Makena leading the group out
Daily updates
November 1st
The orphans left their Night Stockades as usual, and led my Makena, headed out to browse at the Kanziku area where they were joined by the Ex Orphans at l0 a.m. Amongst the Ex Orphans were two wild elephants. Yatta chose to browse near Ithumbah while Nasalot chose Kilaguni, as usual. Yatta led the entire herd to the mudbath, where they had a wonderful time, since the day was very hot. Later, Yatta and her entourage separated from the Keeper Dependent babies, who browsed along the slopes of Ithumba Hill until it was time to return. On their way back, they enjoyed a second mud and dust bath.
Yatta's group joins the orphans
November 2nd
It was a sullen day, promising rain, which left the orphans very happy. Out in the browsing area, Kilaguni knelt down, pricking the ground with his tiny tusks, which attracted Sabachi and Meibai. By the mudbath hour, it was still overcast, so none of the orphans went in.
Kilaguni browsing
Sabachi
Meibai & Kilaguni
November 3rd
There had been an overnight drizzle, which pleased the elephants. The day remained cloudy, and in the evening as the orphans were returning to their Night Stockades, there was a heavy downpour. They had a wonderful time playing in the rainwater puddles and rolling in the mud.
The orphans browsing
November 4th
The morning began threatening rain, which made the orphans very happy as they made their way out, charging around playfully. Once they reached the browsing field, the rain began, so they had a wonderful time in the mud and drinking the rain water from puddles. None of them was interested in the mudbath on this very joyful day.
The orphans playing in the soil
Madiba
November 5th
After yesterday’s rain, it was a chilly morning as the orphans headed out to browse. There they had a wonderful time playing in the mud and the rain pools. More rain fell at 9 a.m. so it was a very wet day all round, which the elephants greatly enjoyed.
Kilaguni playing in a puddle of mud
Makena enjoying the lush greens
November 6th
The orphans all gathered around the water trough, rumbling softly to each other. Meibai and Kilaguni scratched their bottoms against the Unloading Bay before heading out to feed. Again, there was little interest in the noon mudbath, since mudbaths were aplenty everywhere!
The orphans playing in the soil
The orphans enjoying the rain water
Kilaguni scratching
November 7th
After the Keeper Dependent orphans had left the Stockades, Lualeni and Challa turned up, took a drink of water at the trough, and then headed out in the direction taken by the Juniors, joining the Youngsters in the Kanziku area at l0 a.m. The Ex Orphans browsed alongside the Juniors, shared the noon mubdath with them, and then headed Northwards whilst the Juniors returned to the Kanziku area.
Lualeni, Kora and Challa taking water
Makena at the mudwallow
November 8th
At 10 a.m. Yatta and the Ex Orphans joined the Juniors, accompanied as usual by ‘Mgeni”, the wild recruit. All browsed happily together until Yatta led the way to the noon milk and mudbath venue. After the mudbath the entire group browsed along the slopes of Ithumba Hill until it was time to return in the evening, when Yatta led the Youngsters back home.
Yatta's group joins the orpahns
Orphans browsing in the morning
November 9th
On an overcast day, the orphans entered the browsing area, where Kilaguni and Meibai enjoyed a Pushing Game, which was easily won by Meibai who is stronger.
At 8 a.m. Makena got a fright, and all the orphans ran off bellowing in fear. The Keepers called them to calm them, and went to investigate the cause, but could see nothing remiss. The day turned very hot, so the orphans thoroughly enjoyed their noon mudbath. Later another heavy downpour fell and the orphans enjoyed running up and down splashing the water of the running rivulets with their feet.
Meibai
Makena
November 10th
It was the usual routine for the Keeper Dependent babies, but on the way back in the evening Salaita developed complications. He began trembling, took his milk only reluctantly and then lay down to sleep.
The orphans at the grazing fields
Evening mudbath
November 11th
It was a tragic day for all of us at Ithumba, because by morning Salaita was so ill that he was unable to get to his feet. We inserted a Dextrose drip into an ear vein, but to no avail, because he passed away before noon. The Trust’s Mobile Veterinary Unit arrived and undertook a post-mortem, which showed that pulmonary pneumonia was the cause of his death.
Ithumbah
Orphans heading home
November 12th
It was a very wet and chilly morning following an overnight downpour so the orphans headed straight out without bothering about taking water from the Stockade trough. Out in the field they concentrated on browsing, all enjoying the fresh green shoots which were now appearing. They enjoyed bathing in a natural waterhole where Chaimu and Meibai put on a spectacular display. At the noon milk venue none of the elephants were interested in the usual mudbath, since they had been mud-bathing throughout the day!
Orphans enjoying the green vegitation
Kilaguni
November 13th
The orphaned herd left the compound in the morning and browsed westwards. At 9 a.m. some of the Ex Orphans, namely Napasha, Galana, Madiba, Ndomot and Sidai came to the Stockades and left shortly afterwards. The Juniors headed to the noon mudbath led by Kilaguni where the Juniors enjoyed their milk before heading back to the browsing area.
Napasha
Galana shields Kilaguni
November 14th
The entire Ex Orphaned Herd was at the Stockade compound first thing in the morning. They greeted the babies before separating to head out towards the Kalovoto area whilst the Keeper Dependent group headed to the Kone area to feed. After the usual milk feed and mudbath at noon, the Juniors browsed along the slopes of Ithumba hill until it was time to return in the evening.
Ex orphans at the stockade
Wendi browsing
November 15th
The orphans left their Night Stockades in a very happy mood, charging around expressing their joy over the availability of rainfall and adequate pasture. After the mudbath there were light showers which the orphans greatly enjoyed rolling around happily in the mud and rain puddles. Chaimu, Kilaguni, Ithumbah, Sabachi and Meibai
had a wonderful time playing in the mud, overseen by Makena.
Splashing around
Makena and Ithumbah
November 16th
Chaimu and Ithumbah led the Juniors out today Makena and Meibai guarding the back of the line. All the elephants felt as though they were in paradise, with food and water at every turn, so there was no need to take a mudbath at the noon milk venue.
Orphans heading to the mudbath
Enjoying the lush vegitation
November 17th
Again Ithumbah and Chaimu led the orphans out to browse at the Kanziku area where the group indulged in different activities in between feeding. They enjoyed playing in the puddles, taking numerous mudbaths, and scratching their bodies against the trees. The orphans roamed far and wide enjoying different food plants, all of which are now in full leaf.
Kilaguni scratching
Orphans browsing while in the water
November 18th
Out in the field Kilaguni had a wonderful time rolling on the ground, watched over by Chaimu, while Meibai and Sabachi challenged each other to a Pushing Match overseen by Makena.
Sabachi in the fields
Makena leading
November 19th
After a heavy downpour, rivers and streams burst their banks. The orphans left the compound in a jovial mood, bumping playfully into one another. In the browsing field Kilaguni and Meibai enjoyed scratching themselves against an anthill, Meibai doing his best to pierce the anthill with his tusks. They wallowed in a natural depression, browsed happily throughout the afternoon, and returned as usual in the evening.
Roadside mudbath
Orphans in a playful mood
November 20th
Out in the browsing area Sabachi and Kilaguni enjoyed a pushing match. All played in a natural mudbath and had no reason to mudwallow at the usual venue, where they took their milk.
Orphans in a natural mudbath
Sabachi browsing
November 21th
Wendi brought a Splinter Group of Ex Orphans to the compound first thing in the morning and greeted the Juniors, escorting them to the water trough before heading out to browse. She was with them until 11 a.m. and then separated.
Wendi's group with the orphans
Orphans heading out
November 22th
There was a thunderstorm during the night, and the orphans enjoyed a rainy day as they went about their usual activity.
Orphans enjoying the water
Orphans browsing
November 23th
Led by Makena the orphans settled into the Kone area to browse. They concentrated on feeding, without much other activity.
Ithumbah feeding
Selengai
November 24th
Shortly after leaving the Stockades, the Juniors met up with Yatta’s herd, who had not been seen for several days. Nasalot, as usual, homed in on her favourite, “Kilaguni”. The Ex Orphans remained with the Youngsters until 10 a.m. when Yatta decided to separate, but leaving Nasalot with the Junior Group. Nasalot escorted them back in the evening, and only left once the Juniors were all settled in their Stockades for the night.
Kilaguni and Nasalot
Nasalot and Kilaguni browsing together
November 25th
Makena led the Juniors out. At l0 a.m. two warthogs who were chasing one another scared the orphans who all ran to their Keepers for protection. It took the Keepers about 4 minutes to calm them down. After this incident, the orphans resumed their feeding until mudbath time, after which Chaimu and Ithumbah led the group back to feed. Kilaguni took the lead back home in the evening.
Galana next to Kilaguni
Orphans browsing in the morning
November 26th
As the others quenched their thirst at the trough, Ithumbah scratched her body against the Unloading Bay. She and Chaimu led the Group out to browse. On the way home the Group enjoyed an evening mudbath before returning for the night.
Sabachi taking water
Orphans enjoy an evening mudbath
November 27th
There was more rain last night, so the orphans headed out without taking water. and again simply concentrated upon feeding, with new fresh browse plentiful at every turn.
Orphans feeding in the morning
Sidai and Sunyei
November 28th
Ithumbah led the Juniors out this morning, without passing by the water trough, confident about getting all the water they need in rain-filled pools. After their noon milk and mudbath, they browsed along the slopes of Ithumba Hill until it was time to return in the evening.
Ithumbah grazing
Leaving the mudwallow
November 29th
Soon after the Juniors had left the Stockades, some of the Ex Orphans accompanied by a one-Tusker bull turned up at the Stockade Compound, but soon left to an undisclosed location. The Juniors settled down to browse around the Imenti Waterhole after their noon mudbath.
One tusked junior bull at stockade
Wild bull with ex orphans
November 30th
The orphans left the Stockades at 9 a.m. and were soon joined by Yatta’s group, who, to the Keepers’ amazement took Makena and Meibai off with them. Yatta did not bring Makena and Meibai back at mudbath time, as expect, and nor did she return them in the evening. The Keepers hoped that she would return them in the coming days (which she did!).
Yatta
Galana and Napasha
Lualeni and Kora drinking