Following a very dry October, the new month opened with the glorious arrival of rainfall in the Kibwezi Forest.
Emerging into a world of raindrops, little babies Mwana and Amali tried to run back to the stockades for shelter. Unfortunately, Murera did not agree with their plan to return — wild elephants must brave the elements, and so must they! In a huff, Mwana reluctantly followed her mother.
Every day, some or all of the nightclubbers — our nickname for the semi-independent orphans who no longer sleep in the stockades — join the dependent herd. One morning, only Quanza showed up. When it was time to head home in the evening, she took the lead back to the compound. Once the orphans were settled, Quanza lingered by the fence, clearly at a loose end and hoping her nightclubber friends might come to collect her. The Keepers sympathised with Quanza and invited her into the compound, where she bunked up with Kiombo. At first, Kiombo wasn’t thrilled to share his space with an older girl, but he eventually accepted his temporary roommate.
Amali continues to be the best big sister to precious little Mwana. One day, Quanza and Amali disappeared for hours — Quanza had taken the younger girl on a special excursion, showing her to an acacia tree that had blown over. The girls enjoyed a private feast, but it wasn’t long before Amali wanted to share the bounty. She returned to the big herd, fetched Mwana, and escorted her to the branches so she could get her own little bites to enjoy.
We were happy to have visits from all our big boys this month. Sometimes arriving together, other times coming separately, Faraja, Jasiri, Alamaya, and Ziwa all made their appearances. It goes without saying that we saw lots of Mwashoti; he prefers to hang out with the head girls and continues to join us most mornings.
Sometimes, our junior boys are too big for their britches. One afternoon, Kiombo, Kapei, Maktao, and Mwashoti did not follow the girls’ group, thinking they were ‘big brothers’ and could instead join a wild herd for a few hours. This proved to be a miscalculation, as the wild herd were not very welcoming. When Mwashoti, the eldest brother, let out a scream, Kiombo realised things had taken a turn and quickly made his way back to Murera and Sonje, with Maktao in hot pursuit.
Sweet Enkesha had her own run-in with a wild herd. One morning, wild elephants joined the orphans as they were browsing on the hills. The visitors had several small calves with them, and Enkesha — who loves babies — couldn’t resist going to say hello. Kiasa rumbled, warning her friend to keep her distance or face the wild mother’s wrath. In the end, Lima Lima and Sonje led Enkesha away, reminding her that not all elephants are as happy to share their babies as Murera is.
It has been incredible to witness Amali’s transformation over the past two years. The withdrawn, colourless calf we rescued in 2022 has blossomed into a confident, competent little leader. She used to shy away from the Keepers, but now she is completely comfortable around them. She has a funny habit of approaching them with her mouth opened wide, asking for their fingers to suckle, like a baby with a pacifier!
Little Kapei cannot resist being greedy. One morning, he found Mwana and Amali peacefully enjoying their pellets. There was plenty for everyone, but he wanted their stash. The young rogue pulled Amali by her tail and then turned to push baby Mwana. This brought a swift end to his chance to eat close to the little ones. Quanza and Murera came running over, sending Kapei careening into the bushes to avoid being disciplined.
It’s always hard to gauge an elephant’s due date, but we believe that Lima Lima and Zongoloni are in the final stages of their pregnancies — both girls are very big and very moody. Mwashoti, always loyal, has been paying special attention to our pregnant girls, doting on them and following them wherever they go. Zongoloni, Lima Lima, and Sonje are lucky to have a caring friend and protector like Mwashoti.
The orphans aren’t ones to shy away from a challenge: They delight in defending their friends against all manner of harmless foe, from small crocodiles to greedy baboons. But equally, they recognise a lost battle when they see one! One afternoon, gentle Maktao was wandering on his own when he found himself surrounded by buffaloes. He began trumpeting for reinforcements, which sent Quanza, Kiombo, and Kapai running over. After assessing the situation, the quartet realised they were outnumbered and decided to move in another direction — crisis averted.
By the end of November, with several good rainstorms in the bank, the Kibwezi Forest had been restored to its green splendour. The orphans were in paradise. One afternoon, they found an abundance of lush vegetation atop the Kenzili Hills. They became so absorbed in browsing that they lost track of time, ignoring the usual midday bottle-feeding schedule. In the end, the Keepers had to bring the milk up to the hills. Kapai, who never misses a bottle, rumbled loudly in excitement when he heard the milk vehicle approaching. The rest of the orphans emerged from their hideouts, and everyone gathered round to enjoy their milk.