Again, this month began with a visit from Edie, Mweya, and Kenia’s ex-orphan herds. As has become their custom, the elephants arrived at dawn and waited outside the stockades until the dependent orphans were let out. All the elephants lined up together at the trough and then mingled on the terraces. The dependent and ex-orphans spend their mornings together, before going their separate ways for the rest of the day.
The dependent orphans emerged from their shared stockades to find Mweya’s and Kenia’s herds of ex-orphans waiting for them in the feeding area. The elephants lined up together at the trough and then mingled on the terraces. Tagwa and Eden (one of Edie’s wild-born babies) stood close next to the pile of lucerne.
As the sun rose in the sky, Mbegu’s herd headed out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill, leaving their older friends behind at the stockades. Ndotto wandered off on his own in one direction as Ngilai and Lasayen stood tall and stretched up to pluck down branches from acacia trees and Rokka, Manda, Ashanti, Godoma and Baraka trailed up the hill in a trunk-to-tail line. Losoito walked at a distance behind the group and then settled down to browse by herself at the top of the hill. Sometimes, this little girl likes to be alone.
In the afternoon, the orphans padded down the hill to the mud wallow. Kilulu, Godoma, Lasayen, Epiya, Hildana and Kenderi stopped off at the water trough to drink before joining the herd in the mud hole. As most of the herd paddled in the water, Ndotto stood on the edge, kicking up big splashes, and little Rokka pottered around, thinking about whether to get wet. Feeling refreshed, the herd then wandered far into the woods to the north of the stockades.
On a wonderful sunny morning, the orphans spread out in front of the stockades. Ngilai stretched up to browse on acacia branches over the electric fence while Losoito enjoyed an early morning mud wallow with Akina and Dabida. Lemeki and Ashanti rolled around together on a patch of dry soil.
Tagwa and Epiya led the herd out to browse in the bush. Rokka and Manda hung out together under the shade of a tree as the others spread out over Msinga Hill. Losoito was spending time with protective Godoma, keeping her distance from Hildana and Baraka (feisty boys who can be jealous of the little girl). Tamiyoi wandered over to Losoito and her nanny – the three elephants stayed together for the rest of the morning.
In the afternoon, the herd visited the baobab tree mud wallow before meandering back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
On another wonderful morning, current and former orphans gathered outside the stockades for breakfast. Edie’s, Mweya’s and Kenia’s herds had arrived at dawn. Ex-orphan Mweya was pushing the youngest orphans away from the feeding trough. Orphans like Hildana, Epiya, Kenderi and Kilulu are wary of the visitors, tending to keep a respectful distance.
The orphans soon set out from the stockades to their usual browsing fields, although Pika Pika remained behind to spend time with ex-orphan Arruba. In the afternoon, the orphans had another milk feed before padding on down to the baobab mud hole for a wallow. Emoli and Thamana were the first to plunge into the cooling water followed by Pika Pika, Losoito, Itinyi and Godoma and then Murit and Ngilai. The elephants splashed and rolled around together. Murit and Ngilai had a sparring match in the middle of the pool. Meanwhile, Lasayen massaged himself against the edge, Mbegu rubbed her backside against the tree next to the wallow, and Godoma and Lemeki enjoyed a dust bath. As the temperature dipped, the orphans meandered out to browse some more. In the early evening, Rokka led the herd back to the stockades for the night.
Led again by Rokka, the dependent orphans set out to browse immediately after the milk feed, rather than competing for room with the many ex-orphans lined up at the feeding trough. The herd spread out on the side of Msinga Hill closest to the stockades.
In the afternoon, the orphans returned to the stockades for another milk feed. Lemeki was the first to roll around on the pile of red earth. She was soon joined by Ashanti, who squirted dry soil all over herself, and by Kilulu, Akina and Losoito, who lay down to massage their bodies. Manda and Rokka also joined the dust bath party followed by Godoma and Tamiyoi, who performed impressive stretches. Meanwhile, the rest of the herd was enjoying the range cubes treat.
Feeling refreshed, the orphans set out for another wander before bed. Best friends Ndotto and Lasayen sparred against each other as Tagwa trunk touched Ushindi affectionately and Emoli browsed close to Thamana. As they headed back to the stockades, Mbegu stole Ushindi away from Tagwa and Tamiyoi paused to pose on the rocks. Ndotto and Lasayen continued sparring on the way home and Godoma was left behind for a short time browsing on delicious shrubs on the hill.
Sagala visited the stockades this morning! She was last seen by the Keepers over ten days ago when she was being courted by Laikipia. She arrived soon after dawn with ex-orphans Mudanda and Arruba and was welcomed with many rumbles and trunk touches. Sagala settled down for breakfast with the herd. (It is too soon to know but the Keepers hope that she might be pregnant).
The dependent herd headed out to browse with Sagala, Mudanda and Arruba. Most of the orphans clambered all the way up the hill although Mbegu remained at the bottom with Epiya and Ashanti. Sagala also stayed on the lower slopes with Mudanda and Arruba. After spending a few hours with Mbegu’s herd, Sagala disappeared into the bush with her two friends.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans padded down the hill to the feeding area to wait for the milk truck. Ashanti, Losoito, Rokka and Manda were the first to sprint down with Hildana jogging along behind. After drinking every drop of her milk, Ashanti loitered in the area hoping for an extra bottle as her friends ambled on to the mud bath. On a hot afternoon, Pika Pika, Godoma, little Busara and others plunged into the wallow. Afterwards, they meandered back to the stockades for the night.
Orphans and ex-orphans enjoyed breakfast outside the stockades in the early morning. Mbegu and Murit were trunk touching while browsing on supplementary lucerne as Godoma walked around looking for adopted baby Baraka and Ndotto sparred with former orphan Mudanda at the entrance. Soon, the dependent orphans set out for Msinga Hill, leaving the visitors behind. They browsed in the direction of the baobab tree mud hole. Matriarch Mbegu kept checking on the younger members of the herd while Tagwa and Juni spent the morning together.
In the afternoon, the orphans walked down to the mud wallow after the milk feed. At the wallow, an excited Kilulu slid into the wallow while Godoma splashed along the edge and Pika Pika rolled around in the middle next to Juni, Tamiyoi and several others. Murit and Mbegu climbed out to massage themselves against the creamy peacock tree. Tamiyoi clambered slowly out of the wallow as the herd headed out to resume browsing.
On a wonderful cool morning, the elephants sprinted down the path through the drizzling rain for their milk feed. Excited by the rain, the orphans ate range cubes and lucerne before heading out to the hill just above the stockades. Rokka and Manda browsed side by side as they led the herd to the peak of Msinga Hill.
In the afternoon, the orphans returned to the stockade for their usual milk feed. Afterwards, they played on the large mound of dry soil. Lemeki posed on top of the pile of red earth and Tamiyoi joined her a few minutes later. When Lemeki and Tamiyoi padded down, Tagwa took their place while Murit rolled around and stretched. As many of the herd gathered at the range cubes trough, Kilulu darted around, Ashanti scratched her backside on the rock, and Akina posed on the terraces. Tamiyoi squatted on the edge of the wallow and then massaged herself on the twin trees. Lasayen climbed over the terraces to catch up with the herd when they ambled out for a final browse of the day.
On a bright sunny morning, the dependent orphans gathered outside the stockades. Emoli and Thamana enjoyed their daily wrestling match, Juni scratched herself against the rock and Kilulu lay relaxing in the morning sunshine – until naughty Hildana spoilt his peace with a shove of his head. After Godoma had also had a good rub on the scratching rock, the orphans headed out to the browsing fields.
In the afternoon, the orphans gulped down their milk and spread out around the mud wallow. Thamana and Lemeki dusted themselves on the pile of red soil while Pika Pika, Busara and Mbegu rolled around in the water.
Later in the day as the orphans were browsing on the hill, a wild elephant pushed Juni over. A KWS vet checked on Juni in the evening after the herd had returned to the stockades.
The ex-orphans arrived this morning as the current orphans were eating range cubes and lucerne. Mweya and her wild-born baby Mwitu chased everyone away from the feeding trough. Edie’s baby Eden and ex-orphans Arruba and Naipoki joined them at the trough as the dependent herd gathered around the pile of lucerne.
The orphans soon headed out, settling in the open grasslands as they browsed in the direction of the baobab tree mud wallow. Manda, Rokka and Pika Pika ambled up Msinga Hill while Mbegu looked after the youngest orphans at the bottom. Nanny Tamiyoi was trunk touching Losoito on the lower slopes as Lemeki stood close by, hoping to whisk Losoito away if Tamiyoi turned her back. In the afternoon, the herd had a great time wallowing in the mud bath after yet another milk feed.
The orphans were in a hurry this morning, sprinting out of their shared stockades and down the path for a milk feed. After drinking their milk in groups, they carried on to the feeding trough. In the last group, Ashanti and Busara squabbled over an extra bottle of milk. When Ashanti gave in and moved on to the trough, Hildana nipped back to try and grab the bottle from Busara. He was too slow as the little girl had already drunk every drop.
The ex-orphans were also there for breakfast. The first to arrive, Rorogoi, Naipoki and Ndoria immediately took their places at the trough with the dependent orphans and began scooping up pellets. Ashanti knelt so that she could suck up pellets more easily with her short trunk.
After filling their tummies, Seri squatted against the rock to scratch her bottom while Lasayen posed on the terraces. Tamiyoi soon led the herd out to the browsing fields past Msinga Hill followed closely by Losoito, Lemeki and Baraka. In the afternoon, water baby Pika Pika wallowed in the mud wallow while cheeky Kilulu played along the edge and Murit massaged himself against the baobab tree.
In the early evening after the orphans were back in their stockades, a large number of ex-orphans ambled up the path, stopped off for a quick mud and dust splash, and continued on their way.
On a sunny morning, both independent and dependent orphans were in playful moods. Ex-orphan Ndoria, wild-born baby Enzo and Kilulu drank from the stockade water trough while ex-orphan Mweya enjoyed an early morning dust bath. Godoma rolled around on the ground, stretching and making poses, and Thamana played with Eden, lying on the ground so the baby could clamber on top of him. The stockade dependents later headed out for their daily browsing adventures, leaving the ex-orphans behind to finish up the lucerne.
In the afternoon, Godoma posed at the water trough with Lasayen and Murit while the rest of the herd paddled or swam in the baobab tree mud wallow. After a brief paddle, Ndotto enjoyed a good scratch against the baobab and then a dust bath on the pile of red soil. Later in the day, the orphans wandered deep into the woods to the south of the water hole.
The herd headed out early to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill. Dabida and Baraka browsed together on small branches from acacia trees on the lower slopes. Emoli and Kenderi were having a light wrestling game at the lucerne feeding area while Kilulu watched on from the sidelines, hoping that he could join the game. Eventually, Kenderi broke away from Emoli and challenged an eager Kilulu to play. The two bulls trumpeted in excitement as they clashed heads and bashed into shrubs. As they played, Kenderi climbed the hill, hoping that Kilulu would follow her. Instead, Kilulu turned his attention to Ashanti – he chased her around and tried to play mount her. The little girl walked away to browse alongside Ushindi, Juni and Dabida.
As usual, the herd visited the baobab tree mud wallow in the afternoon and then wandered back to the safety of the stockades for the night.
Mweya’s herd of ex-orphans arrived this morning as the resident orphans were finishing their breakfast. Mbegu’s herd moved away and, led by Tamiyoi, headed out to browse in the bush. The older orphans took their places at the feeding trough and around the lucerne. Only Manda and Itinyi stayed back to spend time with the visitors before catching up with their own herd.
In the afternoon, most of the herd cooled off in the mud wallow. Rokka splashed around on his own as Pika Pika played with Murit. Pika Pika paddled away to play with someone else and Murit clambered out for a dust bath, leaving Lasayen, Emoli, Itinyi and Ngilai stretching and wallowing in the muddy water.
When the Keepers whistled, the herd ambled back out to browse deep in the woods. Murit and Lasayen played the pushing game as they browsed, ignoring Ngilai when he tried to join the game.
The ex-orphans arrived at dawn. When the resident orphans padded down the path for their milk feed, they found the visitors already lined up at the feeding trough. They gulped down their milk and squashed in next to the ex-orphans at the trough. Ex-orphan Arruba did her (unsuccessful|) best to wheedle a bottle of milk from the Keepers.
After breakfast, the orphans set out to browse in the open plains on the northern side of Msinga Hill, heading in the direction of the baobab tree mud wallow. A herd of wild elephants appeared to the south of the wallow, drank from the water trough and approached the orphans on the hill. The two groups browsed together for a short time before the orphans padded on down to the wallow.
After another milk feed, Rokka drank deeply from the trough before joining Pika Pika and Ndotto in the mud wallow. Emoli stretched up high to pluck a branch from the creamy peacock tree while Tamiyoi tried to peel some bark from the baobab tree. Ndotto stopped off for a dust bath on the pile of soil before catching up with the herd in the browsing fields.
On a sunny morning, the elephants were waiting patiently at their doors. When the Keepers allowed them out, they jogged down to the feeding area. Godoma stood close to little Baraka at the feeding trough. As soon as they had finished the range cubes and lucerne, they headed out to browse over the open plains.
In the afternoon of a hot day, the elephants relaxed under the canopies of acacia trees as they waited for the milk van to arrive. After emptying their bottles, the orphans rushed down to the baobab wallow to cool off in the muddy water. Ushindi, Tamiyoi, Kilulu and Epiya stopped off to drink from the water trough before plunging into the pool. Godoma rolled around playfully with Tamiyoi - soon the whole herd joined the mud wallow party. An excited Emoli rubbed himself on the edge of the wallow while a cheeky Kilulu charged all over the place, trumpeting and flaring his ears. Godoma scratched herself on the creamy peacock tree and Lasayen on the rocks inside the wallow. Back in the stockades in the evening, the herd enjoyed some grewia greens.
As the orphans headed out this morning, they met Mweya’s and Kenia’s herds of ex-orphans walking up the path to the stockades. The two groups greeted each other and carried on in opposite directions – except for Pika Pika who snuck off with the ex-orphans. (She is close friends with Kenia in particular.) The dependent elephants settled down to browse over the grasslands.
Around lunch time, the Keepers received a report of a sighting of ten lions hunting close to the baobab tree mud wallow. To avoid any risk of a confrontation, the orphans therefore returned to the stockades for their afternoon milk feed and dip in the mud wallow. Hildana lay down in the water and then climbed out to cover himself in dust from the pile of red soil while Ashanti scratched her backside on the wall of the terrace. Itinyi, Juni and Kilulu got wet and then squirted dust all over themselves as Busara lay on her back on the mound of soil. Thamana massaged herself against the famous rock and Lasayen posed on the edge of the wallow as he rolled out, digging his growing tusks into the compacted soil. Manda, Seri and Emoli rubbed their bodies against the large boulder.
When the orphans began ambling back to the bush, Godoma rested her trunk on the rock and Murit ran back for a last-minute dust bath. Pika Pika spent the night out with the ex-orphans.
As neither Pika Pika nor the ex-orphans visited the stockades this morning, the resident orphans had the area all to themselves. They drank milk, scooped up range cubes and lucerne, and headed out to the northern side of Msinga Hill.
Rokka and Manda led the herd up the hill as Losoito and Tamiyoi padded along at the end of the line of climbing elephants. Staying at the bottom, Lasayen and Ngilai stood tall to twist off branches of acacia trees and Tagwa browsed side by side with Juni.
Later in the afternoon, the orphans walked down to the feeding area and stood under the creamy peacock tree waiting for the milk truck to arrive. As soon as they saw the vehicle approaching, Ashanti and Losoito sprinted towards it without being given a signal by the Keepers. After everyone had drunk their milk and cooled down, the herd meandered back to the stockades for the night.
The orphans lined up as usual at the feeding trough full of range cubes in the early morning. When naughty Hildana began pushing Ashanti for no reason at all, Mbegu quickly intervened. She stood between the two younger elephants, disciplining one and protecting the other. Old friends Lemeki and Thamana stood on the mound of dry soil, covering their bodies with red earth. Losoito enjoyed an early morning massage against the terrace wall while Tamiyoi, Ngilai and Lasayen continued browsing on lucerne.
The herd browsed on Msinga Hill for the rest of the morning before visiting the baobab tree mud wallow in the afternoon. Rokka, Manda, Kilulu and Akina made a stopover at the water trough before joining their friends in the muddy pool. Lemeki clambered out of the water for a scratch on the baobab tree. After her dip, Mbegu walked over to have a dust bath. Lasayen then got out and joined Itinyi, Hildana, Tagwa and Murit who were browsing next to the wallow as Ndotto joined Mbegu at the mound of soil. Feeling refreshed, the orphans walked back out to the bush. Pika Pika is still staying out with the ex-orphans.
The morning sprinting was perfect! Baraka, Busara, Ashanti and Dabida ran down the path at speed for their bottles before joining the rest of Mbegu’s herd at the feeding trough. The orphans finished all the lucerne grass before heading out to browse, probably because the area is drying up. As she left the stockades, Lemeki had a quick roll around on the pile of red earth and then caught up with her friends.
Out in the field, several elephants browsed in pairs - Godoma was with her darling Baraka, Tagwa was with Busara, and Hildana spent the morning with Juni. In the afternoon, the Keepers gathered the herd together and sent them down the hill for another milk feed in small groups.
Later in the afternoon, the sun was still scorchingly hot. Little Busara leant up against Mbegu, using her big body to shelter from the heat of the sun. Ndotto climbed to the summit of Msinga Hill on his own in search of green browse before returning to join his friends as they ambled back to the stockades for the night.
The sky was completely clear at the start of another hot day as the orphaned elephants drank their milk and ate range cubes outside the stockades. (The ex-orphans did not visit again today – the Keepers have not seen them since the day that Pika Pika wandered away.) Several orphans played briefly on the dust hill before the herd headed out to browse in an area to the west of Msinga Hill. Older bulls Murit and Ndotto walked away from the herd to browse on their own. Rather than enjoying the green browse, Emoli chose to chew on a dry stick while Kenderi massaged herself against the trunk of a leaning tree that was above to fall down. When little Baraka walked over to stand next to Kenderi, the Keepers intervened, shepherding both elephants away from the tree.
Later in the day, the orphans sprinted down the hill for their afternoon milk feed. The last group ran so fast that they kicked up clouds of dust. The elephants had a quick cool down in the mud bath and then wandered out in a line to continue browsing. Now that the plains are starting to dry out, the herd is spending more time browsing.
The herd set out early today as soon as they had finished the range cubes and lucerne. They spread out to browse around Msinga Hill. Older bulls Ndotto, Murit and Lasayen did their best to lead the herd to the top of the hill but most chose to remain at the bottom with Mbegu and Godoma. Ashanti was kneeling, pulling up green browse with her mouth rather than using her damaged trunk, while Baraka stood watching her unusual behaviour. Emoli massaged his big body against an enormous boulder for a long time before catching up the herd as they walked down to the water hole in the afternoon.
In the evening when the orphans were returning to the stockades, Ngilai wanted to stay out. He lingered at the back of the line until the matriarch took charge! Aware of his plan, Mbegu walked back to the bull and stretched her trunk along his back, persuading him to carry on with the herd to the stockades.
Rorogoi is the only ex-orphan currently visiting the stockades. She seems to have been left behind by Mweya’s and Kenia’s herds and is popping in every morning to greet her old friends and enjoy some supplementary food. Today, she fed on range cubes with the resident orphans and then stood quietly next to the water trough as the others filled their bellies and played on the terraces. Seri and Ushindi had to queue up for a turn on the special rubbing-backside-rock in the stockade compound.
Tamiyoi and Epiya led the herd out to the browsing grounds. As soon as they reached Msinga Hill, Kilulu went head to head in a sparring match with Kenderi. Feeling left out, Emoli tried to join in but all he did was stop the game when he pushed Kenderi from behind towards her opponent Kilulu.
In the afternoon, many orphans plunged into the mud bath after the milk feed. Emoli and Murit had a wrestling match in the middle of the pool while Epiya scratched her itchy bottom on the sides of the water trough.
Feeling impatient, some orphans began banging their doors soon after dawn this morning. When a Keeper opened the door, Dabida was first out followed closely by Busara and Baraka. They rumbled as they jogged down the path for another milk feed. After filling their bellies, the orphans either hung out on the terraces or played on the mound of dry soil. Itinyi and Kenderi sparred against each other and then disturbed Losoito’s peace when they found her lying down on her own. When the two orphans climbed onto her back, the annoyed girl stood up and walked over to join Mbegu.
The herd soon set out from the stockades to the bush where they browsed peacefully in twos or threes for the morning. Rorogoi, who was with them again today, chose to hang out with Ashanti, much to the latter’s delight.
When Thamana lay down on a patch of dry soil, Emoli challenged him to a sparring match. The two friends clashed heads and tiny tusks for a long time as the herd continued to browse around them.
This morning, the orphans enjoyed their breakfast, played on the terraces and assembled around the stockade water trough for a drink before heading out to the browsing grounds. Emoli set out first but only to block the way for the others! He turned his body sidewards on a narrow section of the path and refused to budge. As the little ones backed up behind him, Mbegu took charge. She cleared him out of the way, saw him off and led the herd out to Msinga Hill.
The orphans spread out over the hill, browsing on whatever green vegetation they could find as they wandered in the direction of the baobab tree mud wallow. Juni was browsing side by side with Tagwa at the bottom of the hill and Godoma was with adopted baby Baraka. Lemeki was happily looking after Losoito until Tamiyoi butted in and whisked the little girl away. Ex-orphan Rorogoi was with the herd and was (again) protecting Ashanti as she bent low to twist off clumps of grass.
On a wonderful sunny morning, the orphans were enjoying their usual breakfast routine outside the stockades. Ashanti and Mbegu were finishing the range cubes in the feeding trough while Lemeki rolled around playfully on the ground nearby. Best friends Emoli and Thamana were playing an early morning sparring game in the lucerne area and Lemeki was trunk hugging Losoito on the terraces.
The herd headed out to the bush, spreading out all over Msinga Hill to browse. Tagwa massaged her back leg against a boulder while continuing to pull up clumps of green browse. Akina, Rokka and Kilulu struck some impressive poses on the rocks as they ambled along. Ngilai made the most of his height to stretch up and pull down branches from acacia trees. Godoma clambered over some boulders to reach the open grasslands beyond. Rokka and Tamiyoi browsed together near the rocky summit of the hill and Thamana, Itinyi and Lemeki spent the morning together nearer the bottom.
In the afternoon, the Keepers sent the herd down in small groups to the mud wallow. Seri stopped off at the water trough before joining the rest of the herd in the pool. Murit and Lasayen played a lengthy wrestling match which started in the mud bath and continued as they headed back out to the bush.
The ex-orphans have not visited for a week – the last time the Keepers saw them was the day that Pika Pika disappeared. The only visitor continues to be Rorogoi – who is outside the stockades in the mornings and spends most of her days with the dependent orphans.
After a peaceful morning of browsing, the herd headed down to the mud wallow in the afternoon. As usual, Ndotto splashed along the edge while best friend Lasayen wallowed in the middle with Murit and Ngilai. Sparring partners Emoli and Thamana chased each other around the baobab tree as Rokka and Manda enjoyed a quick dip and a long drink from the water trough together. Ndotto was busy dust bathing when the herd ambled out - but he soon caught up with his friends.
After their morning milk feed and range cubes, the dependent orphans played and bonded in the stockade compound. Mbegu browsed on lucerne with Busara, Ashanti, Dabida, Kenderi and Tamiyoi standing all around her. Kilulu posed on the edge of the electric fence with head and ears flared, looking at his most mischievous.
The orphans later set out for their daily browsing adventures with Mbegu walking along in their wake so she could be sure that no one had been left behind. On the rocky side of the hill, the orphans spread out to browse. Murit (who does not like climbing hills) browsed with Itinyi on the open grasslands.
In the afternoon, a wild bull walked up to the water trough as the orphans were wallowing in the baobab tree mud wallow. Manda was the first to greet him, getting out of the water and walking confidently up to him with trunk outstretched. In contrast, most of the younger orphans were not comfortable with the presence of the wild bull. They moved away and walked back out to the browsing fields. Mbegu gathered up Manda, making sure that he was not tempted to stay back with the stranger.
The orphans set out early from the stockades, spreading out all over Msinga Hill to browse on acacia trees, shrubs and grasses. Busara ate lots of acacia leaves while Tagwa scratched herself against a tree. Thamana and Lemeki (who have been friends since their time together as babies in Kiluku) trunk hugged each other regularly as they ambled over the hill. Mbegu browsed at the foot of the hill with Dabida, Baraka, Kilulu and Epiya. The matriarch draped her trunk over each of the younger orphans in turn and they returned her affectionate gesture. As the herd wandered in the direction of the mud wallow, Ndotto and Lasayen stayed back – the big boys were keen to browse at a distance from the nannies and their babies.
After the milk feed, the orphans padded on down for a mud wallow and a dust bath. Thamana and Ashanti rolled around together on the mound of dry soil and were soon joined by Tamiyoi and Busara. When the herd headed out to browse, Tamiyoi was left behind relaxing. Eventually she clambered to her feet and strolled off to catch up with her friends.
On a wonderful sunny morning, the dependent orphans crowded together at the range cubes feeding trough. When Epiya gave little Busara an unwarranted shove, matriarch Mbegu pushed Epiya away from the trough. After filling their tummies, Lemeki, Losoito and Tamiyoi enjoyed an early morning dust bath. Carrying a special store of lucerne on his head, Ngilai walked over to the water trough. Ndotto did his best to sneak up behind his friend and pinch his store of lucerne but Ngilai was too quick for him. Ngilai ran away with the stash of lucerne and Ndotto padded back to the pile for an extra snack.
Tamiyoi led the orphans out to browse on the northern side of Msinga Hill overlooking plains scattered with wild elephants. The dependent orphans were not in playful moods today – they browsed in the morning, visited the mud wallow for a paddle, and continued browsing deep into the woods in the afternoon.
This morning, Mbegu stood at the range cubes feeding trough with Ashanti, Losoito, Busara, Dabida and Seri while Lemeki enjoyed an early morning dust bath with Tamiyoi and Itinyi. Meanwhile, Ngilai was plodding back and forth between the lucerne area and the water trough, carrying a bunch of lucerne on his head. Rokka and Manda browsed together on some grass at the far end of the stockades. As usual, the orphans soon set out on their daily bush adventure, spreading out to browse on the slopes of Msinga Hill.
After the afternoon milk feed, the orphans continued on to the mud wallow. Godoma, Seri, Ndotto, Dabida and Murit stopped off to drink from the trough before proceeding on to the wallow. Little Busara did a quick mud splash and then sprinted over to the mound of red soil. She lay down for a refreshing roll around and was soon joined by Thamana and Kilulu and then by most of the herd. As the orphans enjoyed their dust baths, Kenderi and Itinyi began a wrestling match. What began as a light-hearted game became a heated contest. Itinyi, who is a little older, went easy on Kenderi at first but, when Kenderi went full force, Itinyi responded strongly and knocked the smaller elephant over. Immediately, Kenderi stood up and pushed Itinyi over. The older boy surrendered to the feisty girl as the Keepers intervened to restore the peace.
The orphans were as cheerful as ever on the last day of the month. In the morning, Ngilai ran up and down in front of the stockades, trumpeting as he charged around and attracting lots of attention. Lemeki and Godoma followed his lead and also began running around, at which point the Keepers whistled at the three elephants to settle down. Soon the herd headed out to browse. Most stayed on the open grasslands although Rokka and Manda followed Ngilai and Tamiyoi all the way to the top of the hill.
After the afternoon milk feed, it was time for the mud wallow. Lasayen and Murit paused for a drink as the rest of the herd crowded into the water, splashing, rolling around and swimming. Lemeki climbed out of the wallow first and ambled over to mound of soil for a dust bath. She was followed by Thamana, Juni and Busara. Kilulu, meanwhile, charged around with ears flared and then dug into the ground with his tusks. He soon calmed down and the herd padded out in a long line to browse some more on the slopes of Msinga Hill before returning to the stockades for the night.