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Burra and Mweiga left early and spent the whole day feeding, not having to walk far, since there is green vegetation for the taking everywhere following rain.

Natumi’s group came to the Stockades early in the morning to fetch Mweiga and Burra, welcomed exuberantly and with great excitement, as usual. They had a very happy time at the waterhole where Mweya showed off her diving abilities. They then foraged towards the Northern side of Mazinga Hill, until Burra and Mweiga separated from the others near the Pipeline road, and returned to the Stockades, feeding as they went along.

Natumi’s group arrived shortly after Burra and Mweiga had left, after which they hung around for a while, feeding on the slopes of Mazinga Hill. Meanwhile Mweiga and Burra were joined by two wild elephant cows, and enjoyed feeding alongside them. Burra stretched his trunk towards the big cow in a social touch on the cheeks before moving in to feed with them. Mweiga felt so happy being in amongst this wild group, remaining with them until it was time to return in the evening.

Burra and Mweiga left early, and enjoyed a day feeding with intermittent rain showers. They did not meet up with Natumi’s unit today.

Burra and Mweiga fed alone, without meeting up with the others.

Burra and Mweiga fed alone, without meeting up with the others.

Burra and Mweiga fed alone, without meeting up with the others.

Burra and Mweiga fed alone, without meeting up with the others.

Burra and Mweiga fed alone, without meeting up with the others.

Burra and Mweiga fed alone, without meeting up with the others.

Mweiga and Burra left the Stockades early as usual. Later, Natumi’s group arrived for a drink. It was noticed that Seraa had lost her left tusk and part of the right one, which was now only about 30 cms. Long. Burra went off with Natumi’s group today, leaving Seraa and Thoma on “Mweiga-Sitting” duty. The two remained outside the Stockade, but close by all night.

Thoma and Seraa came to collect Mweiga early in the morning, and the three elephants had a wonderful day together. Thoma and Seraa brought Mweiga back in the evening, and spent the night in the Stockade with her. Mweiga was so happy to be with them in the Stockade.

The three orphans left for the feeding grounds early. It was a hot day, so at noon they enjoyed the mudbath very much. In the afternoon they entertained students on a Sheldrick Trust Field Outing, which is part of the Trust’s community outreach programme.

Icholta turned up early this morning, and escorted Mweiga, Seraa and Burra to the waterhole for a drink. In the evening Icholta came back to the Stockades with the others, but did not go in with them for the night. Instead, she went up Mazinga Hill to feed.

Icholta came down to fetch the others in the morning. They four orphans spent the next four days feeding together, (15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th),Icholta coming down from the hill early each day to escort the others out.

As usual, Icholta came down the hill to collect the other three orphans and escort them out to feed. Just before returning in the evening, a pride of around 15 lions approached Mweiga’s group, but shied off upon seeing the Keepers. Natumi’s group joined the others on the way back, and all returned to the Stockades, where Natumi’s group took a drink. Natumi’s group left later, taking Icholta, Seraa, and Thoma with them, and leaving Burra back with Mweiga, who spent the night with her in the Stockades.

Burra and Mweiga left early for the feeding grounds, plucking green leaves as they went and scratching themselves against rocks. They did not need a mudbath today, since the grass was moist from a light shower that started in the morning. They returned in the evening, not having joined up with Natumi’s group.

It was a fateful day for the Keepers, who could not hold back their tears upon seeing Mweiga collapse on the way back to the Stockades in the evening. She had a very successful feeding day accompanied by Burra, without showing any noticeable sign of weakness. She took a normal rest under a tree in the afternoon. When she fell, the Keepers thought that her legs must have become entangled in a creeper, so rushed to assist her, but noticed that she was too weak to help herself in getting up. The situation was engulfed in confusion and disbelief for 15 minutes before she died. Burra was watching closely, and returned to the Stockades with the Keepers, before raising his trunk, and running towards the Eastern side of Mazinga Hill where he joined Natumi’s group. He never returned to the Stockades that night.

It was a very sad day as all the Keepers assembled for the burial of Mweiga early in the morning, all discussing what possibly could have caused her sudden death at a time when she appeared so much better and was so happy. None of the other orphans returned to the Stockades on that day, obviously knowing that Mweiga was no longer there.