Monthly Diary Reports

“Mwatate” looked weak, although she continued to feed, kept company by Mweiga. Mrs. Sheldrick sent down injectible antibiotics on the night bus, which were administered. Mweya, Burra, Thoma and Ndara became excited when they met up with a dikdik, which was charged by Mweya and Ndara and made a hasty exit. Ilingwezi was a little unwell today. She kept lying down and squirming, as though in pain, so we gave her a de-worming dose, which seemed to work well. 

The day was extremely hot with no sign of rain (1st December 2003). The orphans mudwallowed happily and extensively. Morani, Seraa, Pmpala and Burra went to dust themselves by rolling on a nearby anthill. 

November 2003

Sosian is bold to stand up to Salama, who is much bigger, and this says a great deal for his confidence and courage, which has long manifested itself, for he is a dominant character, despite his tender age. As usual, it is always the females who intervene to end squabbles and who act as peace-keepers. The special relationship that Sally has with Aitong is again evident, and the bonds between Burra, Mpala, Morani and Solango is also illustrated, with Irima being taken in as another close friend of this group of young bulls. Nyiro, Mukwaju, and Tsavo share close bonds of friendship, but there is one young bull that is not mentioned at all this month, and that is Lolokwe, who, wisely, has obviously just been getting on with life as a member of the group at large, avoiding valuable time that can be spend feeding instead of feuding!

October 2003

The orphans have enjoyed a lot of contact with wild herds this month, on the 3rd when they joined a herd of 7 wild elephants, and a wild cow took a shine to Morani, cuddling him between her forelegs, something he enjoyed immensely. They joined the group led by Eleanor’s friend named “Catherine” the next day when Laikipia and Salama enjoyed playing with wild friends of their age, but Aitong pulled Morani away. On the 5th Emily and Natumi spent time away from the other orphans with 4 handsome bachelor bulls, rejoining the group at the noon mudbath. On the 9th, the orphans fraternized with l0 wild elephants, and Emily played with a wild boy of her age, but the others kept their distance, fearful of the wild Matriarch who had very long tusks. On the 14th Aitong and Seraa left the other orphans to join 4 wild friends who had a small 3 month old calf and the next day the orphans joined a wild group of 5, and Burra was left behind with them playing pushing games with a wild calf, and had to be rounded up by Aitong, who was alerted to his absence by Natumi. On the 19th Salama, Mukwaju and Sosian enjoyed games with wild friends, ruined when Sosian pushed a wild calf down, and the Matriarch homed in on them, sending them fleeing!

A tussle broke out between Thoma and Burra over the noon milk. Yatta intervened to restore order. Mpala, Sally, Ndara and Irima chased a group of baboons who passed close by, but were thwarted when the baboons climbed up a tree! They rushed around trumpeting and downing bushes.

Irima came out of the Stockade today, and wallowed happily at mudbath with Burra and Mpala. They rolled and mounted each other happily. Ilingwezi, Icholta and Irima charged and chased off 2 warthogs that came to drink at the mudbath. Irima flapped his ears happily as he came back to join the other orphans, happy to be one of the group. Burra and Solango were enjoying a game of hide and seek at 7 a.m., which ended abruptly when Burra accidentally pushed Solango into a thorn bush.

Thoma knocked down Morani at the noon milk session. The Keepers gave her a stern warning. At 1 p.m. the orphans met up with a wild group of 5 elephants. Burra was left behind with them playing pushing matches with a wild friend, whilst the others left for the Stockades in the evening. Natumi noticed that Burra was missing and screamed loudly, until Aitong ran back to fetch him.

Mweya insisted on leading the younger elephants towards their grazing area, blocking Burra he tried to overtake her. Mpala, Seraa and Solango enjoyed a game chasing guinea fowl, trumpeting happily and running hither and thither in amongst the birds. There was a tussle between Seraa and Thoma, and between Burra and Mpala during the noon milk session. Later, they all browsed peacefully together, the disagreement forgotten. Ndara ran to gulp down some Copra cake before returning for her evening milk ration, which Burra thought he might be allowed to have. However, Ndara finished it all, as he looked on in an envious way. 

September 2003

Aitong is his preferred “mother” and Burra is still his best friend amongst the younger set. Aitong and Sweet Sally are still very close, Sally allowed the privilege of suckling Aitong’s ears. Burra enjoys playing with the bigger boys, namely Nyiro, Salama, Lolokwe and Mukwaju, as does Sosian, who had one day feeling unwell during the month, probably having eaten too much!

Burra and Morani enjoyed a wonderful mudbath, rolling about together. Their game ended when Nasalot stepped on Burra’s damaged ear, causing him to scream loudly, and bring Emily to the rescue.

After a wonderful mudbath, Nyiro, Lolokwe, Salama and Burra played a game of hide and seek. The game ended when Loisaba joined in and began pushing Nyiro. In the afternoon, the orphans harassed an old buffalo they found browsing at the base of Mazinga Hill. They engaged him in a running battle.

August 2003

Nasalot stepped in to discipline Solango who was being somewhat of a pain trying to mount his particular Nursery friend, Seraa. Solango and Seraa both came from Shaba National Reserve in the North, both having fallen into a natural rock catchment, so it is likely that they were friends even before becoming orphaned. Sosian seems much better behaved in this month’s Diary, even playing peacemaker along with Sally and Burra to discipline Nyiro for jumping on Solango. Sosian holds his own in tussles with even the older bulls, but concentrates on Nyiro, and Mukwaju who are closer in age. Lolokwe, Laikipia and Salama remain very competitive, but share a close friendship that will obviously last a lifetime whilst Muluti and Nasalot have always been good friends.

July 2003

Like most of the elephant calves who come in older than 6 months, and who have been deprived of milk for sometime, but are still milk dependent, Napasha suffered from mild bloating to begin with, but not nearly as severe as Burra, who blew up like a balloon one night and was in so much discomfort that we had to call out the Vet at midnight. Since then we are armed with the drug and can administer it if necessary.

Mpala has waltzed up to a wild cow and been allowed to suckle an ear, and all the babies have enjoyed wallowing right in amongst wild elephant herds. For instance, Burra, Thoma, Morani and Seraa all climbed onto an 18 year old wild cow who lay down so that they could do so in the mudbath. It is always intriguing to see how bad behaviour is punished. For instance when Nyiro pushed Burra down in the mudbath and then climbed on top of him, he was expelled from the mudbath by Thoma and Sosian, who joined forces to discipline him.

June 2003

First to come to greet them were what is known as “The Baby Group” headed by Mweya, whose group includes those fairly recent arrivals who had shared the Nursery with Seraa and Mpala - namely Thoma, Burra, Solango, and Sosian, whose joy at being reunited with Seraa and Mpala was extremely touching. Recognition was instant and Solango, especially, was over the moon to see Seraa again, since both share a common origin in Shaba National Reserve, and could even be from the same herd. Burra and Sosian were happy to welcome their erstwhile younger friend, Mpala, so the only stranger was little Morani, who attached himself firmly to Aitong. Possibly she resembled a big sister, but Aitong was an immediate attraction, and she, of course, is delighted to have him as “her” special baby.

Keeper Julius was a particular favourite of the Nursery Elephants during his term of office, and they were delighted to see him again. Nasalot, especially, paid him special attention, and this touched him deeply, because he doubted that her group would remember him. Now, he knows “that an elephant never forgets!” He spent the first night sleeping close by the Night Stockade that housed the new arrivals, and during the night just one change had to be made to the sleeping arrangements, which entailed moving Burra and Sosian into the adjoining Stockade, since they were playing one-upmanship with Morani!

May 2003

Reading the Diary one becomes aware of strong attachments between individual orphans. For instance, Aitong adores Sweet Sally, often taking her to feed apart from the others. Mweiga loves little Solango, who is a great favourite with them all, being the smallest. Burra is very fond of Emily, and on one occasion had the privilege of being encouraged between her forelegs (but couldn’t fit!) The middle sized boys, as usual, are very competitive, often sparring together, something that inevitably ends in a punch-up.

The day began with light showers of rain. Burra, Sosian, Thoma and Solango made their own mudbath on an antihill, sliding down the slippery sides, with trumpets and running here and there. Sally and Mweiga joined in. In the evening 3 wild elephants with a one month old baby joined the orphans. Mulika and Nasalot followed the baby closely, but when Aitong stretched her trunk to touch it, the mother pulled the calf in between her forelegs, but did not push Aitong away.

After a wonderful mudbath, Kinna and Edie went for a dust-bath together and were enjoying a game, rolling on each other. This was spoilt by Tsavo, who came to try and mount them. Sally and Burra charged and chased away 2 dikdiks who were drinking at the mudbath. They managed to corner one, but were afraid when it made a clicking sound.Mweya, Sosian and Thoma lagged behind whilst the other orphans proceeded to their noon mudbath. They came running, screaming, and Mweya led the three to the mudbath where Sosian initiated a tussle with Burra, angry for having been left behind! In the evening Ilingwezi went into the Stockade where Mvita and Lolokwe usually sleep, so they chased her out and into her usual place, which is in with Emily.

The babies, Sosian, Mweya, Thoma, Burra and Solango went to the mudbath ahead of Emily’s group of older orphans and there found a wild elephant bull submerged in the water with only its head visible.At the mudbath, Nyiro challenged Burra to a pushing match, following him into the water and trying to mount him. Burra sought refuge near Yatta, who shoved Nyiro away. In the evening, Solango went into Emily’s stockade to be with Mweiga, but Ndara pushed him out. Mweya welcomed him into her Stockade, comforting him by laying her trunk over his back.

April 2003

The rains have arrived at last, and plans are afoot to move Seraa, Mpala, and, hopefully, Morani, down to join the older elephants in Tsavo during the month of May, there to begin the reintegration back into the wild elephant community of Tsavo. They can be assured of a very warm reception from Solango, Burra, Sosian and Thoma, who will remember Seraa and Mpala, and Morani will be welcomed into the greater Orphan unit.

Burra, Sosian and Thoma are not quite as outgoing as Solango, sometimes daunted by the wild elephants, but reassured by Aitong, who accompanies them at such times. Aitong herself is not always popular with the wild Matriarchs, paying too much interest in their young!

Sosian is unpopular amongst the baby group, labelled by the Keepers as “a bully” because he uses his sharp little tusks freely. He should, in fact, graduate to the middle group, where he will have Laikipia, Lolokwe and Salama to keep him in order. Mweya tried to exact revenge by trying to grab his leg through the bars of the separating Stockade one evening, but got her head jammed instead, and needed help from the Keepers! Her yells unravelled Sosian, so he must have a tender heart, because he needed the company of a Keeper that night in order to calm him down. Poor Burra had a bad experience in the mudbath when he was “ducked” by some of the older orphans, and held under water long enough to alarm the Keepers, who had to plunge in and rescue him!

March 2003

Sally, Sosian, Mweya , Thoma and Burra had a wonderful mudbath with two waterbucks watching close by. When they had finished, they enjoyed chasing them off. Meanwhile, all the others found it a bit too cold, having tested the water with their trunks. Salama tried to push Laikipia in, but Laikipia wasn't having any, and ran away.

All the orphans joined a wild herd of about 12 elephants this morning, one of whom had a small baby of about 6 months. Mweya, Sally, Thoma and Burra were allowed to touch the baby, but Aitong and Emily were denied that privilege.

Edie and Mulika did not want to go into the mudbath today, so the others splashed water onto them. In the evening Burra and Solango were sharing a branch of Grewia bicolor, each taking the bark from a different end. In the end Burra left it to Solango, who was very happy because he thought he had won.

In the evening, Sosian would not allow the others to share his pile of Copra, so Burra, Thoma and Solango combined efforts to discipline him, after which he capitulated.

Tsavo became unpopular when he tried to mount one of the youngsters. Kinna, Yatta and Mulika joined forces to chase him away, and he retreated back to Emily. At 6 p.m. near the Stockades, Burra and Solango trumpeted and charged at a tree where two hornbills were making a clicking sound, but were confused when they could not reach them.

February 2003

An orphan who "trembled" violently with fear was poor Edie when the hyena the orphans had cornered at the base of Mazinga Hill ran past her leaving her so fearful that her legs gave way and she fell down. This ended the hyena chase because all the orphans rushed to lift her up and comfort her. Solango was another who got a bad fright when a Serval appeared in front of him, but Burra enjoyed a game with a squirrel who ran round and round the mudbath. This game ended when Burra slipped and fell!

January 2003

Tsavo found himself unable to get up on the slippery wall of the mudbath, so Aitong and Laikipia came to help him. Burra was very afraid when he found a large, hairy baboon sitting in his path. He screamed loudly, but this did not deter the baboon and the Keepers had to chase it off.

Back at the Stockades, Burra deliberately blocked Solango from taking his share of the Copra cake. He blocked him with his buttocks and used his rear foot to kick him. The Keepers intervened, warning Burra to behave. At 9 a.m. all the orphans raised their trunks to test the air, and soon afterwards Edo approached them. He was welcomed warmly.

When the stragglers heard trumpets of happiness from the mudbath, they hurried to join their friends. Burra, especially, had a wonderful time, tossing his trunk skywards and spraying the water around.