Monthly Diary Reports

Most of the festive month has been a peaceful and stress-free time for those of us in charge of the infant Nursery Elephants, marked by happiness and good health and gratifying to hear a positive report at the dawn of each new morning. The cheeks of little "Seraa" and "Solango" were beginning to fill out nicely obscuring the prominent cheekbone beneath the eye which should never be visible in a healthy calf. We thought they had both overcome all their initial problems, both mental and physical, but then on 30th December, at 4 p.m., Seraa began to lag behind the others, showing signs of weakness and once again fluid was dripping from her trunk. Yet, just that morning she had been chasing the pigs and romping in the mudbath with all the others, but experience has taught us that a baby elephant can be fine in the morning, and dead within hours. By the next morning, she was desperately ill, her lungs full of fluid, barely able to breathe and despite the antibiotic injections, we feared the worst. Essential Oil of Pine and Tea Tree mixed with Olive Carrier was massaged around her lungs throughout the day, and some Vicks rubbed on her breast in a desperate extra attempt to save the life of this little elephant and release the fluid in her lungs which was threatening to drown her.

Daphne was alone on New Year's eve, filled with trepidation, sure that Seraa would not survive the night, thinking the usual thoughts that always begin with the words "If Only" and shedding the usual tears!. Fearing the worst, she was up first thing on New Years Day, and was pleasantly surprised to find Seraa standing, albeit still very groggy, though with less fluid dripping from her trunk and struggling to take a little milk. Two more injections that day brought about an even greater improvement, and as this Keepers' Diary is being written, we are daring to hope that Seraa will make it, after all, despite what is obviously a very life threatening condition. Ever since she has been with us, the Keepers have reported fluid coming from the trunk, which improved with her initial course of antibiotic injections, and is obviously a chronic condition resulting from having been struggling to keep afloat in the deep rock well into which she fell in the far North beyond Shaba, unable to touch bottom for many hours before being rescued. Having been rescued an attempt was made to attach Seraa to a herd of fleeing elephants nearby but obviously the scent of humans on her body was too much for the traumatised elephants to accept. She was violently tossed away and Phil Mathews, who flew her to us by Helicopter, is astounded that she did not suffer fatal internal injuries from this episode. We fear that between this and the well, she may well still not be out of danger, even if she manages to recover from this New Year set- back.

Solango's sun-damaged ears have now largely healed, but will always be a bit "raggedy" around the top edge! However, compared to those of Kinna, he is lucky to have got away so lightly. We have since learnt that whilst he was trying to keep afloat in the same rock "well" that claimed Seraa, but with another dead calf beneath him to give him a little purchase, the lions paced around all night, hoping to be able to make a meal of him! Imagine the trauma! Small wonder he arrived in such a pathetic state, both physically and mentally!

November 2001

This month, it has been "Seraa" and "Solango" that have caused us concern, both teething soon after the trauma of rescue plus the loss of their elephant family and finding themselves in strange new surroundings. We anticipate diarrhoea in calves of this age, brought on by teething and also psychological grieving for the lost elephant family. This combination always brings on physical problems such as diarrhoea when there is always a danger of dehydration and the possibility of bacteria invading other vital organs. I am happy to say, that after injectable anti-biotics, and in Seraa's case, oral medication as well, both are now recovering, although Seraa took a little longer to pick up. The good news is that they are now playing, which is always an important milestone to recovery. Solango's sunburnt ears have needed a lot of attention, but are healing slowly, shaded at all times by an umbrella held aloft by a Keeper.

Sweet Sally is gentle and her own person, paying more attention to the human family than the other elephants. Mweya and Thoma have formed a strong friendship, and Seraa and Solango are never far from Mulika and Nasalot.

Some rain has fallen during the month, but not nearly enough, bringing on a pale green tinge only. The cool wet weather caused for anxiety whilst Seraa and Solango were poorly, for pneumonia is a very real threat. Happily, however, careful husbandry - diligent with blankets, raincoats and, of course, the umbrella have spared us further problems.

October 2001

This month saw the arrival of 2 new Nursery inmates, both rescued by Ian Craig of Lewa Downs, both flown in by Helicopter from the far North, one on 12th October and the other on 23rd October. Both were victims of the same rock catchment well in a place called "Kisima Hamisi" about 20 miles Northeast of Shaba National Reserve. The first, a baby female named "Seraa", (the name of the group Ranch) was estimated to be 6 weeks old, her ears still slightly tinged with pink behind, but sporting one molar through the gum; the other, a little bull named "Solango" (meaning "pit") was younger, only about 4 weeks old, with pinker hind ears and no molars through the gum. So far, having had their prophylactic anti-biotic jabs plus the usual colloidal silver in their milk, both are doing very well, sleeping peacefully at night and feeding well, albeit with quite a lot of shoving and pushing, which is normal until a baby settles on a place to rest the trunk.

A favourite game for all the Nursery babies is chasing the warthogs at mudbath, which delights their daily audience and in turn obviously encourages them to "show off" when all the people laugh. Thoma is now playing happily with Mweya during the mudbath hour, as is Sweet Sally, but little Seraa and Solango have yet to feel happyt enough to join in the fun. When a baby elephant plays for the first time, our hearts fill with joy, because this indicates that they are psychologically happier and that a milestone has been achieved.