During the peak of the drought, Mweya decided to embark on a challenging journey to visit the individuals who had raised her and introduce them to her newborn. It was no surprise that Mweya was the chosen elephant to undertake such an adventure as she had always been known for her love of travel. As a young elephant of approximately one month old, Mweya accidentally wandered into a small village where the locals were taken aback by her presence. Thankfully, they gathered her up and returned her to the wild. Eventually, news of Mweya’s situation spread, and a complete rescue effort was put in motion.
When Mweya was rescued in 2001, she spent six weeks at an education centre before being transferred to the Nursery. During this time, she lived with a group of chimpanzees who initially underestimated her. However, they quickly learned that Mweya was not to be messed with and she emerged as the leader of the pack. This experience undoubtedly played a role in shaping Mweya’s strong and determined personality that we see today.
In 2015, Mweya had the opportunity to babysit Edie’s little one, Eden. Mweya had previously spent a significant amount of time at the Nursery before being moved to the Voi Reintegration Unit in Tsavo. During her time in the wild, she developed essential survival skills and fine-tuned her leadership abilities. As soon as she was ready to transition back into her natural habitat, Mweya teamed up with her closest companion, Edie, to form an ex-orphan herd.
Mweya took on the role of chief caregiver for Edie’s initial two daughters, Ella and Eden, as expected. However, in November 2019, she became a mother herself, and her pride was evident as she and Edie brought their newborns to Voi after many months away. Mweya’s child, a spunky little girl called Mwitu, was raised with her usual unyielding determination, while Edie’s son, Eco, was gentle and kind.
Mweya was last spotted in February when the ex-orphans made their way back to Voi, after spending most of 2021 exploring Tsavo’s remote corners. It was evident from her noticeably large belly that she would soon become a mother. However, elephant gestation periods last for 22 months, making it nearly impossible to predict when her baby will arrive. We’ll have to wait and see when Mweya’s bundle of joy makes its debut.
Our expectations were exceeded when Mweya arrived with her newborn in tow. Knowing their habit of returning around New Year’s and the dry spell in Tsavo, we didn’t anticipate their presence before the rainy season. Thus, when four unexpected guests appeared outside the stockades on October 18th, the Keepers were taken aback. Mweya arrived with her firstborn, Mwitu, Edie’s seven-year-old daughter, Eden, and her latest offspring, a small baby boy who we’ve named Mojo – he truly is a special little being.
Mweya, accompanied by Mwitu and Mojo, as well as Eden, the seven-year-old daughter of Edie who acted as the head nanny, embarked on a challenging journey. According to recent reports, Laikipia, who usually travels with Mweya and Edie’s herd, is currently stationed about 100 kilometres away from Voi. Despite the risks involved, Mweya decided to undertake the long trek back ‘home’ at such a critical time. It is believed that Mweya’s decision was influenced by the fact that Mwitu, her firstborn, is still suckling and would depend on milk, especially during the drought when vegetation is scarce. With the birth of Mojo, Mweya knew she would struggle to produce enough milk for both babies without supplementary food. So, she bravely ventured back to Voi, where she knew there was plenty of food available. To ensure she had support, Eden joined her on the journey, which had no water stations between their starting point and destination. Mweya’s decision to undertake the 100-kilometre journey in a single go was an extraordinary leap of faith that paid off as all four elephants survived and are thriving. Mweya’s decisiveness and leadership skills played a significant role in averting a potential disaster for her little family.
On the first day after arriving at Voi, Mojo took a long nap to recharge. Mweya, on the other hand, stayed at the stockades to eat and drink while giving her newborn some much-needed rest. Despite the tiring journey, Mojo is an active baby, and he has been playing around the compound since his first day there. His big sister, Mwitu, may be young, but she is attentive and takes good care of him. Eden, who was raised by Mweya, has become Mojo’s head nanny, and she is very dedicated to her role. It’s a lovely moment to see how Mweya’s help in raising Eden has come full circle.
Mweya has every reason to feel proud of her expanding family. Despite the absence of Edie and the other ex-orphans at Voi, there is no cause for concern. Mweya, Mwitu, Mojo, and Eden arrived in great shape, suggesting that they found a plentiful area to weather the ongoing drought. It’s possible that Edie and the rest are waiting for the rains to come or are en route to join us. Regardless, we are confident that they are navigating the situation with the same expertise as Mweya. A recent photo of Laikipia indicates that he is doing well, which is a positive sign for the others.
We are ecstatic to introduce you to the newest addition to our ex-orphan family, little Mojo. Watching Mweya flourish as a mother fills us with joy. Mojo is a special calf, as he is the 52nd known calf born to one of the orphans that we rescued, nurtured, and reintroduced back into the wild. Another delightful surprise happened this month at Ithumba when Wendi showed us her third daughter, Wimbi. These incredible births serve as a testament to the success of the Orphans’ Project, proving that saving one life can open the door to many more.
