The orphan was a baby bull, estimated to be about 2 months old, since the first molars were beginning to erupt, and the pads of the feet worn. Apart from a deep machete cut on his head, believed to have been inflicted by either un-ele-friendly farmers or pastoralists grazing livestock in the forest, the baby was in fair physical condition. He is almost certainly a victim of poaching, which has escalated sharply in the area of late. (26 elephants are known to have been poached in the Mt. Kenya forests since January 2011.) His Saviours were KWS personnel, Cpl. Kilonzo, Rangers John Ombongi, Siyati Farah and Theophillas Muthui and Scout Charles Nyagah. Robert O’Brien supervised the holding of the baby in his home until the plane arrived the next morning, it being too late to mobilize an air rescue by the time the message was received in Nairobi. Well versed in the needs of infant elephants, the calf was fed only water prior to a formula feed as soon as the plane landed.

By mid-morning on the 5th July 2011, little “Mumbushi” was safely back at the Nairobi Nursery. He takes his name from the ”swampy area” near the Hombe river where he was found, “Mumbushi” meaning “Swampy area”. Desperately hungry, and exhausted, apparently having cried all the previous night at the Senior Warden’s home, he was administered the routine prophylactic antibiotic to guard against pneumonia, had his machete wound anointed with green clay and was given rehydrants and milk.