In June of this year, rescued orphan elephant Tagwa, alongside Sagala and Emoli, graduated from our Nairobi Nursery to the SWT's Voi Reintegration Unit in Tsavo. Since then Tagwa has lost a little condition, which is probably linked with the fact that her right tusk started to grow through the wrong part of her gum, instead of through the tusk pocket. We have seen this happen before and it is not uncommon, however it is always a painful period and Tagwa developed a sore and pus-filled wound as a result. With dry vegetation and the orphans walking long distances in a day to find enough browse, I decided that our Nursery in Nairobi, which has received rain more recently than other parts of the country, would be a much more comfortable environment for her to be in while she battles her sore tusk. Here too she can be more closely monitored as well.

Tagwa arrived back to the Nursery on the morning of the 24th August, having boarded our translocation lorry overnight, and immediately slotted into the Nursery herd. She has settled into her old routine in Nairobi, where she once enjoyed the role of matriarch for some time, like an old hand. She has willingly taken on the motherly role so suited to her once again, and enjoys looking after the littlest baby in the Nursery, Larro, giving her other doting nannies like Enkesha and Tamiyoi a break from their matriarchal roles.

Her tusk has now pushed through the end of the skin, so she must already be feeling immense relief, and she has already put on a little condition thanks to the lush vegetation here following recent out of season rains.

She will remain with us at the Nursery for as long as she needs and then, when she is back to full body condition, we will make a plan to move her back to our of our Reintegration Units in the Tsavo Conservation Area.