He has an enormous personality and is very vocal. Given how small he was when he was rescued, it wasn’t immediately clear what species of duck he was. We have since realised that Jipe is a knob-billed duck — already, the tiniest hint of a knob is starting to form atop his beak! 

Chamboi the orphaned rhino: 

Jack isn’t the only bird to join our orphan herd. Bam and Boozle, two orphaned ostrich chicks, were rescued just a few weeks later. They immediately took a shine to one specific animal: Chamboi! We call them ‘Chamboi’s satellites’ — the pair follow the black rhino from sunup to sundown, operating as a little troupe. They make quite the odd group, the stout rhino coupled with the leggy birds.

Now that he’s growing in size and strength, Chamboi’s personality is really starting to shine. He is the sweetest little rhino — extremely friendly towards anyone in his orbit and eager to stop for a scratch. He adores scratches behind his ears, which send him in a state of bliss. 

The orphaned elephants: 

After Rokka and Manda’s graduation last month, the Kaluku elephants have settled into their new herd dynamic. It is a boy-heavy herd, with five males outnumbering the sole female (a little girl who will be introduced in due course). However, everyone is extremely gentle and nurturing — with the possible exception of Natibu, who is a firecracker — which gives the herd a supportive, sweet atmosphere.

When the orphans leave their stables and stockades in the morning, they mill around the compound for a bit before proceeding into the bush. However, Mayan has developed his own itinerary: He first wanders in the direction of the Kaluku offices and loiters outside, observing the goings-on. This happens almost every morning and the Heepers have their hands full to get him back on track with the rest. Mayan has always been a very nosy elephant!

Vaarti is roughly the same size as Mayan, but he is several months older and his tusks are slightly longer. Like Mayan, he sometimes operates on his own schedule, but his personal agenda revolves around the mud bath. He dashes to the midday milk feed before all the others, so he can finish his bottle first and then have first dibs at the hosepipe. When the earth moving machines refresh the must bath area, he eschews the wallow in favour of a long dust bath, covering himself in soft, red earth. 

As mentioned earlier, Natibu is Kaluku’s resident firecracker. He is a very noisy little elephant and has a sound for every occasion: Waiting to be let out of his stable, running in for his milk bottle, racing his friends — you can guarantee that Natibu will be yelling, trumpeting, or rumbling at the top of his lungs! He is also rather impatient and does not enjoy waiting for his milk feeds. Even a moment’s delay causes an angry head butt and a shout! 

Mwinzi has always been known for his prodigious appetite. Unsurprisingly, he had a very big tummy to match. Now that he’s growing up, he is starting to become more proportionate, although his midsection is still notable round! His love of food is matched by his love of water — when he’s not eating, he can usually be found by the water trough or hosepipe. Mwinzi is a peaceful little elephant and really enjoys browsing in the bush.

Keeper Joseph, who has had a very strong bond with Toto, had some time off this month. Toto did not seem terribly affected by his absence; his social circle has expanded and he now spends his days palling around with Natibu, Mwinzi, and the other orphaned elephants. With that said, however, Toto was over the moon when Joseph returned, lavishing him with trunk hugs and sticking to him like glue. Joseph was equally happy to be reunited with his young charge!

Twiggy the orphaned giraffe:

Last month was a difficult one for Twiggy, as her little friend Nini (an orphaned gazelle) died suddenly. Twiggy was visibly upset for quite some time. However, she has since recovered and is back to her usual self. She joins the orphans at mud bath most afternoons, browsing quietly on the periphery while they wallow. The lanky giraffe is followed by her usual band of admirers, notably Gunther the dik dik and Harvery the duiker. However, she is not a fan of Bam and Boozle — when she sees the ostriches approaching, she makes a speedy exit!

Kaluku sits in the heart of the Tsavo ecosystem, which means that all manner of wildlife can wander through. A small pride of lions took up residence for much of March, which forced Twiggy to remain close to home. However, they have since moved on, bringing a welcome return to Twiggy’s wider patrols around Kaluku. 

Apollo the orphaned rhino:

Black rhinos are known for being a solitary species. This is particularly true for males, who are highly territorial and spend most of their adult lives roaming solo. Apollo lives up to the stereotype: He happily keeps his own company, although he makes an exception for Justus and Benjamin, his beloved Keepers. 

However, some uninvited guests have entered his orbit: A small herd of zebras moved into his roaming grounds. This month, their family grew by one, when one of the females gave birth. Rhinos are also known for having extremely poor eyesight, but don’t equate that with being unperceptive — nothing gets past Apollo. He immediately clocked the tiny addition and has taken a keen interest in the foal. On several occasions, he wandered close to his striped friends to calmly investigate the newcomer. Perhaps he isn’t so solitary after all!

* Apollo is now at Rhino Base, in Tsavo East National Park

Visit the video section of your online SWT account to watch a special video featuring the Kaluku orphans.