0:00:02 > 0:00:03Today on Elephant Diaries,
0:00:03 > 0:00:06after the death of a much-loved, blind baby elephant, Ndololo,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09the team are preparing for another rescue.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12We've just heard from Daphne that another orphan has been brought
0:00:12 > 0:00:14into the stockade up at Voi and I'm just hoping
0:00:14 > 0:00:18that it's in a lot better condition than little Ndololo was.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Let's go and check him out.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
0:00:39 > 0:00:43is an orphanage set up to rescue baby elephants who have lost their mothers.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47The babies arrive here, often in a terrible state,
0:00:47 > 0:00:51and it's up to the founder of the, orphanage, Dame Daphne Sheldrick,
0:00:51 > 0:00:57and her team of highly skilled and devoted keepers, to give them another chance at life.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01I'm up in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi,
0:01:01 > 0:01:04following the stories of the little newly-rescued babies
0:01:04 > 0:01:08as they struggle to come to terms with the loss of their families.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Every little elephant they save eventually goes on to a release site
0:01:15 > 0:01:19down here in Tsavo National Park, and I'm following
0:01:19 > 0:01:25the stories of these older orphans as they learn the skills they need to eventually go back to the wild.
0:01:27 > 0:01:32'It's early morning and I'm headed for Voi, one of the Trust's two Tsavo release sites,
0:01:32 > 0:01:37'but this time it's a tiny new arrival who I'm going to see.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42'She was rescued late last night and head keeper, Joseph, has been looking after her.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44'Her mother was killed by poachers.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48'Alone and scared, she got herself stuck in mud.'
0:01:48 > 0:01:51(This ele's so tiny!)
0:01:53 > 0:01:55How long do you think she was stuck for?
0:01:55 > 0:01:56Three days.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00Because take a look... Her backbone... I can see it from here.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05And round her ears, I mean, she looks very dehydrated.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08This little elephant would've been with its mother up to this point.
0:02:08 > 0:02:13Three months old... The first year, would not go more than a few feet from its mother's side.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15That's its whole world,
0:02:15 > 0:02:18relies on it for finding water, for getting milk.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23She's milk-dependent for the next two years. Suddenly, no Mum!
0:02:23 > 0:02:27Remember those times when you were a kid and panic set in?
0:02:27 > 0:02:32Your whole world just in pieces because you suddenly realise,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36"I'm lost!", and that's what that little elephant must've been thinking,
0:02:36 > 0:02:38just sheer terror.
0:02:38 > 0:02:44Because a little elephant of that age wouldn't have a hope in hell. It would be dead.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Without your mother, you're finished...
0:02:47 > 0:02:51unless Joseph and the team are around.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55Little Chyulu, as she's been named, is covered in sores.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57They've been sprayed with purple antiseptic.
0:02:57 > 0:03:03She's lucky to have been rescued nearby, but this is no place for a tiny baby.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06She's got to get on an aeroplane and go to Nairobi.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09They simply can't look after an orphan this small.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12That's a job for Edwin, for Daphne, up in Nairobi.
0:03:12 > 0:03:19Going all the way to the nursery will be a tough and stressful journey, but it WILL be worth it.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Up here in Nairobi, she'll be guaranteed a warm welcome
0:03:27 > 0:03:31from this very friendly little gang of elephants.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35Here, Edwin, the head keeper, and his team cater for the orphans' every need.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Look at these eles. They're on the move.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44They seem to be ready to go somewhere. Well, that's because, these eles have a built-in clock.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48It's quarter past two, and they know that is feed time for them.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50All of these elephants are milk-dependent.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Now most of them take a bottle and they guzzle it down,
0:03:53 > 0:03:55but there are a couple that are fussy eaters.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02'Each of the young eles here
0:04:02 > 0:04:06'gets two bottles of warm milk every three hours.'
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Now this is one of the fussy eaters.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13This is the other fussy eater.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16They are the two smallest elephants
0:04:16 > 0:04:21and what they do is they drink behind this blanket.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Now I know that looks completely barking mad,
0:04:24 > 0:04:29but there is actually a very, very good reason why they like to use this blanket.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32This is is sort of like the mother's stomach, isn't it?
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Yeah. It's like the feel of the mother.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37So in the wild they'd be feeding from their mothers all the time
0:04:37 > 0:04:41and the mothers' stomachs would be hanging down with the elephant underneath,
0:04:41 > 0:04:46so they have that constant touch with something and that's what the blanket is doing.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Edwin, how long do you reckon this elephant will have to feed like this?
0:04:50 > 0:04:51For about eight months.
0:04:51 > 0:04:56- So he's six, he has about two months more.- Now which elephant is this?
0:04:56 > 0:04:58- Zarura.- Zarura.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01There are two elephants that feed like this?
0:05:01 > 0:05:02Yes, Zarura and Makena.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04And they fight over the blankets, do they?
0:05:04 > 0:05:09- Yes. If you've got one blanket here or both together, they will fight one another!- Really!
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Because both want the blanket.
0:05:11 > 0:05:18The morning feed is over, but cheeky little Makena is heading back to her milk blanket and she's not happy.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20There's only one blanket.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23We could have a little bit of a tussle going on..
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Oh...!
0:05:25 > 0:05:29- Would that be like fighting for one mother in the wild?- It will be.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Fighting for the teat?
0:05:32 > 0:05:36Yea, they are fighting for the blanket and the blanket is the figure of the mother.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39They are giving each other quite a whack!
0:05:39 > 0:05:41It looks very rough for two little eles!
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Yes. Especially Zarura is very rough!
0:05:44 > 0:05:50Now stop it, you two! I'm not sure a wagging finger is really going to help in this situation.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Leave her alone!
0:05:53 > 0:05:58Feeling battered and grumpy, Makena wanders off to find her adopted mother, Lualeni.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03These two have a very close bond and are only ever apart for milk feeds,
0:06:03 > 0:06:07and so a cuddle from her is just what Makena needs.
0:06:07 > 0:06:13Hopefully, Lualeni will also be able to comfort little Chyulu when she arrives.
0:06:16 > 0:06:22Here in Voi, a stressed little Chyulu could certainly do with some reassurance right now.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24We've got to get her on an aeroplane,
0:06:24 > 0:06:26and it's not going to be easy.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29She might look little now at three months old,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33but she probably weighs a couple of hundred kilos, 150 kilos.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37It's going to take all of us to lift her up in this net.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39And you can see she really doesn't want to come out.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42OK. Out she comes, round goes the strap.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44Joseph has got the strap.
0:06:46 > 0:06:47D'you want her on her side?
0:06:47 > 0:06:48ELEPHANT SNORTS
0:06:51 > 0:06:52They've got the straps round her legs.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57That's the key to keeping her restrained and she's obviously panic-struck
0:06:57 > 0:07:01but there is no alternative. She has to go through this process.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Your can hear the keepers just talking to each other in Swahili,
0:07:04 > 0:07:08but basically, it's keep calm and try and keep the noise right down
0:07:08 > 0:07:11so as not to stress her more than we can.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13With the vet supervising,
0:07:13 > 0:07:17everyone is trying to keep the baby as relaxed as possible.
0:07:17 > 0:07:23In her dehydrated state, it's too dangerous to give her a sedative, so it's vital she remains calm.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26OK.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29- ELEPHANT GRUNTS - In we go!
0:07:29 > 0:07:30Next stop, the airstrip.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39Edwin and his team of keepers have arrived from Nairobi.
0:07:39 > 0:07:44'Chyulu is in very safe hands as they have a huge amount of experience
0:07:44 > 0:07:47'in flying rescued babies out from the bush.'
0:07:47 > 0:07:52The main concern for the pilot is that Chyulu doesn't panic on the flight,
0:07:52 > 0:07:56so without a sedative, it's down to their skill and experience
0:07:56 > 0:08:01to make sure everyone stays safe, and so far it's all working.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05- OK... Go!- Don't drop her, don't drop her...
0:08:05 > 0:08:08There we go... OK.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18One very important passenger safely loaded.
0:08:18 > 0:08:19Next stop Nairobi,
0:08:19 > 0:08:23and the beginning of a whole new chapter in young Chyulu's life!
0:08:26 > 0:08:27Throughout the journey,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Edwin watches very carefully
0:08:29 > 0:08:33to make sure that she's not going into shock.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35So far so good. We're about to touch down,
0:08:35 > 0:08:36then we have, I should think,
0:08:36 > 0:08:41a 15, 20-minute ride in a truck to get Chyulu safely to the orphanage.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51At last, journey's end,
0:08:51 > 0:08:56and everybody rushes to help little Chyulu into her stable.
0:09:04 > 0:09:10She's arrived just before the other little orphans come back to their beds for the night.
0:09:10 > 0:09:15And her neighbour, Loijuk, is desperate to know who has moved in next door,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18but she'll just have to wait till the morning.
0:09:18 > 0:09:24After all the excitement and trauma of the day, this is one exhausted little elephant.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29Chyulu looks absolutely adorable with that blanket tucked over her.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31She's finally fallen asleep.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Now whether the keepers get any sleep tonight, goodness only knows,
0:09:34 > 0:09:36but Chyulu's going to need all her strength
0:09:36 > 0:09:42because tomorrow is when she meets the other orphans, so I hope she really does get some sleep.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50After a very peaceful night,
0:09:50 > 0:09:54Chyulu's just woken from a long lie-in.
0:09:54 > 0:10:00The other little orphans have been out for a couple of hours, but Edwin is so pleased with
0:10:00 > 0:10:05Chyulu's progress, that they've been brought back to the stables to greet their new little sister.
0:10:10 > 0:10:18Poor little Chyulu is feeling very shy, clinging to the keeper who looked after her during the night.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23Mini-matriarch, Lualeni, is first over to try and reassure her.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28I can see little Chyulu doesn't know what to do at the moment
0:10:28 > 0:10:33because she's met a crowd, a group of other orphans here
0:10:33 > 0:10:35and she's trying to follow the keepers.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38She's afraid to join them.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Compared to our orphans who are being fed well, she's weak.
0:10:42 > 0:10:48She's still weak and we need to take a great concern about her.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53She's also a noticeably different colour to the Nairobi herd
0:10:53 > 0:10:56who have regular baths in red, iron-rich mud.
0:10:56 > 0:11:02But Edwin's decided that this little grey elephant IS strong enough to go out into the bush.
0:11:02 > 0:11:07Just two days ago, Chyulu was a wild elephant.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12Now she has a new loving family of people and baby elephants,
0:11:12 > 0:11:18but they can never replace the family she lost because of the poachers.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24Unfortunately, little Chyulu is not alone in her suffering.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26I've come back to Tsavo National Park
0:11:26 > 0:11:29to catch up with the older orphans
0:11:29 > 0:11:32who are being slowly reintroduced back to the wild.
0:11:32 > 0:11:38Despite their size, these are still very young elephants, all under 10 years old.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Each is still coming to terms with their own personal story of loss.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45I suddenly feel very, very small.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50And this elephant here, with that great rip in his ear,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53the most distinctive of all these elephants, that's Burra.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58And the reason for that tear in his ear is because he was caught up in a wire snare.
0:11:58 > 0:12:04He was eight months old and his mother literally pulled him free but in doing so helped to actually
0:12:04 > 0:12:10pull that snare tighter and tighter round his neck, through his ear, and that's the result of it.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Now initially, when he was brought into the orphanage, he didn't want to know.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17His head was down, he had this terrible wound,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20he didn't want to drink, and the keepers, struggled, struggled,
0:12:20 > 0:12:25two keepers sleeping with him that first night when they got him to the orphanage in Nairobi.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30And now he's just a lovely, gentle elephant.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Burra was lucky to have survived,
0:12:32 > 0:12:37but the poacher's snare effectively robbed him of his family.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Snares are an indiscriminate and lethal menace, so to see
0:12:40 > 0:12:46what's being done about them, I am visiting the local headquarters of the Kenya Wildlife Service.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50They've joined forces with the Trust to tackle the poachers head-on,
0:12:50 > 0:12:54but the scale of the problem is shocking.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Many little orphan elephants have lost their mothers to poachers.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Just take a look at this lot.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03These are wire snares. This is how the poachers kill the animals.
0:13:03 > 0:13:09And THAT is what it's gonna take to kill an elephant, a thumping great thick piece of cable.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13The elephant puts its foot in, gets tangled up, pulls the snare tight,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16can't get away because it's attached to a tree.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22And when the poacher comes round
0:13:22 > 0:13:26to check his snares he brings with him poisoned arrows.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29These are wrapped up with plastic or hide because if I was even
0:13:29 > 0:13:32to scratch my finger with that it could kill me.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37And there's a type of snare for every kind of animal here in Tsavo
0:13:37 > 0:13:40but I think the most chilling thing of all is right behind me here.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Take a look at this.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48This is a tusk. What does it weigh?
0:13:48 > 0:13:5111 kilos, that's about 25lbs.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55That is a female elephant. I think she's probably 30-40 years old,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59probably would have had five to ten calves in her lifetime,
0:13:59 > 0:14:03and when the poachers killed her she would have had a small calf with her, for sure,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06and that calf would not have survived.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10To see how they're tackling the poachers, I am joining
0:14:10 > 0:14:14one of the Trust's six desnaring teams for their daily patrol
0:14:14 > 0:14:17to try and track down the snares.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Is there a lot of poaching? Alex is the team leader.
0:14:20 > 0:14:25Last month we arrested a poacher who had 64 big snares.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Really? Big snares as in catching what kind of animal?
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Big snares... I'm talking of targeting buffaloes,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35- elephants, zebras and giraffes. - Right.- Yeah.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38And they're basically meat poaching?
0:14:38 > 0:14:44- Meat poaching...- Right.- Some for commercial purposes, and even others for domestic use.- OK.- Yeah.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Alex and the team have started to spread out a bit now.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50They're sort of making a net because they think the poachers
0:14:50 > 0:14:53are active in this area, and they want to just check every
0:14:53 > 0:14:58particular part of it because if a poacher comes, he's not going to just put down one snare.
0:14:58 > 0:15:03He's going to leave a whole net of snares to try and catch animals if he thinks it's a good area.
0:15:08 > 0:15:09Oh, look at this!
0:15:09 > 0:15:13- Now that...- You see...- ..is a big chunk of wire.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18This one can snare a giraffe
0:15:18 > 0:15:24and most of the time they put this kind of snare in Acacia species, Acacia trees.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27- And such kind of a wire can even trap an elephant.- Yeah.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31- The problem is of course that yes, it can break away from the tree... - Yeah.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34..but in doing it, it pulls the snare so tight...
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- And most of them, they end up dying. - Yeah.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41Especially, if you imagine that the trunk has been trapped by the snare, it might be chopped off.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44Even the leg. Can you imagine the kind of injury? A wire like that
0:15:44 > 0:15:49would cut bone deep, and then infection, a lingering death...
0:15:49 > 0:15:52- So it's a massive problem you're facing.- Mm.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54It's quite a big problem we are facing in this area.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59Tsavo is a huge place so unfortunately the teams can't
0:15:59 > 0:16:06find every snare. Recently, the Trust's veterinary team were called to a particularly horrific event.
0:16:06 > 0:16:12A wild calf appeared to have a snare around her leg and was clearly in terrible pain.
0:16:17 > 0:16:22The vet decides to dart the calf with an anaesthetic so they can treat the wound.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35The mother tries desperately to keep her baby awake.
0:16:35 > 0:16:42The team attempt to drive her and her family away temporarily so they can help the baby.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44But elephant mothers are incredibly brave,
0:16:44 > 0:16:49- MOTHER TRUMPETS - and she stands her ground protecting her unconscious youngster.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07The team are left with no choice but to dart the mother as well.
0:17:13 > 0:17:21Unfortunately, in her final attempt to protect her calf, the mother collapses on top of her.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24If the team can't get her off in the next five minutes,
0:17:24 > 0:17:26the calf will suffocate.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32It's a race against time to free the trapped calf,
0:17:32 > 0:17:36but with the mother weighing around three tons, this is a massive task.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43At last the calf is freed and vet David Ndere
0:17:43 > 0:17:46can finally get a look at the wound.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49As suspected, a wire snare is embedded deep in the leg,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52causing unimaginable pain.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57This injury is quite serious.
0:17:57 > 0:18:02So what I'll do is, I'll take it out, clean this wound,
0:18:02 > 0:18:05and give it a high dose of antibiotics.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11Quite serious, quite deep. So this is the wire,
0:18:12 > 0:18:18and once the foreign object is out this animal should recover quite well.
0:18:18 > 0:18:23With her leg treated, it's time to bring the two elephants round.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26This youngster was one of the lucky ones.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28She survived the poacher's snare.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Last year, across Africa,
0:18:30 > 0:18:34it's estimated that 23,000 elephants were killed by poachers,
0:18:34 > 0:18:38and unfortunately the trade in ivory is on the increase again..
0:18:38 > 0:18:43The good news is that we've had reports that the calf is making an excellent recovery.
0:18:43 > 0:18:48Incidents like this really help to motivate the desnaring teams.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50We're just being called to something.
0:18:54 > 0:18:55Oh, yes, I can see it. Look!
0:18:55 > 0:18:57You were right!
0:18:57 > 0:18:58HE LAUGHS A different material.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02- Yeah, different material?- Yeah. - But again, buffalo?
0:19:02 > 0:19:07- Buffalo.- I mean, that's strong stuff, isn't it, if you think how powerful a buffalo is.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11But there's no way... If it gets itself tangled up in that
0:19:11 > 0:19:14it's as good as dead. Even when there's not an animal caught up
0:19:14 > 0:19:20in a snare, and I've seen animals caught in snares, and it is the most horrific sight, because this...
0:19:20 > 0:19:23To die in a snare has to be about the most brutal death
0:19:23 > 0:19:27that anything or anyone could ever have inflicted upon them.
0:19:27 > 0:19:32And the trouble is, of course, you know, you go through that and then this just pulls tighter, tighter.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Just imagine, look at this. You pull it tighter, tighter,
0:19:35 > 0:19:37You're desperate, struggling.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40You're trying to get free, and at every moment as you get free,
0:19:40 > 0:19:44that pulls tighter and tighter into your skin, just like a vice grip.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46Now you can't breathe, now you can't swallow,
0:19:46 > 0:19:49but you're still suffering and it'll go on for days.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54We've pulled out a few snares today,
0:19:54 > 0:19:56but it's estimated that every year
0:19:56 > 0:20:01over 20,000 animals die in this way in Tsavo alone.
0:20:01 > 0:20:06So it's essential that Alex and his team don't lose heart.
0:20:06 > 0:20:14And Alex, if you even save one animal it's an amazing gift that you are giving, isn't it?
0:20:14 > 0:20:18So knowing what I've seen today... That's eight animals' lives,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21eight big animals probably, that you've saved, maybe even an elephant
0:20:21 > 0:20:27from having its trunk torn off, from its leg, you know, mutilated...
0:20:27 > 0:20:30I really admire that work. I think you are doing a fantastic job.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34Thank you for that encouragement. We try to keep on doing it, day by day.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45It's the usual early start for the orphans here in the Nairobi nursery.
0:20:45 > 0:20:51They're up and out into the bush every day at first light, and as it's winter here,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54the mornings can be pretty chilly,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57but I'm here to check on the newest arrival.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Chyulu is very easy to spot within the herd at the moment.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Not only is she the smallest elephant, but she's the only one
0:21:06 > 0:21:10that keeps her blanket on all day and there's a very good reason for that.
0:21:10 > 0:21:16The biggest fear for the babies coming in is the fear of them catching pneumonia.
0:21:16 > 0:21:22In fact 90% of all the babies that die in the orphanage, die of pneumonia.
0:21:22 > 0:21:28And she could be susceptible to it because she was found in the mud and it's not that warm at this time
0:21:28 > 0:21:34of the year, so we have to keep a really close eye on her and make sure she's warm all the time.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37But I must say, at the moment she seems to be doing really well.
0:21:47 > 0:21:54I'm also having an early start with the orphans down here in Tsavo National Park.
0:21:54 > 0:21:59It's a glorious morning here at Voi and the elephants are just bursting to get out into the park.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05But I can guarantee that one of the elephants will get left behind.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10Her name's Mweiga and she's still way back up the top there.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15It's actually pitiful to watch Mweiga moving
0:22:15 > 0:22:18because every step seems to be painful.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21She's probably got some kind of condition of her joints.
0:22:21 > 0:22:26Just look at her! Just struggling to get down that hill.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29She desperately wants to keep up with the rest of the herd,
0:22:29 > 0:22:34but they must carry on feeding, they have to move ahead, and she just gets left behind.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Obviously we've got the keepers there to help her and encourage her
0:22:44 > 0:22:47but she has to keep going. She's got to feed herself.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51That's one thing she can't rely on the other elephants to do.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Yes, they can come back, they can reassure her,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57but they have to look after themselves too.
0:22:57 > 0:23:04Even just watching the way she places her feet, I mean, it seems as if every step is painful for her.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08Despite her struggle, the Trust refuses to give up on Mweiga
0:23:08 > 0:23:11and tries to provide her with a good quality of life.
0:23:11 > 0:23:17You can hear her every so often there, just rumbling, talking to the rest of the herd...
0:23:17 > 0:23:18"Where are you?"
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Even though the rest of the herd have gone on ahead
0:23:27 > 0:23:33and are busy eating, their innate compassion and kindness means they haven't forgotten poor Mweiga.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Fascinating to see the way the herd responded there.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43They could hear Mweiga calling to them,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46and then Mtumi coming in. Now that's the matriarch...
0:23:46 > 0:23:50"What's going on here, is everything OK?" Just what she should be doing -
0:23:50 > 0:23:54caring, looking after everybody's interests.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Out went the trunk, just reaching out.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01Another little rumble of reassurance - "Come on, come on, keep up!"
0:24:03 > 0:24:07But it's not just the other elephants who look out for Mweiga.
0:24:07 > 0:24:13Joseph, the head keeper here in Voi, is extremely fond of this brave but fragile elephant,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16and this is particularly evident at morning milk time.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18Mweiga?
0:24:22 > 0:24:24SUCKING AND GURGLING
0:24:24 > 0:24:29Normally we stop feeding them when they're about three years old, but since Mweiga's been very weak
0:24:29 > 0:24:35we have to give her extra bottle of milk as well as extra food.
0:24:35 > 0:24:42Mweiga has a safe and loving home down here in Voi, being cared for by humans and elephants alike.
0:24:45 > 0:24:50400km north in Nairobi,
0:24:50 > 0:24:54the same can be said for Chyulu, who just goes from strength to strength.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59She's formed a deep attachment to Loijuk, who lives in the stable next door to her,
0:24:59 > 0:25:04and 18-month-old Loijuk has taken little Chyulu under her wing.
0:25:06 > 0:25:12Normally, new babies who arrive at the nursery would be mothered by the mini-matriarch Lualeni,
0:25:12 > 0:25:19but little orphan Makena never lets her out of sight, and spends most of her time sucking Lualeni's ear.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24This really is the most incredible behaviour.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28I mean, every time I see Makena, she's sucking that ear.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32It's getting so damp, and the trunk right in!
0:25:32 > 0:25:36But look at little Lualeni! Lualeni needs comfort too, don't you, darling?
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Today in particular she seems very affectionate. She keeps finding me,
0:25:40 > 0:25:45and look, putting my hand in her trunk and shoving it into her own mouth and sucking.
0:25:45 > 0:25:51It's very easy to forget that Lualeni is still a young elephant
0:25:51 > 0:25:54and needs a lot of comfort,
0:25:54 > 0:25:58although she is also giving a lot of comfort.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04Here in Voi, the older elephants are heading back to the stockade
0:26:04 > 0:26:07for some creature comforts of their own.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11It's been a long, hot day out in the bush, with temperatures up around
0:26:11 > 0:26:1640 degrees, and for Mweiga, the journey home can be painfully slow.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21You can see what an incredibly tough job it is for Mweiga,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24just to get herself back up to the stockade each evening.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26I mean, she's 7 going on 70!
0:26:26 > 0:26:32Now Daphne has been brainstorming with experts from overseas to try and come up with some
0:26:32 > 0:26:37kind of solution to Mweiga's problems so hopefully, in the not-too-distant future,
0:26:37 > 0:26:41we may be seeing a different Mweiga on this journey back home.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43I certainly hope so.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52The little ones in the Nairobi nursery are also heading for their beds,
0:26:52 > 0:26:58and with a drink of warm milk to look forward to, they're not hanging around.
0:26:58 > 0:27:04Everyone has their own bedroom, but little Chyulu is hoping
0:27:04 > 0:27:07that she can sneak into Loijuk's stable for the night.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14Sleepovers, though, are strictly forbidden, and she'll
0:27:14 > 0:27:18have to be content to chat to her beloved friend through the walls.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25But poor Makena is not having a good end to the day.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28She's on antibiotics for a bit of tummy trouble.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33Unfortunately for Edwin, Makena doesn't like taking her medicine!
0:27:33 > 0:27:35THEY CONVERSE
0:27:45 > 0:27:49How was that, Edwin? Was that like always, or...?
0:27:49 > 0:27:51Yes, a little wrestling!
0:27:52 > 0:27:57Because she's very strong and she doesn't like it.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59She's small but strong!
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Makena's problem isn't serious, and she should be
0:28:03 > 0:28:10fine in a couple of days, but in the next door-stable, Lualeni is keeping a concerned eye on her little baby.
0:28:10 > 0:28:17Poor Makena could do with a cuddle but has to make do with her comfort blanket.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22Unfortunately for Makena, life here at the nursery is always changing.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24Elephants have to move on to the Tsavo release site
0:28:24 > 0:28:32when they reach the age of two and very soon this is going to turn Makena's whole world upside down.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36Next time on Elephant Diaries,
0:28:36 > 0:28:39one of the elephants in Voi goes missing.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45And there's an emotional farewell in Nairobi.
0:28:45 > 0:28:50It's such a shame. The ears are going out, the trunks going up.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52He doesn't know what's going on.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:55 > 0:28:58E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk