Mischak and Ndololo
Daily updates
January 1st
As the New Year dawned the elephants and their Keepers were in high hopes that Ndololo would regain his sight, and that Kenya would experience better times ahead. Ndololo follows the Keepers with confidence, and finds one, even if he tries to hide from him.
January 2nd
Challa and Kora are playmates, who spend a lot of time sparring with one another. Challa has regained his strength and can now stand up to Kora, who previously was unbeatable.
January 3rd
A family warthogs approached quietly during the noon mudbath, as though begging to be allowed a turn. However, Lualeni followed by Makena saw them off with trumpets and outspread ears. Even Makena attempted a trumpet, but only a squeak came out, which made all the visitors laugh.
Makena and Lualeni
January 4th
After the mudbath, the elephants decided to have a dustbath, and even little Ndololo did his best to pick up the dust with his trunk, and spray it over his body. This is the first time he has attempted this, and it made us very happy.
Shida at the mudbath
January 5th
Kora is now finding that Challa can beat him in the pushing games, and seems reluctant to get embroiled. Challa is quite tough on him, remembering the many times when Kora beat him whilst he was in a weakened state.
Challa out in the bush
January 6th
It was fantastic to see little Makena leading the other elephants to the Stockades in the evening. Perhaps Lualeni is training her to be an excellent Matriarch! We pray that she grows up to lead her own family one day.
January 7th
The warthog family joined the orphans out in the bush today. Suddenly little Zurura, with ears out, whilst all the others watched him in amazement, surprised at his bravery!
Zurura follows the other orphans out to the bush
January 8th
Because it was a very hot day, Lualeni was anxious to take the orphans to the mudbath, where they had a very enjoyable time.
Little Zurura with his blanket
January 9th
Early in the morning, we met Magnum on our way out into the forest. The elephants charged at him, and he charged at them, but we were able to avert a confrontation, and moved location.
Magnum standing next to a chopper
January 10th
Challa is being a bit pushy to Zurura and Makena, not wanting them close to him whilst he is feeding, and instead enjoying being near Kora only. Likewise Lualeni only wants Makena close when feeding.
January 11th
Makena was very happy when she was allowed to play in the mud with the older elephants today, whilst Lualeni watched her with interest.
Makena browsing
January 12th
The elephants’ mudbath was cut short by the unexpected arrival of Magnum, who did not want to leave and instead gave himself a good mudbath, whilst we retreated with the elephants. The visitors could only watch Magnum, or meet up with the elephants in the Carpark because we could not be with Magnum at the usual mudbath.
60 minutes filming the nursery
January 13th
Lualeni encountered a group of impalas running towards us as she was leading the orphans out into the Park forest. She stopped, and prevented Makena from going forward until the antelopes had passed. She then continued to lead the others out.
Lualeni & Makena walking to the mudbath
January 14th
On the way to the mudbath, Zurura stopped and refused to go ahead, until Ndololo had caught up with him. He then went behind Ndololo, pushing him from the back to help him along. He and Ndololo are best friends.
January 15th
Kora downed his milk very fast, and went to where Challa was having his. This caused a fight in which the Keepers had to intervene.
Challa in the bush with the other orphans
January 16th
When Ndololo arrived in the bush later on in the morning, Lualeni went and touched him gently with her trunk, which startled Ndololo and caused him to yell loudly! This startled Lualeni.
January 17th
Challa became angry with Zurura, who managed to snatch a root that Challa had spent a long time digging up. He chased Zurura, but Kora came between the two, and saved Zurura from the wrath of Challa. In the evening another baby called “Sian” arrived from Amboseli, and was put in the stable next door to Kora. She was very wild and gave the Keepers a hard time.
Edwin & Permenas wait to rescue the Amboseli calf
January 18th
The orphans were very happy to greet the other new addition to the Nursery Unit, called Loijuk, on this, the first day that she was allowed out of her stable. They all extended their trunks to touch her in turn and smell her. She seemed very contented in their company, allowing them to put their trunks into her mouth in greeting.
An emaciated Loijuk
January 19th
Loijuk and the other new arrival from Amboseli called Sian were allowed to walk with the Nursery inmates, but were kept not far from the Night Stables, because Loijuk is still weak. The orphans were very excited to have the two newcomers amongst them, but Challa became jealous when the milk arrived, and tried to push Sian. The Keepers warned him.
Sian the second day after she arrived
January 20th
There was unexpected rain this morning, so Loijuk and Ndololo had to be brought back into their stables to keep them warm and dry. Likewise Sian was brought back, and Zurura kept her company in her Stockade for half the day that it drizzled. Zurura seemed very happy to be with Sian, because Lualeni only has time for Makena these days.
Loijuk's rescuers
January 21th
The orphans were all very happy in the mudbath today, wallowing and playing in the mud. Later they ran back into the bushes, trumpeting, where they came across an anthill, against which they enjoyed rolling. Zurura and Makena held each others trunk, lovingly, but Lualeni came and separated them, ending their play.
Zurura playing
January 22th
Lualeni lay down so that Makena could play on her, but when Zurura came to join in the game, she pushed him away.
Zurura & one of his keepers
January 23th
Ndololo seemed out of sorts today, which was unusual. He didn’t want to play with his Keepers, which was unusual. The other elephants also noticed that he was not himself, and Zurura came and held him with his trunk, as though to wish him a speedy recovery.
Ndololo in the bush with the other orphans
January 24th
It was a chilly morning, so Ndololo remained in his stable. A short while later, the Head Keeper came to tell us that he was definitely unwell, and just another short while later, we were shocked to hear that he had passed away. It was a very sad day for all the Keepers and all the elephants in the Nursery, who seemed to know that their little friend, Ndololo, had left them forever. Zurura was especially sad.
Remembering Ndololo
January 25th
The elephants sensed danger, and raised their ears, so the Keepers went to investigate and found two buffaloes walking towards us. The Keepers shouted and the buffaloes moved off.
Little Makena
January 26th
As we were leaving in the morning, we came across Magnum, who began to chase Kora. Fortunately, he stopped after a short while, and Kora found his way back to the others.
January 27th
Shida surprised his Keepers by not wanting to follow them. The reason soon became apparent when some buffalo emerged from the bushes. The Keepers could not see them, but Shida somehow knew they were there, and saved the Keepers from a tricky situation!
Shida following his keepers
January 28th
When Lualeni emerged from her stable, she found the warthog family just outside. She began to give chase, calling for the others to come and help, which they all did, joining in the fun, chasing the baby warthogs in and out of the shrubbery, and trumpeting with joy. Even Sian joined in and trumpeted and Makena managed a squeaky attempt at one.
Makena standing next to Sian
January 29th
After the mudbath, Challa and Kora enjoyed a play pushing game, in which Zurura wanted to participate, but Lualeni came and took him away, not wanting him to get embroiled with the bigger boys! Challa was angry at Luealeni for spoiling the game and wanted to punish her.
January 30th
Makena and Zurura had a play fight today in which Makena fell down when Zurura tried to mount onto her. Lualeni came rushing to the rescue of “her” special baby, pushing Zurura away, which again angered Challa, who wanted to punish her for doing so.
Makena and Lualeni browsing together
January 31th
At the noon milk feed, which takes place at the Nursery Orphans’ mudbath, Makena and Zurura became embroiled in a tough fight over the feeding blanket upon which Zurura insists covers his head as he feeds. Makena recognised this blanket as one of hers, and did not want Zurura to have it. Eventually, Lualeni moved in to separate the two warring babies, whereupon Zurura downed his milk rapidly, the blanket in place, but Makena sulked and refused to take hers until after the mudbath!
Loijuk with Makena