It has been a very busy, and hectic month in the Nairobi Nursery, with the rescue of 14th month old “Galana”, a female calf found holed up in a salt-bush thicket on the Galana river in Tsavo East National Park. She had obviously been without her mother and elephant family for sometime, was extremely emaciated, but fortunate to be alive, because the salt-bush thickets are the favourite haunt of lions, and there are many prides in the area. After the usual starvation problems, such as bloat and a kidney problem, she has settled well, and is now well integrated into the Nursery unit, despite being extremely aggressive in the beginning – not surprising since she was rescued manually without sedation. Having spent one night in the Voi Stockades, comforted by Aitong and the younger females, she was airlifted to Nairobi on the 15th.
The Nursery elephants have had an adventurous time, avoiding the many buffalo that are in the Nairobi Nursery forested area behind the Trust Headquarters, which is where the elephants and their Keepers spend the day. Ndomot and Madiba are very competitive, with much of their time tussling with each other. Sunyei is something of a loner, seeking time apart from the others; Naserian has been a little jealous of the newcomer Galana, pushing her away, but Galana has chosen not to respond, and concentrates on feeding. She simply cannot get enough milk, or vegetation, at the moment, and in between feeds suckles the Keepers’ hand. However, she is turning into a gentle little elephant, with a very loving personality, and once she puts on some weight, will have a beautiful face.
Shida, the baby rhino, continues to grow apace, and is plump and rounded, sporting a tiny front horn that now measures some 4 inches. He was very traumatised by a buffalo which upset his equilibrium, and routine, greatly for a day or two, and has also had a hard time avoid feisty Makosa, who has been doing his best to make contact. A physical encounter with Makosa has to be avoided at all costs, so the Keeper (and the rhino coat) have had to keep Shida on the move during the hours of daylight. Makosa still returns each evening, to spend a short time in his Stockade (and make sure that no-one else is in it) and Magnum continues to call each morning, often turning up for the mudbath. On one occasion this month, it was Makosa who turned up for the mudbath, which meant that all the visitors (and the elephants) had to take refuge, because Makosa is mischievous and thrives on drama! Even his Keepers treat him with deep respect!
At the Ithumba Unit, Napasha has been the focus of attention, having fallen on a stump when trying to jump on Taita and in so doing driving a splinter of wood deep into a foreleg. This entailed a visit by our Mobile Veterinary Unit, and a mini sedation and op to remove the offending splinter. He has healed well, and is up to his old tricks again, trying to mount Taita, monopolizing the mudbath, and greatly thriving in his role as “Protector”. Selengai is very close to Yatta and Mulika who seem to be evolving as joint Matriarchs of the group, with Olmalo a favourite with all the older females. Taita and Tomboi are very competitive, but all are extremely happy at their new home, and all look in fantastic health, despite the harshness of the dry season. We are very pleased with their progress.
The Voi Unit, headed by Emily and Aitong have also had an adventurous month, with one particular incident worthy of mention. The orphans surrounded a crusty old buffalo bull who stood his ground in a thicket, lowering his head in readiness for attack. Sensing the danger, Emily immediately withdrew hurriedly, followed by all the others, and having put some distance between her charges and the buffalo, returned alone to sort him out and chase him off. This shows reasoning, and there are many such incidents that illustrate the human aspect of the elephants. Most gratifying is the fact that weakling Mweiga seems much stronger this year, and is keeping pace with the others. Mischievous Mweya, as usual, has been up to her tricks again in this month’s Diary, and there has been quite a lot of interaction with wild groups. On one occasion, Aitong actually held onto Morani, preventing him from running away and forcing him to greet a large wild bull friend who paid them a visit. Aitong is a very sociable elephant, who enjoys the wild contacts greatly. Again the great love that Sweet Sally has for her is illustrated, and the caring side of the young bulls also portrayed, when Laikipia took a fancy to a wild calf and tried to hold it back when it wanted to leave with its mother. Apart from meeting up with buffalo, the orphans have had a not so happy encounter with mating hyaenas, but managed to save the life of a hare, who was being pursued by a jackal!
We thank you for your valued support.
Most Sincerely,
Dr. Daphne Sheldrick M.B.E.
http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org