The 29th April 2009 was both an auspicious day but also a hectic day in the Nairobi Elephant Nursery as we were embroiled in the transfer of 3 older inmates, (namely Lesanju, Lempaute and Sinya) to the Tsavo Rehabilitation facility as well as having to coordinate yet another elephant rescue, this time from Mugie Ranch in Laikipia where a cow elephant, well known to the Management of the Ranch over the past l0 years, suddenly succumbed to a longstanding abscess on her flank. This cow, who was lactating when she died on the 16th left a very young milk dependent orphan who was still amongst the herd at the time her body was found. The longstanding huge lump on her flank left her partially paralysed following the birth of an earlier calf, and apparently had affected her in the same way after the birth of her latest baby. No foreign body was found in the tissue of the swelling during a post-mortem examination so what had caused this condition remains unclear.
As usual, he was extremely restless during that first night, but had rallied well by the next morning. The best news was that the scour had abated - a hopeful sign. At the suggestion of the Manager of Mugie Ranch he was named Olkeju to identify his origin, the Samburu name for "footprint" and also that of a small stream close to where his mother died and where he was captured. However, his Army Rescuers will always know him as "Johnny Olkeju", Johnny being the name by which British soldiers are known in Northern Kenya. A day or two later his Army Rescuers came to visit him in the Nursery, delighted that he was still alive, despite being so skeletal and weak. They will be following the life of little Johnny Olkeju closely, for he made that particular Training Expedition in Northern Kenya so memorable and will always have a special place in their hearts.