Shimba heading up to browse
Daily updates
March 1st
Sinya and Kenia led the orphans half way up Mazinga Hill, overtaken by Shimba and Mzima who climbed higher up. When running for their mudbath milk fee, Rombo, Dabassa and Layoni screamed when they were overtaken by Ndii, Taveta and Tassia, Layoni screaming again when Ndii approached his second bottle, having finished her share.
Orphand heading up Mazinga hill
March 2nd
Ex Orphans Solango and Burra joined the Juniors out in the field today, surrounded and touched admiringly by many small trunks. The two Big Boys spent 20 minutes browsing with the Juniors before heading off to the Stockades, followed by Layoni, who as called back by the Keepers. At the Stockades Burra and Solango enjoyed a drink and a handout of Dairy Cubes before leaving again.
Burra coming down the hill
Solango browsing with the youngsters
March 3rd
During the usual morning Stockade games, Taveta and Shimba were play wrestling, with Kenia and Rombo interested spectators. Lesanju then led the group out, and all browsed peacefully throughout the day, enjoying the noon mudbath break.
The orphans at the mudbath
Kenia front and the rest of the group
March 4th
Whilst rushing for the morning milk bottles, Dabassa accidentally knocked weak Dida down. Kenia instantly stopped running for her milk, and instead returned to help the Keepers lift Dida back to her feet. Lesanju also came to investigate, but found Dida already up taking her milk. Dida has been under medication for a long time, and was looking dull today. Lesanju, Lempaute and Sinya spent the day browsing next to her, and due to Dida’s weakened condition, the orphans did not go far to feed today.
Dabassa right, Rombo and Emsaya running
Orphans browsing
March 5th
The Ex Orphan kudu, “Aruba” brought her newly born baby close to the stockade for the first time, having previously hidden it in a thicket. The baby, a female was in fine shape, but was nervous of the humans, whereas her mother, having been reared by humans, was perfectly relaxed. After a while, both antelope went off into the bush.
Aruba's baby running off
Aruba with her baby
March 6th
The orphans fed peacefully throughout the morning. At the noon mudbath Shimba and Taveta were joined by Tassia in the water, which encouraged Sinya to also go in. Rombo led the herd back to the Stockades in the evening.
Shimba after bathing
Taveta coming out of the mudbath
March 7th
Taveta and Tassia had an altercation on the way to the mudbath, which Lempaute and Sinya tried to break up unsuccessfully. The combatants arrived late at the mudbath, and took their milk well separated from one another. On the way back to the Stockades Kenia kept pace with weakling Dida, who trailed the others.
Lempaute
Sinya after a mudbath
March 8th
Dida’s condition worsened, so the Vet was called to examine a swelling that had developed beneath her chin and another in her stomach area. She was too unwell to go out with the others today, but instead remained behind in one of the Stockades, with Dairy Cubes and hand-picked greens. The others were very reluctant to move from the Stockades without Dida. Kenia remained behind as company, but later wanted to join the others. When the orphans returned in the evening, Lesanju and Kenia ran to Dida’s Stockade to check on her, before entering their own.
Kenia leading
Lesanju scratching at the stockade
March 9th
Today, Dida’s condition was worse. All the orphans gathered around her, clearly disturbed to see her thus. Eventually, they slowly moved out to browse. When they returned in the evening, all ran to see how she was, Lesanju rumbling deeply as though predicting the worst. Dida died during the night. The Keepers moved her body away in order not to panic the others.
Mzima drinking
Orphans moving up Mazinga Hill to browse
March 10th
The death of Dida was very upsetting, not only for the Keepers, but for the other elephants who searched for her in vain at dawn and throughout the morning. They took only a very brief mudbath and noon, and then resumed the search, running to the Stable she previously occupied in the evening, only to find her missing. All were extremely subdued. All were very disturbed to find her missing.
The postmortem revealed defective lungs, and heart, which explained her lengthy deterioration.
Lesanju left and Kenia drinking
The orphans browsing
March 11th
After another search for missing Dida, the orphans went to the Northern side of the Stockades. All enjoyed the mudbath, Wasessa occupying the prime spot soon joined by Sinya and Lempaute. Wasessa then enjoyed a lengthy scratch against a tree, joined there by Emsaya and Kivuko. All then made their way back to the Stockades, browsing as they went.
Wasessa loving the mudbath
Kivuko left drinking water
March 12th
On a lovely morning the orphans settled down to browse on the Southern side of Mazinga hill. Today the mudbath took place at the Stockades, since the orphans had an appointment with school children, entertaining them royally, Lempaute, Ndii and Kenia anxious to join the kids on the other side of the fence. Shimba then took a trunkfull of water to spray over the children, making them run off and laugh. Lesanju then enjoyed a scratch against the big rock near the trough, pushing Layoni out of the way in order to do so. All then went off to browse for the rest of the day.
Mzima with the school children
The orphans meet the pupils
The orphans visited by school children
March 13th
The orphans had a second lively encounter with children who were brought to see them in the Trust’s Bus as part of the Community Outreach Programme.
All had a wonderful time, before the orphans moved off to browse for the rest of the day.
Lesanju and Layoni at the stocakde with pupils
Orphans at the stockade for pupils visit
March 14th
Today Dabassa, Rombo and Layoni were first at the mudbath, securing the prime spot. Tassia then forced his way between them, prompting Dabassa and Layoni to leave, but Rombo remained to challenge Tassia. Taveta then became jealous, and joined in, poking their bottoms Rombo rapidly moved out, followed by Tassia, who wanted to avoid a confrontation with Taveta.
Dabassa left, Rombo and Layoni at the mudbath
Taveta in the water with the others watching
March 15th
At noon the day was cool, so the orphans were reluctant bathers. Emsaya sprayed water over herself while Ndii took Kivuko for a soil dusting session after which Kivuko led the herd back to the Stockades in the evening.
Kivuko front and Ndii
Emsaya in the water
March 16th
On a sunny morning Shimba and Lempaute enjoyed scratching themselves against a tree out in the browsing area while Tassia, Ndii, Dabassa, Layoni and Rombo enjoyed a game of hide and seek that lasted 5 minutes before settling down to browse. All had an enjoyable mudwallow Kivuko, Sinya and Wasessa especially active, remaining in the mudbath after the others began moving off.
Tassia bringing up the rear
Ndii having fun
March 17th
There was drama when Kivuko gulped down her milk and then demanded Rombo’s share, which prompted a tough and rowdy fight which Rombo won. As it was cool, the orphans did not wallow. In the evening Layoni led the herd back to the Stockades.
Kivuko, on the left, having a drink of water
The orphans making their way back to the stockade
March 18th
A wild elephant herd were close to the orphans as they made their way to the waterhole at noon. Wasessa took Emsaya and trailed the wild herd to the waterhole drinking and bathing in amongst them until the wild elephants moved off towards the Voi river. Wasessa and Emsaya then came to join their orphan peers and enjoyed a second wallow 20 minutes later.
Wild eles at the mudbath
Emsaya with the wild group
March 19th
Memories of Dida continue to plague Lesanju, who again searched high and low for her, leaving the others to their usual Stockade games. She even remained behind to continue the search when the others had moved off, following them slowly later. While the others seem to have accepted the absence of Dida, Lesanju has not yet come to terms with this loss.
Lesanju scratching on a rock at the stockade
The orphans having a drink of water
March 20th
Shimba and Taveta engaged one another in a Pushing Game, which Tassia was eager to join, approaching slowly and respectfully. He was accepted on the side of Taveta and together he and Taveta managed to get topsides of Shimba, who sneaked off. For a moment it looked as though they would engaged one another, but since the others were moving away, they decided against this.
Shimba having a drink with the others
Tassia and Taveta link trunks
March 21th
The orphans climbed the Eastern side of the hill to browse today, Shimba and Ndii the expert climbers. It was an extremely hot day, so they came down slowly to seek shade. Taveta caused a diversion when he approached Kivuko for a Pushing Game, but Lesanju disciplined him by sending him out of the herd for a while. He was later allowed back to join his colleagues, and was well behaved during the mudbath.
Sinya browsing
Kivuko front and Lempaute
March 22th
It was very hot at midday, so having downed their milk, Emsaya, Dabassa and Rombo ran into the waterhole before drinking from the barrels of clean water. Layoni watched Taveta playing in the waterhole, but was not tempted to join him. Instead Sinya went in, while Layoni wandered off to join the others who were feeding.
Dabassa in the water
Orphans quenching their thirst on a hot day
Rombo in the mudbath
March 23th
Tassia and Taveta had another head to head encounter after the mudbath in an attempt to settle a longstanding score. Lempaute and Lesanju thought about intervening, but the two kept shifting their position to continue the fight. Tassia later backed off, leaving Taveta standing on a rock like a village elder signifying victory.
Tassia and Taveta in a strength testing game
Taveta standing on a rock
March 24th
After Stockade Games when Mzima and Taveta enjoyed chasing each other around, the orphans went off to browse the Eastern side of the Park until noon when they moved to the mudbath. It was an active mudbath with pushing, sliding, rolling and mimic mounting in the water. Tassia and Kivuko teamed up, striking the water with their trunks which caught the attention of all the others, until Lesanju, Lempaute and Sinya began to move off to commence browsing.
Mzima reaching for the higher branches
Tassia in the water
March 25th
All had a very lively mudbath at noon, until Shimba sprayed some muddy water into the eyes of Taveta and Kivuko, prompting a mass exit. Lempaute went to comfort Kivuko, while Mzima and Taveta went back in once Shimba had moved out.
Shimba spraying mud on the others
Taveta back in the water having fun
March 26th
Wasessa was the focus of attention at the mudbath today, surrounded by an admiring audience of all the others. In the evening Tassia and Taveta had another altercation, separated by Mzima who stood between them triumphantly.
Wasessa bathing watched by the others
Mzima front arrives at the waterhole
March 27th
Today the orphans concentrated on feeding, Kivuko and Emsaya remaining close to Wasessa to avoid the naughty boys.
Taveta browsing
Orphans browsing on Mazinga
March 28th
The orphans browsed the Eastern side of Mazinga hill today where there is some green grass. Light showers left them in no hurry to come down, so their noon milk feed was late. Ndii led the herd back in the evening.
Tassia left and Mzima
Taveta in the front on Mazinga
March 29th
Today the orphans browsed the Southern side of Mazinga hill above the KWS offices. Lesanju led them back to the Stockades for their noon milk, Rombo and Dabassa coming later. All then returned to the same feeding area.
Lempaute scratching
Lesanju
March 30th
It was warmer today, so the orphans arrived at the mudbath early, before the arrival of their noon milk feed. All emerged to take their milk after which Mzima, Ndii and Taveta teamed up for bathing games while Tassia and Dabassa opted for dusting. Rombo led the way back today.
Ndii enjoying the mudbath
Taveta coming out of the water
Wasessa sitting on the mudbath wall
March 31th
Another rain shower left some pools, which the orphans enjoyed drinking. They took their milk out in the browsing area, bathing in mud in between playing in the rain pools. Kenia led the way home in the evening.
Emsaya playing in the mudbath
Kenia enjoying the lead