NorthStar Cruises Travelogues

NorthStar Cruises is a foster family for the baby elephant Kalama. She was adopted when Mike Kempinski visited the Nairobi nursery in December 2009. Enjoy the stories both happy and sad. They will move you…Mikehttp://www.facebook.com/pages/The-David-Sheldrick-Wildlife-Trust/120805694888

 6/15/2011 6:39:09 PM

Dear Northstar Cruises,

Please find the overview written by Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick for the month of May. For more details specific to your fostered orphan and to access recent photographs please be sure to click the link to the Keepers Diary at the end the overview. If you have not already, why not join us on Facebook too. Here we share news and photos from the Orphans’ Project and our many other Projects throughout the month. This allows us to keep our supporters up to date on the very latest developments and followers are encouraged to post their own comments.

 http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/updates/updates.asp?Rhino=&ID=334

THE NURSERY

The death of 2 year old Kudup on the 10th caused us all enormous grief, for she was a deeply loved Nursery favourite. The autopsy revealed all major organs apparently healthy, so tissue samples preserved in formalin have gone to South Africa where Laboratory facilities are more advanced and we now await further findings that could account for the demise of this elephant, who began life healthy, and just gradually deteriorated over time. To read a more detailed account of Kudup’s passing:

Two other important events have been the transfer of Olare, Kibo and Kandecha to the Ithumba Rehabilitation Unit on the 13th, followed by the move of Murka, Naisula and Kitirua on the l9th, the arrival of all six mysteriously anticipated by all the Ithumba Ex Orphans who turned up to embrace them as family and welcome them into the fold. How the Ex Orphans can anticipate such events will always remain one of those mysterious elephant mysteries that defy human explanation, but it always happens, and it happened again this time. The sudden departure of 6 Nursery elephants left those that remained somewhat confused, especially as a re-shuffle of the accommodation took place, which always causes an upset. Babies Naipoki, Kainuk and Sities manifested their disquiet by passing stools that were too loose for comfort, so another re-shuffle returned them all back to their original sleeping quarters!http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/updates/updates.asp?ID=338 and http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/updates/updates.asp?Rhino=&ID=336

Kalama and Mutara are now the Nursery Matriarchs, with little Sities also showing signs of aspiring to this high calling, very caring and possessive of baby Naipoki, who is the firm favourite of all. Naughty Chemi Chemi is now the only boy remaining in the Nursery, and, to his advantage, a great favourite of Kalama who often sides with him when the Keepers threaten him with time out of the group. This is the way elephants punish their own. The other naughty and pushy member of the Nursery is Ishanga  not surprising in view of her dramatic rescue which entailed literally being snatched from the jaws of a lion by an even more dreaded enemy  humans! Being female, Ishanga, will eventually settle down psychologically like others before her who have suffered Post Traumatic Stress. Only Time and a great deal of tender loving care is the cure for psychological disorders.

Again the Nairobi Park lions have become bolder and caused disquiet this month by snatching warthogs within eye and earshot of both the Keepers and the orphans. However, the month ended with all the remaining 11 Nursery elephant babies thriving and growing apace, Makireti, Mutara and Shukuru now quite a size and Turkwel motherly and caring of little Kainuk, while Mutara remains fixated on Sities, and Sities on Naipoki! There was just one Rescue alert this month, but sadly the orphan from Meru National Park died overnight in Meru before we could get there.

THE RHINOS

Solio is growing like a weed, a plump, gentle and very happy baby who has a mind of her own as to where she likes to take a mudbath, never at the usual front mudbath used by the elephants, but instead her own exclusive one behind the Stockades! In fact, she flatly refuses to even venture in front of Daphnes house which faces the open Park, but sticks to her established beat at the back. Blind Maxwells routine never changes, but he is happy in his dark world, racing around his stockade surely, never colliding with any obstacle. He enjoys delicious Grewia branches whenever a vehicle comes from Tsavo and feasts on Lucerne from Naivasha, so, physically, but for his blindness, he is is in excellent health and a fine specimen. For a long time he missed Shida sorely, but has now become resigned to his absence, and instead is focused on little Solio, and she, on him! He also enjoys the tender touch of elephant trunks as they pass by his Stockade in the morning, and return in the evening, as well as the attention of visitors, most of whom have never had the privilege of even setting eyes on a rhino before! one even asked if Rhinos ate wildebeest!

ITHUMBA UNIT

The arrival of 6 Nursery Elephants was the highlight of the month, both for Kibo, Olare and Kandecha, who went a week before Murka, Naisula and Kitirua but also for Sabachi, Kilaguni, Suguta, Tumaren, Melia and Chaimu, all of whom were already established at Ithumba but had shared Nursery time with the new arrivals. Only little Ithumba was odd man outat the greeting – obviously puzzled as to how all the other Stockade group knew one another!

Upon arrival and after the very touching greeting, the 6 newcomers fraternized comfortably with a wild bull aged about l8, who, according to the Keepers was usually a member of Yattas Ex Orphan Group. This was surprising because he towered over them all and elephants are usually somewhat wary of large strangers. He must have telepathized with them and persuaded them that he was friendly! Wendi turned up a little later with a large Splinter Group comprised of all the younger set from Yattas main Ex orphan group. After taking water at the trough, inspecting the Elephant Carrier and greeted us humans, they hurried off to find the Juniors who had been escorted out to browse. Later Yatta brought the Senior group in who were accompanied by 2 young wild bulls (other than Mgeni who is still absent). The Senior Ex orphans were all very interested in us humans from Nairobi, giving us all a very loving greeting as they awaited the arrival of the Juniors. Yatta, Nasalot, Selengai, and Napasha were as friendly and as pleased to see us again as was Wendi earlier. Kora, Rapsu, Buchuma and Zurura had all grown beyond recognition, especially Kora who now sports sizeable ivory and promises to carry the genes of Kenyas magnificent Northern Tuskers of yore. As soon as the Juniors came into view, the Senior elephants rushed to welcome and greet them but on this occasion the Juniors had milk in mind and hurried into their Stockades, Kilaguni bypassing even Nasalot. The Senior elephants were left outside gazing at them adoringly, and did so well into the night. They met up with them all the next day out in the bush and were at the noon mudbath with some wild hangers on.

The natural waterholes around Ithumba are now mainly dry, and the bush losing leaf, so the Ex Orphans have been coming to the Stockades sometimes twice daily for water, as have many wild herds. The Ex Orphans have been mingling frequently this month with the Juniors, either waiting at the Stockades first thing in the morning, meeting them at the bush feeding grounds, and at the noon mudbath; spending quality time with them. Nasalots adoration of Kilaguni has not wavered, and this month Kinna has also been giving him special attention. He remains a favourite of all the older elephants, perhaps because he misses a tail! Nasalot turned up alone one day to spend the entire day with alongside Kilaguni, browsing close to him, giving him elephant kisses and escorting him to his milk as well as leading the group back to the Stockades in the evening.

Wendi has been a very frequent Junior visitor, accompanied by a large Splinter Group comprised of the Younger Set. However, other Ex Matriachs such as Galana, Chyulu, and Lenana have been in attendance without having Wendi with them, instead accompanied by boys such as Rapsu, Zurura, Taita, Kora and Buchuma. The Keepers believe several such visits to have been organized deliberately to instruct the Juniors about how to tackle dry vegetation, because the Youngsters have followed the older elephants closely, watching what they select and how they do the de-barking, before copying them! Knowing the intelligence of elephants as we do, we find this perfectly feasible! For a more detailed account and additional photographs about these two moves please view these links:

 http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/updates/updates.asp?ID=340

VOI UNIT

Several late storms around Voi have brought on a flush of green vegetation which has been a Godsend to the Voi Unit, who have also enjoyed a great deal of interaction with the Ex Orphans of Emilys Unit, as well as a large wild herd the Juniors encountered on one occasion at their noon mudbath venue which is a large rainwater pond below the KWS Park Headquarters. It is very gratifying to see Solango now fully recovered and again part of Emilys Ex Orphan group. During his convalescence at the Stockades he formed a strong bond of friendship with Siria, whom he always seeks out for a wrestling match. On occasions he comes alone to join the Junior herd, spend time with them and even return to the Stockades with them in the evening. Sometimes he brings friends with him  for instance Burra and Lolokwe both eater wrestling partners for Siria.

It was good to see Tsavo back with Emilys group when they came to the Stockades on the l0th to enjoy a Handout of Copra. Tsavo had been absent for a long while, and appeared a little reticent of the Keepers at first, but was soon mixing in as of old. He is huge now and has thick sizeable tusks, by far the biggest Boy in Emilys Ex Orphan Unit.

On the 22nd Emilys group linked up with the Juniors on the eastern side of Mazinga Hill and persuaded them to return early to the Stockades for some supplementary goodies. Later the entire herd browsed together when Dida, Ndii and Kenia took a keen interest in Edies calf, little Ella, but were denied close access by Nannies Mweya and Mvita. On another occasion Emilys calf, Eve, was spotted enjoying the undivided attention of Sweet Sally, who is one of her Nannies. Both Emily and Edie have no shortage of Helpers when it comes to entertaining, protecting, and nurturing their offspring, mothers who are very relaxed, confident that the Nannies can ensure the safety and wellbeing of their offspring!

On several occasions this month, as at Ithumba, only individuals from Emilys main Ex Orphan group have turned up individually. Icholta has been a frequent caller but also Ndara and Seraa have come to spend time with the Juniors. The appearance of the Big Girls always disturbs the Junior Matriarch, Lesanju, who tries desperately to usher her group away, obviously fearing that they might get hijacked and persuaded to follow the visitors. All Matriarchs are very possessive of their herd so the Splinter Groups that turn up without the main Matriarch in attendance obviously have her permission to do so. Only Siria has been tempted to follow his older friends on one occasion this month and so far all the others in Lesanjus Junior group have not been tempted to do so. However, Lesanju is obviously mindful that orphan Shira went off with a wild herd sometime ago, and has not returned since. Amongst disrupted elephant societies, where few herds are natural family members, attempted hijacking of young to rebuild a disrupted family unit is a frequent occurrence of which wild Matriarchs are also mindful and extremely vigilant when the older female orphans take too keen an interest in their young.

This month there appears to have been an improvement in the condition of Dida, since her usual milk intake has been withdrawn and replaced with Coconut mixed in with water and oatmeal porridge. This was prompted by the autopsy on Kudup, which pointed to a possible absorption problem arguably caused by some allergic reaction to an ingredient of the formula milk. Whilst most orphaned elephants thrive on the formula replacement, maybe others dont, but we hope to learn more from the results of the samples sent to South Africa.

Read a moving story about Lesanju and Lempaute’s enduring and very special friendship:

Please find a link to the The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s May Keeper’s Diary should you want to keep abreast with your fostered elephant KALAMAhttp://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/monthly.asp?o=KALAMA&month=May

Also you will find attached a water colour painted by Angela Sheldrick for you to print off and keep.https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/foster.asp?xgin=hhhjcufcjjeff

We thank you for your valued support.

If you wish to renew or add an additional donation to your fostering of (KALAMA), please use this link below:

Most Sincerely,http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick D.B.E.