates. They all enjoyed the noon mudbath together, where they wallowed wonderfully. Laikipia accompanied a wild friend, and never returned to the Stockade in the evening.
Naomis group with the orphans
April 14th
Laikipia emerged from a wild herd of about 15, who were about 600 metres away from the orphans. He approached, lifting up his trunk to test for the scent of the babies, and was greeted enthusiastically, especially by Salama.
Natumi plays with a wild friend
April 15th
The orphans browsed peacefully in amongst a large herd of impalas, without charing onto them. However, the impalas became alarmed when Mweya mischievously lay down and started crawling towards them on her stomach. As soon as the impalas began to run away, she stood up. Ilingwezi used her forhead and trunk to loosen soil in the waterhole at noon, spreading it onto her back whilst lying in the water. Because it was cool, none of the others joined her in the waterhole.
The orphans feeding among a herd of Impala
April 16th
Burra and Sosian competed in a pushing match at noon, which was interrupted by Solango. Burra tried to shove Solango away, using his tail and kicking with his back legs, but Solango bit Burra’s tail, making him yell! At mudbath, Laikipia and Salama chased off an old buffalo bull who came to the waterhole to drink. They returned 3 minutes later.
Bura and Solango
April 17th
Emily, Aitong and Sally came to the Stockades at 10 a.m. where they took a drink. A short while later they left towards the Eastern side of the hill.
Tsavo from the air
April 18th
A buffalo, who was hiding in a thicket, charged and chased the Keepers at 8.47 a.m. The orphans were in a confused state, and followed the fleeing Keepers, later going to feed in another direction.
The orphans grazing with a keeper nearby
April 19th
Mweya and Seraa kept Mweiga company, who was lagging behind all the others in the morning. Mweiga was very happy to have their company, as she proceeded at her slow pace, swinging her trunk from side to side to show her pleasure.
Loisaba pulls back Ndara
April 20th
Nyiro tried to mount Mweiga at 9.10 a.m., causing Mweiga to fall down and scream. The Keepers ran to help her, but she managed to get up un-aided. Nyiro, who felt ashamed, ran away from the group, and remained away for quite a long time, joining them a lot later.
An orphan relaxing in the mudbath
April 21th
The orphans were very scared by two bull buffaloes who were engaged in a tough fight over a female. Some of the orphans tried to chase the warring bulls away, but they looked aggressive, so we all left, leaving the fight to go on.
The orphans walking through the new gate
April 22th
In the evening, Natumi escorted Mpala, Seraa and Irima to their top Stockade, and waited to see them taking their bottles of milk before leaving to go to her Night Stockade further away.
Natumi touches Laikipia
April 23th
Emily, Aitong and Sweet Sally came to drink water at the Stockades in the evening when the others were already inside. Ndara and Loisaba rumbled their greeting as they passed by on their way to feed towards the Western side of Mazinga Hill at 6.30 p.m.
Aitong and Sweet Sally
April 24th
Emily, Aitong and Sally joined the babies at the noon mudbath when none of them wanted to go in, because it was too cold. Aitong took water in her trunk and sprayed it over the babies’ backs, which they did not appreciate. Emily, and her group, remained with the orphans until 4 p.m. before leaving, heading North.
Emily with the orphans
April 25th
After a wonderful noon mudbath, Mweiga went to soil dust herself with Solango, and then rested her head on his back. When she applied more pressure, he bellowed, and Mweiga desisted immediately.
The orphans at mudbath
April 26th
Emily, Aitong and Sally joined the orphans as they were leaving the Stockades in the morning. At the noon mudath, Natumi lay down and allowed the others to climb over her. Solango enjoyed playing with Thoma, whilst Lolokwe chose Mukwaju. Emily’s group separated at 4.30 p.m.
Natumi lay down for the orphans
April 27th
Icholta, Mweiga, Lolokwe, Mukwaju and Edie had to be escorted to their new Quarters in the evening, since renovations had taken place, making it look different. Mukwaju, Lolokwe and Icholta were reluctant to go in at first, but Edie and Mweiga gave them encouragement. All went round inspecting their new quarters before settling down to feed.
Mkwaju inspects the new stockades
April 28th
Mweiga enjoyed the dessicated coconut which Mrs. Sheldrick said should be added to her milk. She begged for more when she had taken her full quota.
The orphans at their new stockade
April 29th
The orphans joined a group of 10 wild elephants at 8 a.m. One wild cow had huge tusks, which to begin with the orphans found daunting, but later on they all joined up and browsed happily together. Salama tested his strength against a wild agemate. This wild friend remained behind even when the rest of his herd left at l0.05 a.m. He joined them l0 minutes later. Morani, Mpala and Seraa kept following a wild calf of about 4 months, but returned when the others began to go to the mudbath.
The orphans browsing together with wild elephants
April 30th
Emily, Aitong and Sally joined the other orphans at the mudbath. Sally had a wonderful pushing game with Ndara and Mweya. Emily then led the orphans below the Baobab waterhole, where there is a lot of browse. She and her group then peeled off at 3.20 p.m.
Emily, Aitong and Sally meet up with the orphans