Siria & Mzima wrestling
Daily updates
April 1st
The orphans, led by Lesanju were taken to browse in the main Park. At noon Mzima and Siria enjoyed a pushing match after which Wasessa, Shimba and Sinya having downed their milk enjoyed a rolling session in the mud, but Siria and Mzima were the centre of attention, interlocking trunks and enjoying a highly charged bath until two wild elephant turned up, joining the orphans for a drink, diverting the attention of Siria. The orphans browsed near the waterhole for the remainder of the day.
Shimba
April 2nd
On a cloudy day the orphans filed from the Stockades in single file, sheltering under trees when rain began at 11 a.m. Lesanju, Taveta and Siria enjoyed rolling around in the mud, watched by the others, after which Lesanju found a warm rock to lean against. Kenia would have liked to join her, but there was insufficient room for two. None of the orphans were interested in the usual mudbath venue today, having had their fill out in the bush. Shimba led them back to the Stockades in the evening, feeding as they went.
Taveta playing
Shimba leading the group back to the stockade
April 3rd
Having had their morning milk feed the orphans browsed along the southern section of Mazinga hill, gradually making their way to the eastern side. Just before noon the United States envoy and his daughter turned up to see the orphans’ mudbath, and the elephants put on a good show for them, enjoying having an audience. Kenia and Mzima then indulged in a dust-bath before Lesanju led the group towards the northern side of Mazinga hill where they spent the rest of the day, Sinya leading the group back home in the evening.
Kenia left & Mzima enjoy a dustbath
Lesanju takes the lead
April 4th
The orphans enjoyed their morning milk and some dairy cubes before leaving for the bush, browsing their way to the noon mudbath venue. Shimba was first into the pool, followed by Siria who engaged Kenia in a water game, with Wasessa interacting with little Tassia and Lesanju. Shimba lay on Mzima in the water, which forced Mzima to quit, followed by his friend Siria. Lempaute took Taveta to a fallen tree trunk, so that both could scratch themselves against it, before joining the others browsing, reaching the stockade later in the evening.
Shimba mounting on Mzima
Kenia in the water
Lempaute playing with a tree trunk
April 5th
The orphans woke up in a jovial mood and had wonderful stockade games around the compound before heading out. Siria and Mzima instructed little Tassia in soil dusting. At the mudbath Tassia rubbed his rump against Shimba who was lying down, with Mzima swift to do the same against Siria, who got up to retaliate. However, Mzima beat a hasty retreat out of the water, joining the others at the dustbath. The orphans remained feeding near the waterhole for the rest of the day until it was time to return in the evening.
Tassia clambers over Shimba
Mzima runs out of the water followed by Siria
Lempaute right and Wasessa
April 6th
Today Lesanju led her group high up the southern side of Mazinga hill to feed, coming down to the Stockades for their noon milk feed and mudbath, before returning for the rest of the day. Taveta came down alone 10 minutes ahead of the others at 5 p.m. for his milk.
Lesanju browsing
Wasessa browsing
April 7th
The orphans delayed today, playing around the Stockades for quite some time before Shimba called them to order, heading out to browse. They browsed along the eastern side of Mazinga hill for most of the day, took their milk at noon, but decided against a mudbath because it was too cold. Sinya led them back in the evening, Siria and Mzima lagging behind involved in a wrestling game.
Sinya left & Mzima browsing together
Lempaute stuffing food in her mouth
Orphans drinking at the stockade
April 8th
Today the orphans fed on the northern side of the hill until Lesanju led them to the muddy middle waterhole, which is more mud than water, so all emerged plastered in red mud. After a scratch against a fallen tree, the orphans browsed their way back to the Stockades.
Lesanju scratching
Marching to the waterhole
April 9th
Today the elephants browsed on the lower flatter slopes of Mazinga hill. A morning shower of rain left them un-eager to go to the mudbath, so their noon milk feed was taken to them. In the evening there was competition between Kenia, Tassia and Taveta as to who should lead the column back home, but Mzima saw the advantage and got the prime spot.
Kenia browsing
Mzima grazing
April 10th
Today, browsing took place on the western side of the hill, Lempaute climbing only half way up whilst the others went further up, collecting her on their way down for their milk feed. All enjoyed games in the mudbath today before returning to the eastern side of the hill. On their way back, a wild cow who was browsing half way up, left her group to follow the orphans, which she did for some distance, but the orphans had their minds on their evening milk ration, and ignored her presence.
Lempaute on Mzinga hill
Sirira heading up the hill
Wild cow following the orphans
April 11th
Shimba and Mzima took Tassia into a thicket of creepers, and all enjoyed stuffing this delicious food into their mouths. Wasessa, upon noticing Tassia’s absence, became very disturbed and screamed. This brought Tassia out at the run, comforted by Wasessa who allowed him to suckle her ears. Wasessa adores little Tassia.
Wasessa browsing in the bushes
Mzima left and Tassia
April 12th
Having taken their milk, Kenia found herself left behind feeding on the Dairy cubes. She bellowed and ran to join them, meeting Lesanju who was on the way back to retrieve her. At the middle waterhole, a wild herd was browsing nearby, but Lesanju avoided them and instead re-routed to the bigger waterhole. After a wallow, they rested under shade until temperatures cooled a little. Siria was the leader this evening on the way back home.
Kenia playing
Lempaute wallowing
April 13th
After their morning milk, and a romp in the yard, Lesanju led her group to the eastern side of Mazinga hill where Wasessa encouraged some to follow her up the hill, which they were reluctant to do, preferring to remain with Lesanju lower down. All enjoyed an active mudbath at noon, and today Mzima was the leader back home. Emily and her group came to the Stockades in the evening after the Keeper dependent orphans had already entered their night Stockade. Emily’s wild-born calf, Eve, charged the Keepers, Emily watching events closely. Having had a hand-out of Copra, Emily took her family away.
Kenia on Mzinga hill
Emily's group at the stockade
Emily's calf
April 14th
Lempaute led the orphans out this morning in single file behind her, Sinya, who has a soft spot for Tassia, keeping him in front of her. However, Wasessa resented this, and urged Tassia to walk beside her instead. All settled down to feed along the eastern side of Mazinga hill, skipping a mudbath, because it was a cool day.
Lempaute feeding
Siria browsing
April 15th
Lempaute placed a bunch of grass on her back this morning during Stockade games, which Taveta plucked off and ate every time Lempaute passed him. However, she kept putting more, obviously enjoying the attention this attracted from Taveta. Taveta obviously approved of this “hand-out” and remained close to Lempaute during the morning feeding session, and during the mudbath. Wasessa led the group back in the evening.
Lempaute with grass on her back & Taveta
Mzima playing
April 16th
The orphans browsed in the main Park today. Siria tried to entice Mzima into a pushing game, but Mzima ignored the invitation. At the mudbath Sinya enjoyed sitting on Taveta whilst he was taking a soil-bath and Siria and Mzima had their wrestling match actually in the water, and Shimba played with Tassia, both rubbing their trunks along the ground in turn. All were replete by the time they reached the Stockades in the evening.
Sinya soil bathing
Taveta enjoys a dusting game
Shimba left playing with Tassia
April 17th
Lesanju and Wasessa enjoyed scratching their bodies against a rock near the Stockade compound in the morning before leaving for the main Park. All had a wonderful mudbath followed by a dust-bath and in the evening Taveta led the group back.
Wasessa browsing in the fields
Lesanju in a dustbath game
April 18th
Today, all the orphans concentrated on feeding, with few other diversions. Emily’s group turned up at the Stockades in the late evening, after the Youngsters were already ensconced for the night. They rumbled to one another, exchanging greetings, and Emily’s group left, having had a handout of Copra cake and a drink from the Stockade water trough.
Emily left, Seraa & Sweet Sally
Orphans heading to the waterhole
Vita at the stockade
April 19th
It was a busy browsing day again, but this time up the hill, so the mudbath took place back at the Stockades when they returned for their noon milk feed. The afternoon was spent browsing along the southern side of the hill where they were joined by Solango, from Emily’s group, who turned up without any other members of that group. He tried to mount the smaller elephants, so the Keepers had to warn him off. Kenia did not approve and screamed loudly, giving him a wide berth for the rest of the afternoon. However, he accompanied the Youngsters back to the Stockades in the evening, and would have liked to join them actually inside, but the Keepers prevented him from doing so.
Solango with Lesanju's group
Solango
Kenia following Solango
April 20th
Again the orphans fed along the southern side of Mazinga hill. The day turned hot, so all enjoyed a cooling mudbath at noon, even Sinya, who normally does not like bathing. Mzima and Kenia put on a good show in the mudbath, with Shimba coming third.
Lempaute in deep water
Kenia enjoys a mudbath
Shimba in the mudbath
April 21th
The orphans browsed peaceful until it was time for the mudbath where Mzima and Siria had an amazing pushing match in the pool. Sinya enticed Kenia to a soil bath rather than go in the mud. Having emerged from the mudbath, Siria enjoyed scratching his body against a tree while Mzima tossed a trunkfull of grass on his back. As it was hot, all rested under shade until temperatures fell, and then browsed their way slowly back home in the evening.
Siria in a bath enjoyment
Siria left & Mzima wrestling in the water
Mzima relaxing after the mudbath
April 22th
It was a cool day, so the orphans were reluctant to go into the mudbath at noon, although Siria and Wasessa eventually capitulated. However, Siria was annoyed with Mzima for not joining him in the wallow, and engaged Mzima in a tough fight as soon as he came out. The Keepers intervened, but the fight resumed on the way back to the Stockades in the evening.
Mzima left and Siria
Siria takes a bath on the waters edge
April 23th
A large wild bull passed by the orphans at noon, but the Youngsters were too in awe of him to approach him. The bull drank and splashed water over his body and then ambled off, watched by the orphans.
Big bull walks past the orphans
Lempaute grazing
Lesanju in the field
April 24th
On another warm day, there was a great deal of activity at the mudbath with Mzima and Siria kicking one of the water barrels around, and Tassia enjoying a spirited soil dusting session. In the evening they slowly browsed their way back home.
Mzima kicking the water barrell
Mzima playing with an empty water barrell
Mzima standing and Siria
April 25th
The usual Stockade Games took place this morning, when Siria climbed over Kenia as she was lying down, calling for the intervention of the Keepers. Siria tried again at the noon mudbath, but Kenia was wise to his trick, and avoided him. Lesanju led the group home in the evening.
Siria dusting in an erosion trench
Kenia right down, welcomes Taveta for a game
April 26th
It was a busy feeding day for the orphans, and since it was cool, they decided against a mudbath. Siria lay down today enticing Kenia to climb onto him for a change, which made Mzima very jealous. He moved in a pinned Kenia down using his short tusks. She bellowed, and the Keepers reprimanded Mzima.
Mzima
Siria by an erosion trench
Sinya left and Lesanju
April 27th
It was a particularly hot day today, so the orphans browsed under shade for the morning. All enjoyed the mudbath until Kenia led the others to the soil dusting venue. Siria and Mzima were busy with their usual pushing games, and it was Shimba who led the group back in the evening.
Lempaute left and Mzima
Taveta enjoys a dusting game
April 28th
Lesanju, Sinya and Lempaute led the orphans to Emily’s erstwhile stockade in which the grass had grown. Siria and Mzima enjoyed their usual pushing match, which tempted Kenia to engage Siria later, a bout she could not win. She screamed loudly and this brought Wasessa at the double to chase off Siria. They browsed along the southern side of the hill during the afternoon, returning to the Stockades for their milk in the evening.
Wasessa left and Siria
Lempaute browsing
April 29th
The orphans fed in the main Park this morning, stuffing their mouths with the white Opomea creeper which is profuse following rain. All enjoyed the noon mudbath, each elephant teaming up with his or her particular friend, with Sinya the centre of attention, occupying the middle of the wallow. Mzima was the leader on the way home today.
Mzima takes a ride on Siria's stomach
Tassia clambers over Shimba
Orpahns enjoy a mudbath
April 30th
The orphans concentrated on browsing today, since the temperature was conducive being cool. At noon Siria lay down in a thin shallow erosion gulley and experienced some difficulty in extracting himself from it. Lesanju led the group home in the evening.
Lesanju in a dusting game
Shimba right and Sinya
Sinya