December
2004
(03.12.2004) The sky was dark with
rain clouds. Lolokwe and Icholta enjoyed a wonderful game in the
puddles, lying down in the water. Burra
and Mpala tussled at the mudbath whilst Loisaba, Sosian, Icholta
and Lolokwe just enjoyed themselves in the mud. (06.12.2004)
There was a heavy downpour during the night. In the morning the
elephants again enjoyed playing in the puddles and rubbing
against the anthills. Solango, Burra
and Nyiro played together. Natumi and her group joined up
with Emily on the 08.12.2004, Aitong and Sally at the Spring
Gate in the morning and spent the rest of the day together. The
mudbath was spectacular, and Laikipia, Salama,
Burra, Ilingwezi and Edie lagged behind enjoying it
when the others had left.
 It
was an exciting day on the 18.12.2004, because in the early
morning Edo appeared from the Eastern side of the hill, as the
others were still in the Stockade. Ndara and Loisaba were the
first to greet him when they emerged, Edo resting his trunk on
Loisaba’s back. All the others crowded around him, sniffing
him. Edo then lay down, and Burra
and Solango enjoyed climbing on him. Burra
then tried to mount Lolokwe, having sized each other up for
strength. At the Spring Gate, Emily joined them all from the
Western direction, enjoying a joyous reunion, as Natumi’s
group surrounded them. Emily enjoyed playing with Edo, whilst
Aitong had a turn to do so at the mudbath. They all spent the
entire day together. The 22.12.2004,Edo was again at the
Stockade with Emily, Aitong and Sweet Sally, to accompany the
other orphans into the bush, this side leading them to the
Eastern side of the hill. They had a wonderful wallow together
when Seraa, Burra, Irima and
Mweya enjoyed rushing through the shallows, “exchanging
pleasantries”. They all spent the day together, Edo returning
with them to the Stockade in the evening. (23.12.2004) Edo
and Emily’s group did not appear today, Natumi’s group had a
wonderful wallow when Salama and Laikipia enjoyed a pushing
game. During the milk feed Irima pushed down Mpala in a struggle
for the bottle, and after, Burra
and Seraa enjoyed chasing a dikdik who was hiding in the bush
upon which they were feeding. Emily’s group, plus Edo, met up
with the other orphans on their way back to the Stockade in the
evening.
 On
the 27.12.2004 Natumi’s group spent the morning without Emily,
meeting up with a troupe of baboons, which scared Solango,
Burra and Irima, who came running to the Keepers.
Natumi, Edie, Laikipia and Ilingwezi saw the baboons off,
kicking bushes in the process. Emily’s group joined the other
orphans at the mudbath, and all enjoyed a spectacular time.
Later Edo joined them in the afternoon and he and Emily’s
group accompanied the others back to the Stockade, lingering
there long after dark before heading westwards. Natumi’s
group spent the morning of 29.12.2004 feeding along the eastern
side of Mazinga Hill, enjoying scratching themselves against the
rocks, whilst Mpala and Burra
climbed onto the rocks. Upon arrival at the mudbath, they saw
Emily, Aitong and Sally coming from the opposite direction.
Emily rumbled a greeting, whilst Aitong was caressing Morani.
They enjoyed the mudbath happily together. At 3.15 p.m. Edo met
up with them, coming from the other direction, and they all
returned to the Stockade together, after which Emily’s group
left with Edo, heading west .
November
2004
On the 08.11.2004 led by Emily, the
orphans charged 2 giraffes and some zebra who were drinking at
the mudbath. Burra and
Solango, who were left behind, became alarmed and ran to the
Keepers when they spotted the giraffes heading their way. Emily
was late today (the 09.11.2004), but met up with the group out
in the bush. Mpala and Burra
had a shoving contest, and Mpala became very excited when he
managed to push down Burra,
but only because Burra’s
hind leg got caught in some grass. Mpala trumpeted with
happiness, content at having won the bout. In the evening the
orphans watched a large group of mixed wild elephant families
numbering about 60 heading towards Mazinga Hill. The orphans did
not join them, because it was time to return to the Stockade,
but Emily, Aitong and Sally probably spent the night with the
wild herd.
Burra and Morani played a pushing
game again on the 16.11.2004, and this time
Burra was very steady and he won the round. Later, a
hyaena merging from a thick bush ran between the orphans’
legs, which left them motionless, and screaming. The Keepers had
to spend time calming them down. Emily arrived later to join
them at 9.35 a.m.
October 2004
Mrs. Sheldrick came today (the
28.10.2004) and decided that Emily and Aitong should be left
outside their respective Night Stockades. Sally, who is
extremely fond of Aitong, became very restless when she realised
that Aitong was not inside, so the Keepers returned Aitong to
the Stockade, leaving Emily out on her own. Emily left the area
of the Stockade at l0 p.m., returning at 5 a.m. where she was
greeted joyfully by Tsavo, Ndara, and Loisaba who gave loud
trumpets of joy. Later, Morani and
Burra enjoyed a long pushing game, which ended when
they realised they had been left far behind the others.
(24.10.20040 Morani sat on Burra’s
head whilst supporting himself with his forelegs. Upon realising
that Solango intended to do the same,
Burra rose hurriedly and punished Morani by pushing
him down. Mweiga, Burra,
Solango and Morani lined up like soldiers to initiate an
onslaught on some baboons who were drinking at their mudbath.
They felt very pleased having succeeded in chasing off the
baboons, returning to the others swinging their heads and trunks
and trumpeting in happiness.
 Mweiga, Seraa, Morani and
Burra were very happy when they managed to chase off
two Lesser Kudus who came to drink at their waterhole at 11 a.m.
on the 20.10.2004. The Kudus returned later to drink. Emily
again pushed down the post supporting the shelter in the
Stockade, this time tearing off the iron sheets. The Keepers
kept vigil outside the Stockade to prevent further damage.
(17.10.2004) Mweiga lay down in the mudbath and allowed Seraa,
Morani and Burra to climb on
her. The three smaller orphans enjoyed this greatly, running in
and out of the water to climb over her. Morani found
himself left behind whilst trying to extract roots from an
Acacia tree on the 07.10.2004. On noticing that he was alone, he
screamed loudly, which brought Mweiga,
Burra and Seraa back to collect him. They all
rejoined the group swinging their heads and tossing their little
trunks sideways in celebration.
September 2004
Thoma was better today (09.09.2004). At 11.22 a.m. Morani was
playing in mud whilst Thoma, Solango and Seraa stood by,
admiring his antics. After the mudbath,
Burra and Solango lifted up their trunks to smell an
approaching buffalo. The buffalo was well behaved and waited
until the orphans had left before approaching.
August 2004
Upon leaving the Stockade this morning (20.08.2004), Aitong
took Sally and joined a wild group. However, the others refused
to come, so the two returned, bringing with them a wild bull who
spent the next 3 hours with our orphans. Later
Burra and Solango had an altercation over a fallen
tree trunk which both wanted to scratch themselves on. Solango
charged around picking up sticks which he accurately threw at
Burra, but Burra
was not deterred, so instead Solango decided to take out his
frustration on Mpala who was quietly feeding nearby.  Aitong took
Sally to teach her some fighting techniques, gently holding onto
her head and applying a little pressure to push her backwards.
Sally appreciated Aitong’s tip, and immediately challenged
Mweya, pushing Mweya to the ground.
It was a hot day so the orphans enjoyed a mudbath earlier
than usual. Mweiga was very active in the mudbath, squirting
water over her body and lying in the mud, trumpeting with joy
and happiness, watched closely by Aitong. Natumi waylaid 2
lesser kudus who were heading for the drinking bins whilst Mweya
and Burra attempted a
charge, but were reluctant to leave the other orphans. The
orphans were in a happy mood leaving the Stockades this morning,
separating into groups of friends, soil bathing wonderfully,
trumpeting and rolling onto each other. Salama took Solango
whilst Mpala chose Morani as a companion. Burra,
Solango, Mpala and Sosian joined forced to chase off a jackal
who was pursuing a hare. The orphans interrupted the chase, and
the rabbit was saved, running in amongst all the other orphans.
July 2004
It was noticed that Burra
had a runny eye on 19.07.2004, so we called the Trust’s Mobile
Veterinary Unit so that the Vet could bring the
medication.
June 2004
Uaso joined the orphans at the noon mudbath. He tried to
mount onto Aitong, but all the smaller elephants surrounded her
and blocked him. Catherine’s group later joined the orphans,
with two little calves, whom Burra
went to greet, stretching out his trunk to touch them gently.
Lolokwe followed one of the babies, gently placing his trunk
across its back in a gesture of friendship.
May 2004
Natumi, Mulika, Nasalot, Edie,
Icholta and Ilingwezi are all firm friends and Natumi much loved
by Emily and all the group. Tsavo is still the pampered,
somewhat spoilt pet of Emily, who enjoys special protection and
whom Nyiro, Mukwaju and Irima would like to “unseat”.
Solango, Mpala and Burra are
close friends and competition for dominance still exists along
with the bond of friendship amongst the bigger bulls, namely
Laikipia, Lolokwe, Salama with sometimes even little Morani
trying his luck! Of all of them, Laikipia is the most
independent, and very gentle, who promises one day to emulate
Dika in temperament.
A cloud of quelea scared Mweiga,
Loisaba, Yatta, Burra and
Sosian who went to rest under the tree in which they were
perched.
April 2004
The day was cold, so the orphans
enjoyed playing, testing their strengths in competition with one
another. Burra took on
Solango whilst Edie challenged Nyiro.
March 2004
Periodic showers continued, which
have kept the area around the Stockades green and growing, so
the month has been devoted to feeding and fattening, gaining the
weight they all lost during the long dry season of last year
that unusually went on into January. Heavy rains have also
fallen further afield, particularly in the Northern Area, so
there have been no wild herds around with whom our orphans could
interact. However, two of our Big Boys have appeared briefly.
Edo, who spent time with the orphans on the 21st and 22nd, when
the younger set, namely Tsavo, Ndara, Mpala, Morani, Thoma and
Burra touched him gingerly, according to the Keepers
“tossing their trunks in order to do so!” The next day, he
joined them all in the mudbath, which would have been a huge
treat for the orphans, who have a special reverence and fondness
for the “Big Boys”.
The friendships that are
illustrated in this month’s diary are between Laikipia and
Solango, Sosian and Morani and Burra
and Morani, who were best friends during the time they shared in
the Nursery.
There have been the usual boy
tussles of strength, between Burra
and Solango when Ilingwezi intervened to restore peace. Jealousy
is illustrated when Tsavo tries to suckle Emily, squeezing
himself between Emily’s legs, and Loisaba pushes him away.
We see Aitong and Edie rushing to
help Mweiga to her feet when she was accidentally pushed over
during a rush and we read about Burra,
who has recently been weaned off milk, begging the Keeper who
was giving Mpala his bottle, to allow him just a little.
February
2004
We see little Morani fascinated by
the antics of the termites, standing by the ant-mound, quietly
watching them at work, and again, friendships become evident.
Edie has taken a shine to Sosian, opting to share his Night
Stockade, and feeding close to him for one entire day.
Aitong’s love for Sweet Sally persists and Mpala and
Burra remain best friends, as do Nyiro and Mukwaju.
As usual Salama features prominently, testing his strength with
others of his age-group and the usual rivalries are also evident
amongst the females, particularly when it comes to who should
lead the group to and from the Stockades. As usual, pushing
games tend to deteriorate into a battle, and then the females
intervene to restore peace.
A herd of 7 zebra galloped past the
orphans at 11 a.m.on 19.02.2004, and the sound of their hooves
startled the group, who were unable to see what was making the
noise. After a wonderful noon mudbath, the orphans played a game
of Hide and Seek. Natumi played with Salama whilst Solango took
on Burra and Mpala.
At 8 a.m. on 01.02.2004 Morani went
to an ant mound, and watched the tiny insects as they exchanged
tasks building their home. He remained there for sometime and
slowly left them to it without disturbing them. At noon Sally,
Sosian, Mweya and Burra, all
of whom are now being weaned off milk, followed the other young
elephants, but found they had no bottles. They rumbled their
displeasure, but the Keepers gave them water instead, and they
went off satisfied. At 7 a.m. Dika came and stood vigil at the
Spring Gate through which the orphans pass on their way out into
the bush each day, only to find that they had already passed. He
never came to the Stockade.
During the mudbath, Aitong knelt
down, putting her tusks beneath Mweiga, to help her get up.
Meanwhile Burra and Nyiro
enjoyed a pushing game.
January 2004
At a wonderful noon mudbath,
Loisaba and Tsavo became restless because they could not see
Emily who was lying in the mud surrounded by all the younger
orphans. Loisaba and Tsavo began to search for her, and
trumpeted with joy when saw her. Notes:- The heavy rain
mid-month has brought on fresh browse which has been a god-send
for the orphans. There have been very few wild encounters this
month, because most of the wild elephants have moved to greener
pastures. Weaning has begun for some of the orphans, namely
Sosian, Mweya, Sally, Ndara and Burra.
Irima’s leg strain which occurred during the lion adventure,
seems to be reoccurring from time to time.
Most of the orphans did not mudbath
today because it was cool. Burra
and Irima had a disagreement when Irima tried to snatch
Burra’s bottle of milk. |
