In 2001, there was a small village where a young elephant called Mweya found herself lost and alone. The locals were not sure what to do with her, as she was still very young. After much consideration, they ultimately chose to return Mweya back to the forest where she belonged. Fortunately, a concerned individual heard about the situation and intervened to rescue her.
Back in 2001, Mweya looked quite different from the way she looks now. After completing a six-week education program, she was transferred to the Nursery. At that time, Mweya resided with a pack of chimpanzees who considered her to be an easy target for intimidation. Despite being small in size, Mweya managed to establish herself as a resilient and confident leader. This experience was crucial in molding Mweya’s character and fortitude, which we admire today.
In 2015, Edie entrusted Mweya with the responsibility of taking care of Eden. Mweya had previously been a resident at our Nursery but had moved on to the Voi Reintegration Unit in Tsavo. During her time in the wild, Mweya gained valuable skills and took the lead in caring for Eden, which strengthened her leadership abilities. After leaving our facility, Mweya collaborated with Edie to create a community of former orphans.
Mweya is famous for her unwavering character, and she took on an essential role in looking after Edie’s first two daughters, Ella and Eden. Nevertheless, in November 2019, Mweya became a mother herself, giving birth to her daughter, Mwitu. Following some much-needed quality time bonding with her newborn, Mweya came back to Voi, joined by Edie and her son Eco. Even with the increased responsibility of taking care of her own child, Mweya remained determined and unwavering as she continued to provide great attention and care to Mwitu.
In February of this year, the ex-orphans made their way back to Voi after being away in Tsavo for quite some time. One particular elephant named Mweya stood out from the rest due to her noticeable round belly, leading many to believe that she may be pregnant. However, elephants have a lengthy gestation period of 22 months, making it difficult to pinpoint an exact due date. We’ll just have to sit tight and wait to see when Mweya’s new bundle of joy makes its grand entrance.
Our hearts were filled with joy when we laid eyes on Mweya and her newborn offspring. We hadn’t anticipated seeing them so soon since they typically return closer to the New Year, and the ongoing drought in Tsavo made us think it would take even longer. However, on October 18th, we were pleasantly surprised by four unexpected guests waiting outside the stockades. Mweya, along with her firstborn Mwitu, Eden, Edie’s seven-year-old daughter, and Mweya’s new little baby boy, were all present. We decided to call him Mojo because of his captivating personality and charm.
Accompanied by her two calves, Mwitu and Mojo, Mweya set out on a challenging 100-kilometer journey back to Voi, with the aid of Edie’s daughter, Eden. Although she was used to traveling with her group in Laikipia, this time, they were far from their usual surroundings. Mweya’s decision to return to Voi was crucial since her firstborn, Mwitu, still needed milk, which was scarce due to the drought season. To make things even more difficult, Mojo’s arrival meant that Mweya had to provide enough milk for both calves without additional food. However, Mweya was brave and chose to venture back to Voi, where there was plenty of food. To ensure a successful journey, she sought Eden’s help since there was no water available during the trek. Mweya’s determination and leadership skills paid off as all four elephants made it through the journey and appeared to be thriving. Her courage and quick thinking saved her family from potential danger, making her an admirable role model in the animal kingdom.
Mojo was exhausted after his journey and made it to Voi, where he decided to take a much-needed rest. While he was napping, Mweya, a mother elephant, and her newborn were nearby at the stockades grabbing a drink and a bite to eat. Though Mwitu, Mweya’s older daughter, was still young herself, she took care of Mojo and played with him while they were resting. Eden, who had grown up under Mweya’s guidance, also became an important part of Mojo’s caretaking team, making for a heartwarming moment for all involved. Mojo’s playful antics kept everyone entertained and joyous for the whole day.
We are absolutely delighted for Mweya and her growing family. Even though we haven’t seen Edie and the other ex-orphans in Voi yet, we’re not too worried. The fact that Mweya, Mwitu, Mojo, and Eden have all arrived in good health is a great sign that they’ve been able to find enough resources to thrive during the drought. It’s possible that Edie and her group are waiting for the rain before heading our way, or maybe they’ve already started their journey. Either way, we have no doubt that they’re just as resilient as Mweya. We were thrilled to receive a photo of Laikipia recently, and it’s clear that she’s doing well. This gives us hope that the rest of the ex-orphans are doing just as well.
We are elated to share with you the wonderful news of our latest family member – little Mojo. He was born to Mweya, one of the orphaned elephants that we have been caring for, and has brought nothing but joy and delight to our team. It warms our hearts to see Mweya embrace motherhood so beautifully. With Mojo’s arrival, we are thrilled to report that we have successfully rescued, nurtured, and reintroduced 52 calves back into their natural habitat. This achievement is further reinforced by the recent addition of Wimbi, Wendi’s third daughter who was warmly welcomed at Ithumba. These adorable creatures serve as a testament to the incredible work being done by the Orphans’ Project in saving lives and protecting wildlife.
