Mulika's wild born baby Mwende's progress at Ithumba

Mulika's wild born baby Mwende's progress at Ithumba

Mulika, rescued from a drying waterhole in Meru National Park in 2001 when 7 months old and hand-reared through the Nairobi Nursery, gave birth to her first wild-born calf either during the night of the 6th November 2011 or during the morning of the 7th at Ithumba in Northern Tsavo East National Park. She brought her newborn to the Orphans Noon mudbath venue at 11.30 a.m. on the 7th to show the baby to the Ithumba Keepers, her human family, and the Keeper Dependent orphans under their care, and to Dame Daphne Sheldrick and her guests who just happened to be there on this prestigious day. The newborn was a baby girl, given the name Mwende, the word for The Loved One in the Mkamba dialect, and a loved one she was, the first wild-born calf to one of our Ithumba Ex Orphans. Thereafter Mulika and her baby were seen frequently in amongst Yatta's main Ex Orphan herd, tenderly nurtured by a host of caring Ex Orphan Nannies, even swimming in the orphans' mudwallow which became a mini lake during the October/November rains of 2011. However, on the 20th May 2012 Mulika returned to the Stockade compound with her baby, and unusually just stood under the lone tree in the compound which drew the attention of her Keepers. Upon closer inspection, they noticed that her right ear had been pierced by a sharp object, more than likely a sharp stick, but there was the nagging thought of a poisoned arrow too, for there was tell-tale blood on the shoulder behind. Having puffed antibiotic powder in the wound, the Keepers ushered her back into her erstwhile Stockade so that she could be monitored overnight, but when no ill effects were noticed the next morning, she was allowed out, joined by Lualeni, who appeared unexpectedly out of the bush and who has earned the title of Ex Orphan Nurse, since she is always very attentive to any member of the herd who returns injured. Six days later, Mulika and her baby were amongst all the Ex Orphans who came with some wild friends to join the Juniors at their mudbath. The Keepers then observed that little Mwende looked unusually dull and that she had also lost condition. Concluding that Mulika's milk might be failing, more than likely due to the very dry condition, they reported the matter to Trust H.Q. in Nairobi who organized that supplements be flown to Ithumba . Mulika brought her weakened baby back to the Stockades the next day, accompanied by Galana and Lualeni as the Nannies, and there she enjoyed a generous handout of Dairy Cubes and Lucerne to try and stimulate her lactation. It was also touching that the rest of the Ex Orphaned herd turned up that afternoon and were particularly attentive to Mulika and the baby taking the two off amongst them when they departed. However Mulika was back in the evening, when she voluntarily went back into her erstwhile Stockade to enjoy the supplements provided for her, after which she and little Mwende have been regular and very frequent visitors to the Stockades so that Mulika can feast on the extra rations to keep her milk flowing. Within a few days, her breasts filled again, and little Mwende had become stronger, something that has continued since with each passing day.

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