Kalama leading the way
Daily updates
July 1st
It’s July, the month of the year that is always cold, but this morning the sky was clear, giving an impression that the day might be a hot one. The orphaned herd was so playful, scratching against the nearby rocks and trees. Entering into the grazing field, Kalama led the way up to the Kone area where the orphans settled to browse. Shortly after eleven o’clock in the morning, Kandecha led the way to the mud wallow. Shortly after six o’clock in the morning, two wild bulls checked into the stockade water trough and they were then later joined by ten wild elephants with one tusked wild cow.
Wild elephants coming for water
July 2nd
The orphans left the stockade soon after the gates opened. Murka was the first one to step out, leading the others to the usual place where they get lucerne before heading for browsing. The junior orphans headed for water and only left for browsing when they saw three huge wild bulls approaching; that’s one, among many lessons, that they learn from the wild which is to respect their seniors.
Murka at the stockade
Orphans drinking water
July 3rd
It was a quiet day for the orphans. Soon after leaving the stockade Sabachi engaged Kilaguni in a pushing game before proceeding for browsing. In the evening shortly before retuning back to stockade, Naisula and Olare had an enjoyable moment of soil dusting. In the evening, all of the ex-orphans showed up at the stockade in the company of ten wild elephants.
Sabachi and Kilaguni in a strength contest
Naisula after dusting
July 4th
In the morning, soon after the orphans left the stockade, the ex-orphans and nine wild elephants checked in at the stockade water trough. At the stockade compound, Sabachi engaged Ithumbah in a pushing game whilst Murka learnt some pushing tactics from Meibai. Later on the orphans left for browsing, leaving the wild ones still at the stockade. At the field, the orphans were joined by Lualeni and Rapsu and they spent the entire day browsing together.
Wild elephants and orphans waiting for water
Meibai playing
July 5th
Kandecha and Kilaguni opened up the day’s activities by engaging one another in a pushing game. At mud bath time, the weather was chilly and none of the orphans dared to go into the mud bath. In the evening on the way back to the stockade, the orphans were joined by Lualeni followed by many wild elephants in the company of ex-orphans. Kijana engaged a wild friend in a pushing game, whilst Kina played with Nasalot and Kora engaged Sunyei in a tough pushing game.
Kilaguni after a mud bath
Lualeni with orphans
July 6th
The orphans entered into the grazing field in a playful manner as they charged and knocked up thickets before settling to browse at the Kanziku area where they stayed until eleven o’clock in the morning, when it was time for mud bath.
Chemi Chemi sniffs at a wild elephant
Kibo feeding on lucerne
July 7th
Cloudy weather brought in the day with very low temperatures yet the orphans went on with their usual browsing without being bothered by the weather. Towards eleven in the morning, Chemic Chemi and Chaimu spent some time doing soil bathing. At the mud wallow only Ololoo went in whilst being watched by curious guinea fowls.
Chaimu in the bush
Ololoo in the mud bath
July 8th
The orphaned herd left the stockade early as usual and passed by the water trough before heading for the browsing field. Shortly after eleven o’clock in the morning Kandecha led the first bunch of the baby orphans to mud bath whilst Kalama led the second one. At the mud wallow, due to chilly weather, only Ololoo went in whilst the rest opted for a soil dusting exercise.
Kalama leading the herd
Wild elephants join the orphans for water
July 9th
Soon after the orphans finished feeding on lucerne, Kandecha and Kilaguni engaged one another in a strength testing exercise while Kibo engaged Sabachi in a pushing game. At that time eleven wild elephants were at the stockade water trough drinking water. The orphans had to wait for these senior elephants to drink first so as to get a chance. The day’s temperatures were low and therefore the orphans concentrated mostly on browsing.
ex-orphans soil bathing
Cheetahs waiting to have some water
July 10th
The morning was cold as the gates opened for the orphans to get out. The orphans passed by the water trough to take water then thereafter many paired-up for a warm up exercise of pushing one another; Kilaguni challenged Kandecha, Ololoo tackled Kitirua while Sabachi went for Kibo in strength testing. At mud wallow time, the sky was partly cloudy but the sun still shone making it possible for the orphans to have a wallowing exercise. In the evening Kalama led the way back to the stockade.
Kitirua after a mud bath
Kibo plays with Sabachi
July 11th
Early in the morning today the stockade compound was flooded with wild elephants and ex-orphans as they waited for water. The water bowser filled the water trough as the wild ones patiently waited. The elephants took water for almost two hours before they got satisfied.
Wild elephants arriving at the stockade
Waiting for the tractor to fill the trough
July 12th
The sky was very clear without any cloud today. The orphans passed by the water trough soon after seven wild elephants that were taking water left. In the field Kilaguni and Kandecha had a wonderful time of pushing one another. Their game ended soon when Tumaren and Melia descended on them. At mud bath, the orphans were joined by the ex-orphans and when they finished they all parted ways.
Tumaren
Mudbath with orphans and ex-orphans
July 13th
The orphans had a lovely morning since they had been joined by the ex-orphans shortly after they left the stockade. The ex-orphans remained at the stockade as the keepers led the orphans away. At six o’clock in the evening Mshale and two other wild elephants came for water at stockade. Looking at the upper hind leg it appeared that Mshale had been arrowed and pus was coming out from the area. A report was made for action to be taken.
Mshale visits the stockade
Mshale's wound
July 14th
Out of the stockade compound the orphans entered into the grazing field and settled at the same area they had browsed the previous day since they had found tasty thickets, which they really enjoyed. . During mud wallow time none of the orphans dared to wallow because of the very chilly weather.
Chaimu feeding on lucerne
Kora and Sunyei in a pushing game
July 15th
The day started pretty well with all orphans in a jovial mood. In the field all the orphans concentrated on browsing with the exception of Kandecha and Sabachi who spent much of their time pushing one another. This game ended only when Kandecha overpowered Sabachi and tried to mount him.
Kandecha plays
Sabachi pushing Kandecha
July 16th
It was a quiet day for the orphans as they went about their usual business of feeding. In the evening as the keepers took the orphans back to the stockade, Chemi Chemi dodged them and failed to return with the other orphans. The keepers had to go back into the bush soon after to search for him. The keepers found him near the mud bath where he was browsing. They called him and then took him back to the stockade. In the evening many wild elephants and ex-orphans came to the stockade for water.
Chemi Chemi in the bush
Wild bulls at the stockade
July 17th
At mud bath, soon after taking their milk, Ololoo was the first one to get into water. In the evening Mwende and Yetu’s father showed up at the stockade together with other wild bulls. The ex-orphans were at the stockade compound along with Mwende and Yetu who were playing near their father as they rolled in the red soil.
Mwende and Yetu's father
Yetu in a playful mood
July 18th
The wild elephants arrived early in the morning at the stockade and patiently waited for the lorry to bring water. As they waited, three wild dogs emerged from the thickets. There was a drama when one of the wild elephants decided to deny the wild dogs water. The wild dogs kept on dodging them and at last the wild elephant got tired of chasing them. The three wild dogs took water then left. The number of wild elephant kept on going up and at seven o’clock in the morning we had twenty four wild elephants at the stockade and by the end of the day the total was forty wild elephants.
Wild elephants charges off wild dogs
Wild dogs
Wild elephant, Ithumbah and meibai
July 19th
The orphans were joined by the ex-orphans early in the morning as they were feeding on lucerne. Again at the mud bath the ex-orphans joined the orphans with Kijana, Mgeni and another wild bull. The temperatures were not so high but a few ex-orphans and orphans decided to have a mud bath including even Mwende. The orphans headed to the slopes of the Ithumba Hill while the ex-orphans headed towards Kanziku.
Mulika and Mwende
Soil bath time
ex-orphans, orphans and wild elephants
July 20th
Soon after finishing the lucerne there was confusion about which direction to take as Kilaguni, Kandecha and Sabachi had gone east while Suguta, Chaimu and Melia headed west with the rest. At long last the keepers intervened by calling all the groups together and took them towards the south. At the mud bath Ololoo, Kitirua, Naisula and Kilaguni were the only ones that wallowed; the rest opted for a soil bath. At two o’clock in the afternoon the vet was at the stockade waiting for Mshale so as to treat him. Mshale with other two wild bulls showed up at six thirty in the evening. Mshale was darted and the arrow head that was lodged in his hind leg was removed.
suguta leading the way
Naisula after mudbath
Mshale and wild friend
July 21th
It was extremely cold as the orphans left the stockade. This time the orphans didn’t go to the water trough soon after finishing lucerne but instead scattered at the stockade compound doing different things altogether. Some scratched against rocks, others on trees while the rest just stood and waited. The keepers noticed due to the cold weather that the orphans couldn’t decide which way to go, so the keepers had to decide for them. Mshale showed up at one o’clock in the afternoon with other wild elephants and the ex-orphans and was in good condition.
Mshale with other wild friends
Olare feeding on lucerne
Ololoo learning tactics from Tomboi
July 22th
It was a chilly morning as the orphans left the stockade. Whilst out in the bush the orphans snaked their way through the browsing field, each orphan trying to gather any greens they came across in a hurry, as it is now dry and slowly the plants they enjoy most like grewia bicolor have started to shade off their leaves.
Suguta feeding on lucerne
Wild elephant in a charging mood
July 23th
It was another morning when the orphans left the stockade in a jovial mood. As they left for field a wild family unit consisting of ten wild elephants reported for water at the stockade.
Wild elephant plays with Kijana
Wild elephant come to the mud bath
July 24th
The orphans were joined by the ex-orphans in the morning. Soon after feeding on Lucerne the orphans, led by Suguta, headed to the Kone area where they settled to browse.
Suguta leading the orphans
lesser kudu taking water
July 25th
The sky was clear the orphans left the stockade, an indication of a hot day a head. Suguta and her group fed on lucerne before heading to the browsing field. At mud bath the orphans participated fully in the wallowing exercise since the sun was so hot.. In the bush the orphans relaxed under trees in the shade since the temperatures were unbearable. At four o’clock in the afternoon it was still hot and Kalama led the orphans to the mud bath for a cool off before returning back to the stockade.
Olare scratching
Ololoo watched by guineafowls
mudbath time
July 26th
As the orphans were feeding on Lucerne wild elephants were drinking water at the stockade water trough. Soon two jackals emerged from the thickets coming for a drink. The jackals were surprised when one of the wild elephants blocked their way and even went to the extent of chasing them away. The jackals went to hide and only returned when the wild elephants had left. At nine o’clock in the morning three wild dogs came for water. In the field the orphans were joined by Tomboi who for some time taught Ololoo some pushing tactics before disappearing.
Madiba and Tomboi playing
Wild elephant chasing a jackal
July 27th
At the stockade compound the orphans were joined by the ex-orphans and were fed lucerne together before parting ways.
Orphans outside the stockade
Ex-orphans and wild elephants return
July 28th
As it has become a routine, the ex-orphans joined the orphans in the morning. Soon after taking lucerne the orphans, led by Murka, headed to the Kanziku area where they settled to browse. At eleven o’clock in the morning Kandecha led the orphans to the mud bath and thereafter back to the browsing field.
Murka feeding on lucerne
Kandecha plays with Kilaguni
July 29th
Soon after finishing their Lucerne the orphans were joined by the ex-orphans and wild elephants. At the stockade compound Chemi Chemi opted to scratch on a nearby rock while Kandecha engaged Naisula in a pushing game with intention of mounting her. Naserian, who was close by, pushed Kandecha away.
Naserian with Mwende
Naisula after dusting
July 30th
Just before the orphans checked in at the mud bath, the ex-orphans were already there waiting to meet them. Shortly later four big wild bulls joined them. Soon after wallowing the groups headed for a soil bath and later parted ways.
wallowing time
Mwende and Yetu with the ex-orphans
July 31th
It was a bright morning as the orphans left the stockade. As usual the orphans headed to get the lucerne and later passed by the water before Tumaren led them to the browsing field. At mud bath time the temperatures were high so the orphans participated fully in a wallowing exercise.
Tumaren in the bush
Melia follows on