Jambo Everyone,Well as you see my writing goes where it wants to go as well as the pictures.
Today I bring you greetings from the Animal World of Nairobi.
The top left picture is my favorite monkey unfortunately I still have not found out what kind of monkey he is. He stands about
2 1/2' tall with a tail at least that long. He is a visitor to a tree outside my flat.
Next to him are a family of baboons that were along the road going into Nairobi. Unfortunately I did not get the baby riding on the mothers back.
Next is the rhino and he along with the elephants you see are part of the Elephant Orphanage which I visited Sat. First, the rhino they found him abandoned hiding in a clump of trees. First they thought he had damage to his eyes as he could not see, then after getting in an eye specialist they found out he was blind from birth and probably deserted by the family. He will stay at the nursery for the rest of his life.
Next are the baby elephants, they range from 3 months to 27 months at this time. Most are the results of poachers. When they are found they are extremely traumatized from the loss of there mother and family. So the men you see in the pictures become there mother. They feed them on demand when they are hungry they water them and they sleep with them in little houses just made for them to sleep in. The men have bunks that are built in the room. They change off so they do not become attached to one specific man. They are just like babies if left alone they will cry uncontrollably and must be comforted. They self wean themselves by the age of 2-3 years and start eating greens, bark etc. The keeper are not allowed to feed them any human food and the elephants normally know what to eat. They drink baby formula up until then as they can't give them cows milk it would kill them.
It costs $900.00 a month to take care of one baby elephant.
I have many pictures of the babies, the top one is them all trying to get in the water hole, but at first they don't know what to do, then one of the men start splashing them with water then they roll in the dirt and get nice and muddy then all try to get in this one very small water hole. It is funny to watch as they are just like children and the men have to discipline them just as mothers would if they are not acting accordingly. They said one of them was a wild child and can't seem to understand rules, so she has not moved on to the Rehab Center. The Rehab Center is where they get them ready to be returned to the wild. This time gets them to not be as dependent on humans and to fend for food for themselves and to protect themselves. Then they will be transported to an area where there is a herd and hopefully they will join in and survive.
Nairobi National Park is and don't quote me about 25 miles long and I am not sure how many acres. It is completely fenced with electric wire so animals can not get out. The Park is right on the edge of downtown Nairobi. They do have an occasional escaped cheetah or lion. The university is on Masai land purchase from the Masai Indians. There are zebra, gazelles, and cats that still roam the area outside the Park and we are very isolated out here with only Rongia which is about 12 miles from us and then a Masai village which are about 6 stores about 8 miles away.
Well I think perhaps I have too much in this blog today but there is always so much to say.
Until the next time,
Kwahari
