Mixed-Green Vegetation (Oct-Dec)

Since most of the early rains started in the southern region of Tsavo East, many families moved south. But, once the rains were more widespread families were dispersed throughout Tsavo. In late-Dec, Primrose, a female I’ve known for 20 years (1991), was in the far northwestern corner of her range (Mudanda Rock). She and her family of 7 were drinking, mud-wallowing and splashing. There were numerous newborns recorded in October through December. Many of these families were recorded along Voi Riverine, south in Ndara and the northwestern region of the park.

I was unable to find Athena or Chrystal but, in Oct I found Eldora and Skye with their offspring (Tessa was absent) following Isaac (45-50 yrs old) to a waterhole. Isaac drank for a short time then moved to the shade of a tree. Once the family drank and splashed they joined Isaac in the shade to rest.

In late Dec. I found Holda with Hazel and their offspring (family of 9) following Lunar (40-45 yrs old) through an open glade. They moved as a group with Lunar in the lead to a group of Acacias. Lunar decided to stop at one of the large Acacias and Holda's family moved in close to him. They rested for 50 minutes and then with Lunar in the lead again they moved north feeding on grasses and herbs as they moved.

Green-Dry Vegetation (May-Sept)

Many of the families that aggregated around Voi and Wasesa hills, moved to Irima hill and the western grassland. Then a few weeks later some of them returned to Wasesa and then moved back to Irima - indicating that this region is part of their home range. In June I found Holda with her new female calf in a group of 7 with Hazel - on the western slope of Wasesa hill. Then in Aug her group consisted of 11 individuals on the southern slope of Irima. A week later she had moved to the western slope of Mzinga with 15 individuals.

In July I found Eldora, Skye and Tessa in a group of 16 individuals, west of Mwakingali hill with a musth bull. Then in early-Aug Eldora's group consisted of 9 individuals on the southern slope of Irima. Two weeks later, Eldora was with Skye and her calf (3 individuals) in the grassland west of Irima moving east. As they slowly walked thru the glade Eldora urinated - defecated and Sky's calf used her trunk to scoop-up the wet dung and wet grass from the urine and splash it behind her ears. I've seen this behavior before, typically by young elephants, during both the dry and rainy seasons.

I was not able to find Chrystal but I did find Athena in Aug, in a group of 15 individuals, along the water pipeline east of Mwakingali hill. The pipe had broken and water was flowing east into the bush for 150 meters creating a huge pool. More than 200 elephants, mostly families, were dispersed in this area for over 3 weeks.

Green Vegetation - Rains (Jan-Apr)

Many families continued to gather in the western area surrounding the hills and open grassland. Some families with small calves, less than one year old, were seen climbing the hills and feeding on the vegetation or drinking from pools in the rocks. I found Athena's family of 8 drinking and mud wallowing from a pool at the pipeline in early Jan. Chrystal's family of 12 was seen in an aggregation of 42 individuals (Sirius-in musth, Amadeus, Elvira and Primrose)) at the western glade of Voi River.

In January I found Holda at a waterhole with 23 individuals (Medora, Nelita and Sunray). Then I found her again in Apr, with a new female calf, next to a group of bulls, no other families in the area. Another well known female, Medora, who was seen in Jan., was found again in Apr with a new calf, unfortunately the vegetation was too thick to determine the sex. Although I did not see Eldora and her family I did find Cypris and One Tusker in Jan and Apr. Cypris's new male calf looked healthy and stayed close by his mother.

Green Vegetation - Rains (Nov-Dec)

In Nov. and Dec. many families gathered around the north-western hills (Voi, Wasesa and Mzinga) and there were large aggregations, 65 individuals, some with bulls, along the Voi riverine. Eldora, Skye and Tessa (with her calf born in Sep) were frequently seen together in the northwest area. But, in Dec. Tessa and her calf were not with Eldora's family, but a young male, 10-12 years old had joined the family. Although I was unable to find Athena, Holda or Chrystal, I did find Agatha that I had not seen for over three years with 11 other individuals.

Green-Dry Vegetation (May - Oct)

Many families gathered along the western Voi Riverine and grassland during the early part of the dry season. An aggregation (112 individuals), was found including Chrystal, Athena, C. T. (tuskless - crooked tail), Paprika and Novia, with one bull in musth (unknown 35 year old) and a group of six young males.

As the dry season progressed many families moved west to Wasesa, Mzinga and Mwakingali Hills. They utilized the grassland to the west and moved east to the pools along the pipeline. Athena, Holda, Hazel and Nola with their offspring were seen in a large aggregation of 52 individuals on the north side of Wasesa Hill. In Oct, I found Evergreen, with a 1 month old female calf, and Thorn (bull-25 yrs old) in a mixed group of 10 individuals. Eldora's, Skye and Tessa were frequently found in the western region. Tessa appeared pregnant in June and July and in late Aug she was not with Eldora's family. Then in late Sept I found Tessa with a male newborn, once again with Eldora and Skye.

In Oct. Cypris was seen with a male newborn, in an aggregation (with One Tusker) in the western region of Voi riverine. Cypris's newborn walked, not yet very steady, among many of the elephants in the group. When he approached the 3 bulls (20-25 years old), with his trunk outstretched, they either slowly side-stepped away or walked away from him. I've seen this newborn-male behavior before. However, when he approached some of the older females he got kicked. Three large females (including One Tusker) kicked him but one female's kick was with enough force to toss him into the air and when he hit the ground and bellowed Cypris rushed toward him and put her trunk over his back and pulled him next to her.

Green Vegetation - Rains (Jan - Apr)

During the rains with green vegetation, most of the females and their offspring were in aggregations of 30 or more individuals. Almost all of the families had 3 to 4 young males (10-15 years old) with them; newly independent bulls that were not yet ready to be on their own. I was unable to find Chrystal but found Athena in groups of 9 to 16 individuals at the base of Voi and Mwakingali hills, feeding on creepers. One calf in the family was tossing a long strand of creeper in the air and the vine got caught on the upper fold of her ear. She left it dangling over her ear to her cheek, stood for a minute, shook her head and then continued feeding, with the vine draped over her head.

Eldora and her family (Skye and Tessa) were frequently seen west of Voi and Mwakingali Hills. In early February I found her with Darwin and Sirius (both not in musth) and 5 newly independent bulls. In mid February, Holda and Hazel with their offspring were with Amadeus, who was in musth, feeding in the open glade west of Irima Hill. Amadeus did not appear to be guarding a specific female. Four days later when I found Holda, Amadeus was not with them. In March I found her in an aggregation of 46 individuals at Irima waterhole - some swimming, some standing on the edge drinking and some were resting. Within this aggregation there were other well known females and their offspring: Syna, Mara, Tamika, Tiberia, Skye, Tessa, Eldora and Aleta.

Green Vegetation - Rains (Oct - Dec)

With the early rains families remained in small groups but had dispersed to areas with natural waterholes and green vegetation. I found Chrystal and her family of 8 in the western region of Voi River in late Nov; the good news is that she and her calf survived the long dry season. In early Dec, I found Athena, with her 2 offspring, two-thirds of the way up Voi Hill; they were feeding on plants in the rocks. Eldora was recorded in Oct with only one calf; a 6-8 year old male, but then in late Dec I found her in her typical group of 8; Tessa and Skye (who has a new calf 4-6 months old). I was unable to find Holda; perhaps she has moved to the northern area of Tsavo East.

Green-Dry Vegetation (May - Sept)

The majority of the families were in small groups; one adult female and her two or three offspring. As the dry season progress the frequency of seeing one adult female with only one calf increased and in some cases lone females were recorded. By August most families stayed within 1-2 km of a water resource. Many families were seen feeding on grass along the Voi Riverine. Chrystal, and her calf were sighted at the Kanderi glade in groups of 8 and 13 individuals. Holda and Hazel moved between Voi Riverine and Mwakingali Hill. A hippo at Kanderi was seen dashing across the glade between three families of elephants (17 individuals); three large females trumpeted and tossed their trunk at him, before he quickly submerged into the waterhole.

Dry-Green Vegetation (Jan - April)

Holda was seen with her 14 month old female calf and Hazel with her 2 offspring climbing Mwakingali Hill in the western region. Chrystal was found in the Aruba area with a 2-month old female calf in March. In April, Primrose (hole right ear) with her 4 month old male calf was found in a group of 9 individuals. Many newborns were recorded in March and April. Females and their very small offspring together with large bulls (25 yrs old) were frequently seen climbing Mwakingali and Irima hills in the northwestern region; Aleta, Heloise, Athena, Anora, Justine, Eldora, Skye and Tessa.