Exactly three months ago, a baby elephant was born within the leafy paradise of the Kibwezi Forest. Every new elephant birth is cause for celebration, but this was an extraordinary event. Not only was this calf the first wild progeny born from our Umani orphan herd, but her birth was a miracle in and of itself.

We are, of course, talking about baby Mwana. Mwana’s mother, Murera, is the matriarch of Umani Springs and a true survivor. Of the 316 orphaned elephants we have successfully raised over the years, she stands out as perhaps our greatest achievement. Maimed by poachers as a baby, her injuries were so extensive that many thought she was a lost cause. [For a full account of Murera’s life up until now, please read this issue of Field Notes, which charts her incredible history.]

Against the odds, however, Murera survived. She has blossomed at Umani Springs, but her injuries will always affect her. For this reason, we wondered if she would ever be able to bear her own offspring. It seemed a hope too far for our matriarch.

And yet, elephants constantly surprise us. On 12th March 2023, Murera gave birth in her signature, unassuming way. She gave the herd a single warning trumpet, then disappeared into the nearby bushes. Not ten minutes later, a newborn elephant was in our midst.

We named Murera’s daughter Mwana, which means ‘female child’ in Swahili. It is an apt name, for she is a child of many and an elephant of two worlds. Because Murera’s injuries will affect her for the rest of her life, she prefers to remain close to home, leaning on her Keepers for the support and security that help her thrive. This is especially important now, as she is raising her daughter. Thus, Mwana gets the best of both — the freedom of a wild life, and the support of her extended human-elephant family.

We witnessed this poignantly in the first few days of Mwana’s life. Murera had not yet figured out how to nurse, perhaps worried about the strain it might put on her bad hip. In the interim, our Keepers stepped in, milking mum and then bottle-feeding Mwana by her side. Day and night, they continued, until Murera finally permitted Mwana to breastfeed on the 11th day. From that moment on, she has nursed like a pro.

Mwana is adored by every member of the Umani herd. The squeakiest trumpet or slightest ear flare from Mwana sends the entire herd into chaos, with everyone dashing around to protect the baby and find the source of her ire. Kiasa and Enkesha have emerged as her lead nannies, and both girls take their roles extremely seriously. From sunup to sundown, they shuffle in Mwana’s wake like two doting shadows.

Meanwhile, the older girls — Zongoloni, Lima Lima, Quanza, and Sonje — have taken a backseat as nannies. They are of an age where they are thinking about starting their own families. When Mwana was first born, Lima Lima seemed to think she could adopt her as her own. She was quite put out to discover that Murera wasn’t willing to give her up! Zongoloni had the same rude awakening a few weeks ago. During one of her visits, she became totally fixated on the little baby. Perhaps wary of her friend’s kidnapping ways, Murera pushed Zongoloni away, firmly quashing any plans she might have been formulating.

While bulls are innately less interested in babies, Mwana has captured the hearts of our Umani boys. Kiombo and Maktao delight in escorting her to the mud bath, while Mwashoti has appointed himself chaperone of Murera and Mwana. At first, Kapei was quite surly towards the baby — he was feeling jilted, as she dethroned him as the darling of the Umani herd — and vented his feelings with sneaky back kicks and shoves whenever he had the opportunity. However, he too has come round. Recently, the Keepers witnessed him having a lovely wallow with the little girl.

Because Mwana is the lone baby among so many large elephants, we have noticed that she is developing at an extraordinary pace. Her progression is far advanced compared to other babies her age. The Keepers say she is constantly observing the others and parroting their actions. When the herd feasts upon lucerne, Mwana is right in the thick of things, pushing and prodding at the pellets. When they run in for their milk bottles, she darts alongside them, taking it as her cue to nurse from Murera. When they play with sticks or pluck leaves from the trees, she attempts to do the same, even if her tiny trunk isn’t yet up to the task.

Of course, Mwana is also precocious by nature. She loves to lead — in fact, she thinks it is her right and her responsibility! She often leads the herd to the mud bath, diving in first without a moment’s hesitation. Sometimes, she walks alongside her mum; other times, she takes the lead, with Enkesha and Kiasa following closely behind. This is an ideal scenario for Murera, as it allows her to walk at her preferred, slower pace, without stressing about her daughter.

After a day exploring the forest, Murera and Mwana retire to their large stockade. Mwana enjoys a long milk feed and then spends some time cavorting around her bedroom before settling down for the night. Murera stands over her as she sleeps deeply, her round little tummy rising and falling with each breath.

Only time will tell how Murera and Mwana’s story unfolds. Perhaps they will remain anchored to the Umani herd, or they may venture further afield as Mwana grows. However their family evolves, we will be there to love them and support them every step of the way.

We hope you enjoy this special film, celebrating Mwana on her three-month birthday.