RED CARPET ROXY’S “RED ALERT” OF THE WEEK-JANUARY 4, 2010

Olare, the orphaned elephant fostered by RedCarpetRoxy.com photo: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

As the first “Red Alert” of the new decade, I thought it only fitting to give you an update on Olare, the young, orphaned elephant that RedCarpetRoxy.com is fostering at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. Newly orphaned elephants calves and baby rhinos are rescued quite frequently from the surrounding areas in Kenya, and sadly, their mothers often killed as a result of poachers’ snares. The keepers at the Trust record entries of each elephant or rhino that is brought in and track their progress as they are socialized with one another. Here are the last few entries about Olare and some of her friends:

Click here to read more about the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and how you can foster an orphaned elephant or rhinoceros of your own.

After the departure of Kenia, we expected to see Dida automatically take over the Matriarchal role in the Nursery, but instead Ndii and Olare seem to be competing for that position, and Dida appears uninterested and relaxed! Ndii Olare(left) with Melia
11/10/2009	Dida has settled into her role as the new Leader, and seems to relish it. She is very attached to Melia, an associate of Mawenzi. Once out in the bush the orphans began playing instead of concentrating on browsing. Kimana invited Olare for a Pushing Match and Sabachi, who has recently been promoted to the Bigger Group ran towards Mawenzi and tried to entice her to play with him. However, she ignored him and went instead to Melia. Dida, who was close by then moved in and pushed Sabachi away from the two girls, so he went to join Kimana and Olare instead. Dida Kimana (left) with Sabachi
11/8/2009	Suguta and her group exchanged greetings by touching each other and rumbling as soon as they were let out in the morning. The small babies such as Pesi, Chaffa and Mutara were not out yet, so Tumaren, Suguta, Chaimu and Nchan went to their stables touching the doors to encourage the Keepers inside to open them up. Kibo and Kilaguni enjoy a Pushing Match most mornings, and today was no different. Sabachi, Olare and Chaimu formed another play group which kept them busy until the Keepers called them to head out into the forest to feed. Pesi Chaimu
11/7/2009	Sabachi is very selective about choosing a friend, and having chosen one, does not want to be parted. He is also very selective about where he spends the night. We moved him and Olare to the stockade vacated by Shira, but he was not at all happy, and screamed the entire night, trying to climb out, standing on his head and even kicking the Keeper with a back leg. This upset Olare who was next door, and kept the entire Nursery awake all night! Sabachi Olare
11/3/2009	Today was the last day in the Nursery for the 5 older elephants, Kenia, Shira, Enasoit, Naimina and Meibai. It is as though they were suspicious of what was about to happen, because as soon as Kenia was let out of her stockade, she went to each of the baby’s stables, knocking on the door with her head so that the Keeper inside would open up. She then greeted each one lovingly, laying her trunk across their back, and paid a lot of attention to Suguta’s group out in the bush. Bhaawa spent the day very close to Kenia, suckling her ears. Sabachi, who is Shira’s best friend, remained very close to her and Olare throughout the day, intertwining their trunks and playing together. Upon returning from the bush in the evening Sabachi insisted on going into Shira’s stockade, and refused to leave, even when enticed out with his bottle of milk. In the end the Keepers had to push him out. It was as though he knew that Shira would be leaving in the morning. Enasoit (left) Dida with Enasoit next to her Meibai Naimina (left) with Dida & Nchan Shira (left) with Enasoit and Dida