The orphans enjoying a soil bath
Daily updates
March 1st
Today, the orphans were led by their Matriarch Yatta, assisted by Mulika and Wendi, and headed westward. After half an hour they happened upon a natural mudwallow, where they quenched their thirs. Wendi and Taita lay enjoyed bathing, whilst Yatta and Mulika led the rest to dust themselves with red soil. Selengai and Tomboi lay down and rolled around, after which Napasha led them all to the shade of a Baobab tree to shelter from the heat.
March 2nd
Today Wendi and Taita had an altercation, interrupted by Tomboi, who came to Wendi’s aid.
Taita and Tomboi fighting
March 3rd
Yatta led the orphans from the stockade, browsing towards the mudwallow. Af it approached mudbath time, Napasha and Wendi struggled over who was to lead, but since Napasha is stronger, he won this contest easily, Wendi following hot on his heels. During the mudbath two warthogs appeared, scaring Selengai and Tomboi who abandoned the mudbath. Yatta then chased the intruders off by charging, knocking and kicking bushes and also throwing sticks. After the warthogs had left, all the orphans resumed their mudbath.
Napasha, Tomboi &Nasalot fight over who will lead
March 4th
Shortly after 8 a.m. Wendi and Napasha separated from the other orphans, but ran back yelling when 4 baboons emerged from the surrounding thicket. Upon hearing their distress bellows, Yatta and Mulika ran to see what was amiss, sending the baboons on their way, after which Mulika comforted Napasha, touching his mount gently with her trunk.
Yatta with Napasha and Mulika
March 5th
Today it was two sprinting lesser kudus that frightened the orphans, and prompted the intervention of Yatta, Mulika and Nasalot, as the younger elephants ran to their Keepers. After mudbath, Napasha enjoyed scratching himself against a rock, whilst Mulika selected a tree on which to scratch herself.
Wendi scrathing on a rock
March 6th
Today, Napasha stepped out of line by testing his strength against his Matriarch, Yatta, who gave him a sharp prod with her long straight tusks. He fled in case he got a second punishment!
Napasha, Taitia and Yatta
March 7th
Yatta led the group eastwards from the Stockade. Shortly before 8 a.m. Tomboi and Olmalo spotted some guinea fowl ahead and gambolled towards them, prompting them to fly away, a mini victory greatly relished.
Olmallo, Tomboi and Taita
March 8th
The day was cool and cloudy, suggesting heavy rain, but only a light shower fell. Because it was cool, the orphans did not take a mudbath today. In the evening Taita bit Olmalo’s tail, which made her yell, drawing the ire of Yatta, who has Olmalo as her favourite calf. She punished Taita by chasing him away. Olmalo always browses very close to Yatta, and also sleeps beside her, so any insult to Olmalo is taken seriously by Yatta.
Olmallo standing on her own
March 9th
In contrast to yesterday, the day was very hot, so the mudbath was particularly welcome, Napasha lying deep in the water whilst Kinna lay over him.
The orphans enjoying their mudbath
March 10th
Napasha always knows when it is milk time, and on the dot of ll a.m. leads the group to the milk and mudbath rendez-vous! In the evening Taita attempted to mount Selengai who managed to push him away.
Napasha holding a milk bottle
March 11th
The morning was cold, so the orphans crowded close for warmth. After 9 a.m. the sun broke through, and the orphans became playful and active. During a noon siesta under a tree, Napasha again stepped out of line by trying to mount Olmalo, and was disciplined by Yatta, who chased him away.
The orphans playing
March 12th
The orphans left the Stockade early and headed westwards along the foot of a rocky hill, happening upon two fighting male baboons making a lot of noise. This scared the younger orphans, who ran to their Keepers, whilst Yatta, Mulika, Nasalot and Kinna followed, breaking down vegetation on the way to scare off the baboons. Having achieved this, the orphans resumed their normal daily activity. During the mudbath Yatta enjoyed a pushing game with Mulika, which was interrupted when Napasha tried to join in.
Yatta pushing and playing with Napasha
March 13th
The day was still and hot, threatening rain, so all the orphans flapped their ears a lot to cool their bodies. At the mudbath Kinna and Napasha enjoyed rolling around in the water.
The orphans at the mud wallow
March 14th
Another cloudy day, which prompted Nasalot, Kinna and Napasha to lie down and play. Napasha took advantage of this game by trying to mount on Kinna, who doesn’t stand any nonsense. She rose immediately, and drove him far off, where he remained for a long time, far from Kinna.
Napasha mounts Taita
March 15th
Obviously still harbouring a grudge against Kinna, Napasha attempted to push her. She warned him by pointing her trunk at him and he took the hint! Wendi led the way to the mudbath today, but since the weather was not conducive, the orphans declined to wallow.
Wendi leads the group
March 16th
Clear skies today. Shortly after 7 a.m. a hyaena emerged from a nearby thicket scaring Yatta, Olmalo, Mulika, Selengai and Nasalot, who were browsing nearby. Yatta, Mulika, Nasalot and Kinna then joined forces to charge the thicket into which the hyaena had retreated,, breaking down vegetation and trumpeting. The others watched the drama as it unfolded, but thereafter all the orphans remained nervous for some time.
Selengai and Mulika
March 17th
Yatta led the group East this morning. Whilst waiting for the milk feed, Napasha, who is the greediest of them all, began sucking on a stick before rushing for his bottle, holding it himself. Later, Kinna, Wendi, Mulika and Nasalot enjoyed dusting themselves with soil. Kinna lay down and Mulika rubbed herself against her.
Mulika, Yatta and Olmallo playing in the soil
March 18th
It was a cool and misty day, but nevertheless the orphans enjoyed their usual playful routine.
The orphans playing
March 19th
Again Yatta led the group Eastwards. At around 7 a.m., Selengai and Tomboi spotted a pair of dikdik, and greatly enjoyed seeing them off, charging with outstretched ears. In the evening Taita and Tomboi had a pushing tussle, which ended when Tomboi surrendered.
Taita mounts Tomboi
March 20th
Another cloudy day with moderate temperatures. At l0 a.m. Napasha again decided to test his strength against Yatta, but discovered he needed more kilos! Mulika ended the game by coming between Yatta and Napasha. On the way back to the Stockades, Tomboi was the Leader.
Tomboi leading the orphans back to the stockades
March 21th
Today Napasha decided to take on Mulika instead, and was surprised to find himself severely trounced. This prompted him to keep his distance all day!
Napasha fights with Taita
March 22th
There was a heavy downpour during the night. The orphans were very happy, and started skidding around just a few metres from the stockade. They spent the entire day alternatively feeding, and then romping in the wet soil and puddles. Napasha chose to tussle with Tomboi today!
Napasha mounts Tomboi
March 23th
It was a cool day, and the orphans thoroughly enjoyed browsing and playing all day.
Orphans enjoying their mud bath
March 24th
In the evening, Mulika, Kinna and Napasha were started when two mating warthogs dashed by, prompting the orphans to retreat to the Keepers, who calmed them.
The orphans on their way back home
March 25th
Another cool and cloudy day, so only Napasha had a lively time at the mudbath. In the afternoon he chased Taita and Tomboi with the intention of mounting them, but the rest of the group joined in, running to and fro within the bushes, trumpeting and throwing up dust, which distracted him.
Napasha nose diving
March 26th
At 9 a.m. Tomboi and Taita played a game, pushing each other around a small bush. On the way to the mudbath, Wendi spotted a snake retreating down a hole, which made her retreat to the Keepers for safety. Olmalo and Tomboi had a great time at the mudbath, playing together.
Olmallo, Tomboi and Taita
March 27th
Napasha and Taita enjoyed a playful moment in the morning, pushing each other. Olmalo and Selengai also played for a while, but Nasalot intervened to interrupt their game. Wendi happily led the orphans home today, swinging her trunk to show her pleasure being Leader. (The remainder of the Ithumba Diary month will be in April)
Kina standing under the trees
March 28th
Yatta led the group to the foot of Ithumba Hill where they browsed happily and played from time to time, Olmalo, Mulika, Selengai and Taita lying down whilst the rest joined in the game later.
March 29th
After mudbath, Mulika lay down to take a nap, which was interrupted by Napasha, who ran to climb on her. Nasalot joined Napasha whilst Kinna monitored what was going on. Wendi spent the day browsing near the Keepers, and Napasha was the Leader on the way home.
March 30th
The Keepers led the orphans from the Stockade in the morning, but Mulika, and her favourite, Selengai knew exactly where they planned to go, and overtook the Keepers leading the other orphans to Ithumba Hill. At mudbath time the Keepers had to remind the orphans it was time to go, and after the mudbath Napasha led the orphans back to the bush to browse.
March 31th
It was a fine morning that turned hot by l0 a.m., forcing the orphans into the shade. They rested there, flapping their ears to cool themselves, until mudbath time, when Kinna took the lead.