Monthly Diary Reports

The first day of December 2004 was dominated by frequent showers, so the orphans had a joyous time sliding on mud walls. Morani, Solango, Mweya, Thoma, Seraa, Mpala and Irima had a fantastic game .... _{[READ MORE...]}

There was confusion in the morning on the 07.11.2004 when Mweya, Thoma, Morani, Seraa and Mpala tried to chase off two bushbucks, and the bushbucks simply ran amongst the orphans!..._{[READ MORE...]}

It was a wonderful noon mudbath on the 02.10.2004, with Morani and Mpala rolling onto each other trumpeting with joy. This attracted Mweiga, who joined them, but when she lay on Morani..._{[READ MORE...]}

Thoma was better today. At 11.22 a.m. on 09.09.2004 Morani was playing in mud whilst Thoma, Solango and Seraa stood by, admiring his antics..._{[READ MORE...]}

The orphans joined a group of 9 wild elephants who had a very tiny baby. Lolokwe, Seraa and Morani lined up and watched the tiny baby suckling its mother, tossing their trunks forward to try and..._{[READ MORE...]}

Loisaba gently dislodged Seraa who was scratching her hind leg on a tree trunk. Loisaba then enjoyed doing the same..._{[READ MORE...]}

Whilst returning to the Stockades in the evening, Seraa led the small group, all the others in single-file behind her. Solango, Thoma, Seraa and Mpala played together for most of the day...._{[READ MORE...]}

Aside from the discussions about The Big Move, there has been quite a lot of interaction with wild herds this month, on the..._{[READ MORE...]}

Very heavy rain has continued to fall in other areas of the Park, and particularly in the North, so once again, interaction with wild herds has been limited,..._{[READ MORE...]}

The orphans enjoy testing their strength with each other. Seraa took on Thoma and Tsavo took on Nyiro..._{[READ MORE...]}

Encounters with other species have involved Emily chasing off an old buffalo, backed up by Aitong, Yatta, Mulika, Mvita, and Seraa..._{[READ MORE...]}

Thoma and Seraa found themselves left behind today, so Icholta and Kinna went back to escort them as they raced to catch up...._{[READ MORE...]}

Morani tried to mount Seraa at noon, but Seraa managed to avoid him...._{[ READ MORE...]}

Encounters with other species include coming across a dead buffalo killed by lions, which terrified all the orphans; chasing out an old bull buffalo..._{[READ MORE...]}

At l0.20 a.m. Aitong and Seraa left the other orphans to join a group of 4 wild elephants who had a small baby of about 3 months...._{[READ MORE...]}

Encounters with other species include an abortive attempt to chase off a buffalo herd numbering 2,000,..._{[READ MORE...]}

4 large Bachelor bulls scared Natumi, Seraa, Mweiga and Tsavo on the 9th, but when the younger orphans saw that Emily and Aitong welcomed the bulls,..._{[ READ MORE...]}

It is particularly rewarding to see how comfortable the latest arrivals to the Tsavo group are with the wild elephants, especially Morani, who is a very popular member of the Orphan Group and who..._{[READ MORE...]}

Friday 18th June was another Big Day in our Nairobi Nursery, for this was the day scheduled for Seraa, Mpala, and Morani to leave the Nairobi Nursery and embark on the long journey of gradual transition back into the Elephant World in Tsavo East National Park..._{[READ MORE...]}

Seraa’s pneumonia of 2 years ago, that almost took her from us, is an even more distant memory, for she is now plump and healthy, Mpala and little Ol Malo who, for weeks, could not sleep at night being so psychologically traumatized,... _{[READ MORE...]}

Olmalo is one of the easiest orphans we have ever had, simply because she arrived in such good condition..._{[ READ MORE...]}

...The welcome from the others the next day was very touching. They were all delighted to see her, Seraa..._{[ READ MORE...]}

Seraa and Mpala continue to grow apace and thrive. Mpala's tiny tusks are now visible when he lifts his trunk and are proudly..._{[ READ MORE...]}

Seraa is a very proud mini Matriarch of the two smaller babies, and also very protective of Mweya,..._{[ READ MORE...]}

Burra was taken by surprised, in he went, and the doors were hurriedly closed. Meanwhile, Mpala and Seraa, sensing that something..._{[ READ MORE...]}

Thoma and Seraa adore Wendi, but the boys, Sosian, Mpala, Solango and Burra....._{[READ MORE...]} 

The Nursery Elephant that loves Wendi best is "Seraa", and we are pleased about this...........^{[ READ MORE...]}

At the Nursery we have Thoma who is the group leader of the young elephants, Burra, Solango, Seraa, Mpala and Sosian who is older than Thoma and a male..._{[READ MORE...]}

Little Seraa has grown and is even portly, though still tiny for her age, whilst Solango is now almost the same size as Sosian... _{[READ MORE...]}

Thoma and Seraa, our two little females, are the best of friends, Solango and Sosian likewise, whilst Burra has teamed up with Mpala, so that each one is content with a special friend. _{[READ MORE...]}

Solango has grown enormously, shooting up and overtaking little Seraa in size, despite having been the same upon arrival.  _{[READ MORE...]}

Eventually, however, she settled down, and slotted into her new role as mini Matriarch, teaming up with Seraa, who previously had always been something of a loner. _{[READ MORE...]}

Solango has shot up! Having once been the same size as little Seraa, he now towers over her, but then he did not have the complications that almost cost Seraa her life in early infancy. _{[READ MORE...]}

Burra is not too keen on the mudbath, preferring to shower dust over himself instead. Little Seraa, although still looking a little fragile, has remained healthy and happy, gaining weight steadily and joining in the fun and games. _{[READ MORE...]}

Little Seraa's sunken cheeks have filled out, and are now smoothe and plump, just as they should be. _{[READ MORE...]}

Nursery Orphans:- The first three weeks of January were devoted almost entirely to battling for the life of little Seraa, who succumbed to pneumonia on New Years' Eve and almost died that night. _{[READ MORE...]}

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. _{[READ MORE...]}

Overview - Nursery:- 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. _{[READ MORE...]}

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. _{[READ MORE...]}