Shukuru playing
Daily updates
March 1st
As the orphans were approaching the noon mudbath, Shukuru rushed ahead to get her milk first, slipped and fell. Immediately Suguta and Nchan ran rumbling to her and help her get back onto her feet. Perhaps they were commiserating with her because of her fall.
Nchan having milk
March 2nd
Kimana seems reluctant to take his milk today, not finishing the 9 a.m. feed, the noon feed or the 3 p.m. feed. In all other ways, he seems playful and fine. Suguta has also been showing signs of not wanting all her milk ration, but usually returns for it later.
Kimana
Maxwell walking away
March 3rd
Sabachi, who finished his 3 p.m. feed first, tried to push Ndii who was still taking hers. She stopped and immediately punished Sabachi, engaging him in a serious fight which the Keepers had to break up, since he was getting the rough end of it!
Sabachi having milk
Ndii with Sabachi
March 4th
At the mudbath today, Nchan left the mudbath to run along the line of visitors, flapping her ears so that the visitors got splattered in mud. At the end of the line, she turned round to repeat the ear flapping game, making all the tourists ask if she had been taught how to do that!
Nchan feeding next to Mutara
Maalim in the forest
March 5th
A splinter grouping seems to have emerged amongst the Nursery elephants. Today Nchan, Kudup, Mutara, Shukuru and sometimes Tano separated themselves from Suguta and Tumaren. Nchan and Kudup were practicing “mothering” Tano. Whenever she lay down, they would help her get up by supporting her with a leg, which is how big elephants help their babies rise from a recumbent position.
Kudup on the left with Mutara
Tano
March 6th
Olare took possession of little Chemi Chemi, and didn’t want any of the others to have access to him, adopting him as her own baby. Suguta attempted to take him, but Olare pushed her away. Dida tried extending her trunk to touch him, but decided not to go beyond that. Chemi Chemi is quite happy to be Olare’s special calf.
Olare in the field
Chemi Chemi
March 7th
Just before the younger elephants were let out of their stables, the warthog family arrived and hung around outside, scaring Chemi Chemi, who refused to emerge until Olare came to chase them off and escort him out. He then emerged, with his ears standing at right-angles to his head!.
Tano with Zoom Zoom
Tano playing with Zoom Zoom
Maalim
March 8th
Chemi Chemi, as a newcomer, has settled in very well. Today he was even trying to bully the likes of Tano, Mutara and Shukuru. He receives a great deal of love and attention from all the older females in the group, especially Olare. At one point Suguta managed to spend a short time with him, but Olare soon came to repossess him. All the orphans look healthy and strong.
Suguta
Chemi Chemi feeding in the field
March 9th
At about l0 a.m. Tumaren suddenly began charging around the bushes. For a long time Kalama and Kudup stood watching her, but then joined in the charging game. Perhaps Tumaren was demonstrating how to deal with an intruder!
Tumaren loving Zoom zoom
Kalama
March 10th
The orphans emerged in the morning in a very happy mood, all running up and down the compound. Olare went running to look for Chemi Chemi, and as soon as she located him, she rumbled to him, and was answered by his rumble. Chemi Chemi and Olare then led the column out into the forest, with all the others following.
Kibo feeding on the fresh greens in the forest
Kilaguni feeding in the forest
March 11th
After a peaceful night, the orphans enjoyed playing in pairs around the compound, engaging one another in pushing games with Kilaguni and his best friend, Kibo, had a strength testing pushing match.
Chaimu feeding closely with all her friends
Dida having milk
March 12th
The babies were in fine form today as they headed out into the bush. Chemi Chemi and Shukuru competed for the lead. Out in the field Mutara, Tano and Nchan enjoyed playing together, Nchan lying down so that the two babies, Tano and Mutara could take turns climbing over her. Both then tried to pin Nchan down, which made her scream for help and this arrived in the form of Olare, who pushed the two babies off Nchan, and then helped her get up.
Tano on the left with Mutara
Mutara
March 13th
Dida and her team downed their noon milk feed quickly, and then jumped into the mudbath to wallow. Ndii and Kilaguni were most active wallowers whilst Dida, Melia and Olare left the mudbath to dust themselves with loose dry soil.
Kilaguni playing in the mud
Melia
March 14th
One of the foster-parents brought a huge ball for the orphan to play with. The older orphans were a bit scared of the ball at first, but Suguta and her group loved it, running up and down and kicking it towards the line of mudbath visitors.
Suguta sniffing the air
Mawenzi playing in the mud with the others
March 15th
Today Nchan, Kalama, Kibo and Tumaren were very excited with the big ball. Tumaren even stopped drinking her milk to have first turn playing with the big ball and was joined by all the others the moment they finished theirs. It was fun to see little Shukuru run with the ball, and stop beside Keeper Mischak, to whom she is a little shadow, such is her adoration of him! It was a real fun day, when even the Lecturers had difficulty getting the attention of the guests who were focused on the elephants playing with the new ball.
Kalama in the forest
Tumaren having milk
March 16th
As the orphans were browsing in the bush today having taken their morning milk feed, Dida, Kimana, Ndii, Mawenzi and Melia formed their own group whilst Olare, Kilaguni, and Chaimu formed a separate group, leaving Sabachi feeding on his own. Olare was happy to be the Matriarch of the remaining orphans, with Dida separate. Sabachi couldn’t decide which group to join, and moved between the two, or fed alone.
Ndii following Abdi
Chaimu feeding
March 17th
Today Chemi Chemi did not want to be “babied”. He kept on moving from one elephant to another and even creating a commotion by wanting to bully the other little ones in his group. He wanted to mount onto Mutara, fight with Kalama and Turkwel and even tested Kibo with a strong push. This came as such a surprise that Kibo actually fell down!
Turkwel playing with Mutara
Kibo
March 18th
The orphans got a huge scare today whilst out feeding. All suddenly began screaming and rushing back to the Keepers, as though a lion was in the bush. The Keepers went to investigate, and found not a lion, but 2 warthogs who obviously happened upon the elephants unexpectedly!
Chemi Chemi with Patrick
Kudup hugging one of the orphans
March 19th
Turkwel, who has a longstanding score to settle with Kalama, seemed to have got over whatever irked her, until today, when she again targeted Kalama. However Suguta was close, and immediately came in to separate the warring parties before the fight became too serious.
Kalama feeding
Turkwel
March 20th
Chemi Chemi dislikes having to go into his stable at night, so the Keepers have to push him in. However, once inside, and having taken his milk, he is usually the first to go to sleep. This evening, a Canadian Film Crew wanted to film him in his stable, so he took a long time to go to sleep. He kept on wanting to investigate the Cameraman who was on top of the Keeper’s bed and although he could not reach the Cameraman, he was aware of his presence.
Kilaguni with Zoom zoom
Melia on the left playing with Ndii
March 21th
It was a cold drizzling morning, so most of the orphans did not want to go out. Only Tumaren and Sabachi kept on bellowing and banging on their Gate, insisting on being let out. The others were happy to remain indoors until the rain ceased.
Sabachi in the lead
Olare and Sabachi
March 22th
All the orphans left the compound in the morning, but Tano was left behind. Soon Kudup and Nchan noticed her absence, and came running back, followed by Shukuru and Mutara. They then formed their own little group, and spent the morning dusting themselves, with Nchan and Kudup acting as caretakers. Nchan has the makings of a very caring Matriarch, but this was the first time that Kudup practiced this role. Later we received a phone call from Joseph Sauni in Voi that a small baby elephant orphan had been rescued on Mgeno Ranch, abutting Tsavo, having wandered into the Ranch Staff lines. The baby was flown in at 3 p.m., and arrived in good condition. She is about 1 ½ months old and strong. That afternoon, she met first the smaller orphans, when Mutara showed keen interest in her, and later the older elephants, all of whom wanted to mother her.
Shukuru, Mutara & Tano playing together
Babies on thier way to meet new arrival
Mutara taking a keen interest in the new arrival
March 23th
All the orphans left the compound in the morning, including the new baby, who has been named Sities, to commemorate the vote at the CITES Convention in Doha which went in favour of the elephants, refusing permission for both Tanzania and Zambia to sell their ivory stockpiles. All the older females wanted to take possession of the newcomer, but Ndii out-did all the others, which came as a surprise to the Keepers, since she has not wanted to take on a Matriarchal role before.
Ndii with little Sities
Kalama greeting Ndii & Sities
March 24th
This was another morning with a lot of activity, all the older females wanting possession of little Sities, Olare, Ndii, Suguta, Tumaren and Dida all surrounding the new calf, which unsettled her. She began screaming, so the Keepers separated the baby and took her to Suguta’s smaller group, where Suguta and Tumaren took care of her. This worked well, and the calf soon relaxed and began happily playing in the loose red soil.
Tano, Shukuru, and Mutara invite Sities to play
Sities next to a keeper
Olare mothering Sities
March 25th
Today was the last day for the Canadian Film Crew, who have been filming the Nursery elephants for the past 2 weeks. Sities has settled into the group led by Suguta, who has taken charge of her, only allowing Tumaren brief access. At last the Keepers can see that Suguta is taking on the Matriarchal role especially when Olare is not around.
Sities with the orphans.jpg
Suguta
March 26th
As soon as the orphans exited the stockades the older females rushed over to the babies whilst the young bulls played pushing games. Kibo and Kilaguni partook of their usual strength testing games and were rudely interrupted by Sabachi, who is an unfair playmate as he tries to dominate the younger males; his attempts to join in were ignored by the other two.
Kilaguni
Kibo having milk
Sabachi and Ndii playing
March 27th
Little Sities has begun to settle down to life in the orphanage and is proving to be a very active, playful and naughty elephant. The older females, Suguta, Olare, Ndii, Tumaren and Mutara, are competing over who gets to “Mummy” her. Shukuru is feeling a little jealous of the new arrival especially when it comes to getting attention from her favourite keeper Mischak.
Mutara shows her loving side giving Sities a hug
Sities with Tumaren and Zoom zoom
March 28th
During today’s public visiting hour a competition began between Sities and Shukuru over Mischak’s attention. As the orphans came for their milk Mischak began feeding Sities which upset Shukuru who began to run around, refusing to be given her bottle from anyone other than Mischak. She created such a fuss that he had to hand over Sities bottle to another keeper and feed Shukuru who immediately settled and drank her milk.
Shukuru with Mischak
Olare with Sities
March 29th
During the noon mudwallow Sities rolled around in the loose red soil and played with the others who were enjoying kicking the ball around. This being her first time to see a ball she tried to head butt it and fell to the ground. Suguta and Tumaren kept close to her comforting her after her fall. A rescued orphan arrived at 6pm from Meru. The calf was in a desperate state of collapse after having fallen down a pit latrine. She was named Meru to signify her place of origin. The keepers were worried about her health and we all hoped she would survive the night.
Mawenzi soil bathing
Lovely Maxwell
March 30th
Chemi Chemi is proving to be a pushy young bull head butting any orphan including the older ones. This could be his way of releasing the stress he is feeling while mourning the loss of his family. The older orphans are quite tolerant of his antics although Tumaren and Suguta do warn him from time to time so that he will learn the proper etiquette that he will need when meeting wild elephants.
Kimana greeting Tumaren
Dida
Meru during her rescue
March 31th
The morning began on a sad note as Meru gave up the battle for her life at 5am. Kalama who shared her stockade showed signs of stress when it came to returning for the stockade for the night by refusing to go near the place where Meru slept. The elephants spent the day feeding in the forest and found themselves a rain filled mudwallow to play in. Kalama, Nchan, Kudup and Turkwel had a fantastic time playing together while Dida, Ndii, Melia and Kilaguni played in the mud on the outskirts of the water. Recently Kimana, Dida, Mawenzi and Melia have formed a little group and are often found browsing together aside from the rest. Mawenzi is still very attached to Melia following her and sucking on her ears. Since the arrival of Sities Ndii has become more stringent about disciplining Sabachi who can be rough with the younger orphans. Ndii does not let him come near Sities blocking any attempts he makes to approach the baby.
Kimana feeding in the forest
Mawenzi playing