Those who watch Elephant Cam may have noticed changes lately as some of our male elephants moved to other locations.
So, how are the remaining nine Safari Park elephants doing? Just fine! Life just moves on, day by day, and animals quickly adapt to the conditions the day presents—whatever our keepers come up with for the day and the social groupings that form for the night.
We find that animals live for “now,” in the moment. If you really think about it, in the wild, an animal that is not alert to its present surroundings usually ends up eaten by a predator that is. Animals do not or cannot afford to “reminisce,” or to think about an animal that is no longer presently in their midst, so they quickly adapt to what is occurring in front of them, in real time.
With that said, with our four juvenile boys gone and the Big Guy out of the picture, the other elephants are simply adjusting to life without them. We observe the herd behavior daily and keep close watch as to how the three adult females interact toward each other and toward the remaining sub-adults, juveniles, and almost-one-year-olds. So far, nothing’s out of the ordinary and things are right in line with our expectations.
The herd is without an adult bull for the first time, so we will have to see how the three adult females deal with the current hierarchy, and let it play itself out over time. In the meantime, the keepers have more time to catch up on the training of the elephants, especially the two kids. We also get more time to enjoy observing the herd, which always includes Zuli and Mkhaya’s antics!
Emanti and Mac are doing well at the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas. Their keepers told me that they both usually go into their main yard pool around 11-ish every day for some sparring. Great way to play and cool off! They are out with 42-year-old Tonya every day as well.
Ingadze and Luti have been introduced to Bulwagi, Birmingham Zoo’s 38-year-old bull African elephant bull. They are both doing well and enjoy exploring their new Trails of Africa home. They have a huge, lush main yard (and their barns are also rather massive), two pools to cool off in, lots of natural grass to graze, and a really mellow adult bull to socialize with and learn from.
Msholo has not been formally introduced to the two 36-year-old females Tara and Kelly just yet, as his new home at Zoo Atlanta’s brand spanking new African Savanna exhibit just opened its doors to the public. Tara and Kelly are checking out their new digs first. Eventually Msholo will do the same, and then formal introductions will commence. Msholo’s new barn is the biggest elephant barn I’ve ever seen, and their new outdoor habitat is gorgeous. There is one long and big yard in the background with a really cool waterfall feature. The main yard in front of that yard is gigantic and has a pool that has a 360-degree access feature, and there is a cool waterfall at the opposite end of the yard. Lots of space to roam, explore, and eat any trees or bushes within his reach!
For those of you wondering: yes, of course, we miss all five of those boys. But on the flip side, their new homes each have an entire staff that gets to fall in love with them—and they have! Also, guests in three other parts of the country get to see them and fall in love with them, as well; “our guys” are making new friends and touching new hearts. They have and will continue to adapt to this new chapter in their life, and we will formally check in on them from time to time to see how they are doing.
Meanwhile, back here at the Safari Park, there are no planned elephant moves in or out on the horizon. Hopefully, construction will start soon that will add additional shade and heat structures to both main yards before winter comes. In the meantime, the elephants get more opportunities to roam overnight with the channel open to both yards, and we get to clean a lot less poop and spend more time training, playing with, and observing our dynamic herd. Watch Elephant Cam to see action yourself, and join us (in person or via the cam) on August 12 as we celebrate World Elephant Day—and Zuli’s first birthday!
Curtis Lehman is an animal care supervisor at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Gawa, I wondered about that, too… I suppose unlikely or they wouldn’t have moved Msholo, but I’m not sure just how soon they’d know if she were pregnant; years ago they couldn’t tell about these things with ellies for quite awhile, but I’m presuming that nowadays with all the high-tech stuff they’d be able to “diagnose” pretty early-on.
Beautiful play-session yesterday morning with Neepo and Zuli–only one little trunk-bump but lots of touching and caressing with trunks. Khosi and Kaia involved with it a very little after the initial greetings. I think the other older calf was Kami, not Nisa, but uncertain, and she didn’t stay long. It’s so beautiful to watch them interact this way.
Midwest, I read your comment on the Birthday Page–loved to hear that story!
Things getting confusing with posting at two different blog-entries. I’m moving over to Zuli’s Birthday from now on but will check here occasionally to see what’s been added…
Belated birthday wishes to beautiful, Khosi! She’s officially a teenager and as we saw with 2 of the 13 yr old ex-orphans now in the wild (from Sheldrick and GRI) that gave birth recently, she could be making babies sometime soon…maybe. Wouldn’t it be an interesting twist of things if Msholo did get her preggers after all?
See comments I posted on Zuli’s birthday page……..the babies and Swazi were pretty cute to watch.
Looks like start of pool party. 2:30pm
Happy birthday Khosi
Happy Birthday, Khosi!🐘🎶💐🐝❤️
Happy Birthday, Khosi!
Midwest Fan, thanks for the ID on Neepo and Khosi with the stick/branch. I rather thought it was those two but like you, no good look at faces and tusks. If we both had that impression as to who they were, we’re probably right.
There was a really good mud-wallow the other day, mostly involving Kaia, Nisa, and I think Khosi. The cam picture lately hasn’t been as sharp and of course by afternoon you get a certain amount of “blow-out” from the angle of the sun–add that to an old computer and not-so-good eyesight, and it’s a wonder I see anything at all, I guess! For all I know, at some point with the milling around, Zuli and Kaia switched places! But whoever the main three were, they were having a wonderful time, first one flopping into the wallow and then another, and sometimes two at once (especially if one was a baby, and there was only one baby there). I wonder where they went when they left–to swim in the water or to dust? Or did they just let their mud bake on and keep it for awhile?
Glanced at the cam around 3:00 a.m. PDT this morning and it looked like an alien planet–the view was across the area with a rock-pile on the left, a log-pile on the right, a single food-puzzle box, and then in the background the “Stonehenge” structure and a small-looking light shining somewhere beyond that. No ellies in sight, however.
Happy Birthday Khosi!!!!!
It looks like Khosi and Neepo had a mini pool party early this morning. Both are darker than the others and enjoying a dirt shower now. Lana, I think it was also Khosi and Neepo playing with the branch/stick the other day. Can’t be positive because I didn’t see their faces.
Hi, Jill and Midwest–I was thrilled to see at least the second half of the pool party today, one of the best I’ve seen (I’ve missed a lot of them), too. Yes, Midwest, I did notice that Khosi was reluctant to “call it quits.” I’m so glad you saw that, too. 🙂 I loved the way all of them would start to leave and then back in again–and to see Swazi having some fun once in awhile is always a delight. Do you know which two were playing with the branch (it looks like a “stick,” but given their size, it had to be a branch) onshore for awhile? I couldn’t get a good look at them and didn’t manage to screen-print that part even though I saw it… so no photo-reference.
Hi Jill, Yes, that was a great long pool party. The only ones not joining in were Mama U and Mama N. Swazi was having a really good time. She even took some control of Zuli and Kaia. She appeared to be scolding them when they ventured in too far. The normal babysitters were having too much fun to pool sit. The guests really received a treat today.
Lana, Khosi had a hard time leaving the pool. She would stay in and splash and pretty soon the others would rejoin her. As you said, she really loves the pool.
Good long pool party going on. 30 minutes so far.
Babies starting to play in pool
Midwest, that must have been Ndula I saw standing to be sprayed on her side; I was pretty certain it was an adult but didn’t get a clear look at her tusks to see which one… Haven’t seen them doing the “drinking fountain” with the sprinklers yet, I’ll have to watch for that! Thank you!
Khosi’s back-flops are priceless. She’s been doing that for as long as I’ve been watching (since late Fall of 2011)–she loves water like a baby whale. (The flops remind me of a whale breaching.) She used to often go swimming alone just because she loved it so much–she didn’t need to have a companion to have a good time!
I remember one morning years ago when they’d all been in the small pool in the lower yard, where the view is partially blocked both for the cam and for the ellies on the other side of the pool “wall.” Everyone else gradually left and she was still back there, lost in her own dream-world. Finally she came out around the “wall” and discovered everyone was gone. She was looking and sniffing! I suppose the wind was blowing the other way so she couldn’t smell them or hear the normal-sound-level rumbles, because she started off in the wrong direction. (“We” could see where the others were, some distance away over by the “Stonehenge” cave, but she could not.) She realized they weren’t in that direction and she got rather panicky, trotted a few times back-and-forth with her head and tail up. You could see that she felt lost. “Where are they? Where are they???” Finally she located them and “ran” that way. She’d gotten herself scared at being “abandoned” and she was so hyper even after she found them and greeted them, unable to settle down, that Umngani finally shoved her comforting motherly trunk into Khosi’s mouth as if she were still a little calf (she wasn’t so old even then, probably around six?)–and that did calm her down, she finally could stand quietly. I wondered why she hadn’t called out to them–or maybe she finally did, just before she headed in the right direction, and that’s how she knew they were that way. It seems from some things I’ve seen over the years that “our” ellies don’t use infrasound to communicate, but maybe I’m just not reading the situation properly. (I did read somewhere that the calves have to learn so maybe given the fact that our adults here were orphaned when they were quite young, they never did learn themselves?) Might be a good question for the Elephant Team, whether they’ve “heard” (felt the vibrations in the air) the ellies using it here at the Park.
Hope we’ll see another pool party this evening! But I’m perfectly happy watching them do anything at all, even just eating.
Lana, It sounds like you have seen some pretty good sprinkler action lately. I did catch one the other day with Ndula. She would let the sprinklers get her on one side and then she would turn around and let the sprinklers get her other side. Almost like a car wash. I have also seen a couple of the Ellie’s using the sprinklers as drinking water fountains. Just open mouth and let the water flow in. It is so entertaining with the pool parties. It appears that all the Ellie’s just love it after the pool has been drained, cleaned and refilled. I think Khosi is so funny to watch with her back flops. Upcoming B-Days, Khosi, September 11. Kami, September 19. Neepo and Kaia, September 26, which will probably be just as big as Zuli’s was.
Hi, Jill–I’m comforted to know that someone did remember! I think we all just got so distracted with the big deal for Zuli’s birthday that everything else birthday-related got lost in the shuffle. I keep forgetting to check that other blog. At one time we’d have switched over as soon as it was posted but there hadn’t been much written on this one so I guess most of us stayed here… for the little we actually said!
Hope we do see more of the Ellies vs. Sprinklers action. It’s so surprising because they all used to go hurrying away from the water-jets the minute they came on, for all the years I’ve been watching. (Maybe SD adjusted the pressure somehow so it “feels nicer” to them?) This is better! Also it’s fun to watch. Hopefully it’s going to become a common thing that we can look forward to seeing, just like the pool parties, mud wallowing, dust-bathing, and playing in general.
Lana in the East,
Midwest Fan actually was only one who remembered Nisa’s birthday on the other blog. I forgot myself!
Looks like they’re all doing good. Been watching few of the pool parties. Didn’t catch the sprinkler activity.
What happened to everyone this August?! None of us even wished Nisa a happy birthday?! I can’t believe it. A dear friend told me she’d forgotten (she had valid reasons, but I didn’t) and I realized that I’d forgotten too. And when I checked the blog, I saw that no one had posted anything either! Happy Belated Birthday, Qinisa! Poor neglected baby! (And she’s grown-up so much, learned to be a superior little babysitter herself–I remember she was so “at sea” when she first started being a “nanny” to those two little powerhouses Zuli and Kaia. Now she almost always knows what to do to slow them down if they’re overly enthusiastic and get too rough with each other. And joins in their playing besides. So interesting to watch that gradual learning process. Of course she has wonderful “teachers” in Khosi and Kami who’ve had plenty of experience over the years.)
Backwards in time: Thank you to Wendy for the great “Food for Thought” article. Thank you to little busy bee Marula for the wonderful “Neepo as a big toy” posting!–I loved that, and he really IS so good with the babies; he was always so sweet with Qinisa when she was tiny, then more competitive (in a good way) with her as she got older and bigger–but he’d often play with her when the bigger boys ignored her, I think because he remembered being the “baby” himself, that the older calves wouldn’t include in their sparring and pushing games. Hello and welcome to the new people who have commented. Soft rumbles to Northern California and trunk-hello to Jan and all the rest. And a big “thank you” to Curtis for this blog update about all the moves–a flurry of changes that felt like a blizzard to most of us! That’s a lot of “family” leaving home all at the same time–major “empty nest syndrome” for some of us who’ve been watching for so many years. I won’t say anything about Msholo, I’m still trying to “get over it” even though I knew and understood, long ago, that it had to happen eventually.
HUGE–elephant sized!–“thank you” to SDZSP for the wonderful videos lately–Zuli’s birthday in particular and especially the one with Kaia having her “training session.” You could see how much she was enjoying it! All that special attention, and small challenges to overcome and be praised-for, and all the treats besides! And she’s such a beautiful little elephant that it’s a joy just to see her face close-up. –Thanks to Gawa for telling us about that video.
I wonder if anyone else has been following the Sprinkler Monster saga lately? Recently they seemed less agitated about it, for whatever reasons. Two stories to tell, and I don’t guarantee the first one because I can’t find my notes… but it will be essentially correct. Maybe someone who also saw it can verify the details, please feel free to do so!
One day poor little Kaia was in the wrong place and the wrong time and one came on right in her face almost–she ran off scared, but Kami came back with her and showed her that it was okay–stepped on the spout or kicked mud on it or something, so it turned into a mud-hole and Kaia was willing to come closer. Still cautious. Then Zuli joined them. Finally they were all three playing there in the mud. A few days later I saw the two babies standing near an adult who was ignoring the close-by sprinkler (though the adults used to get out of the way when they came on) and I began to wonder if they were deliberately trying to teach the babies not to be afraid.
Yesterday (evening EDT, afternoon PDT) there had been a wonderful pool party, and right after that the ellies headed up the hill as they often do. The sprinklers had begun to come on. I expected the ellies to detour, but that was not the case at all! A couple of the older calves (maybe one adult, I’m not sure–bad eyesight) actually decided to PLAY in the sprinklers! I couldn’t believe it although I do have screen-prints to remind myself it was real–and it may become so commonplace that no one even notices it much in the future? One large ele was standing letting the stream hit her side; another decided to crush the Sprinkler Monster with her foot–and played a bit with lifting the foot a couple of times, then lowered her head and got wet with water from the very subdued but not dead Sprinkler Monster. Eventually she even lay down on top of it while it was still spouting! They wanted one of the babies–I think Kaia–to play, too, but she wanted none of it. Nisa? gave her a consoling and/or encouraging trunk-touch but she pulled away and walked some distance from the little group who were just standing there at another “mouth” of the Monster. Then she came back after a moment or two–I think that sprinkler must have timed-out and turned off–and finally she lay down in the mud there quite happily. The whole incident left me amazed. Did anyone else happen to see it?
Heads-up: We have FOUR birthdays this month! But two are on the same day. I still think it’s astonishing that Neepo and Kaia share the same day of the month! What are the odds?!
Gawa
It was very nice to watch. Midwest Fan had told about the video on the Zuli birthday blog.
Nice to also know her weight.
Kaia seemed so relaxed and trusting.
Hi all, in case you missed it, check out the SDZSP page on Facebook. You’ll find a video of a live training session recorded with Kaia, Keepers Evan and Lauren and it is ADORABLE. She is at about 950 lbs already! So grateful they broadcasted and posted it because I was just wishing for some new video of her and then it appeared! Thank you to the keepers and the camera person! Keep ’em coming, please.
I hope that when Zuli gets older he doesn’t have to move. He is my favorite elephant at the SDZ Safari Park. I am an avid cam watcher and hope to see them in person someday. His party was so fun to watch! Thank you Animal Care Staff for everything you do for our beautiful elephants!
Blog Monitor, thank you so much for putting the link up for us to “the educational and fun article!” Much appreciated 💐🐝 I didn’t know ellies ( other green eaters as well) are such picky eaters when it comes to thier greens.😋
Here’s my SD Ellies Journal to share with everyone
—The mischievous babies playing with “a big toy” in Escondido ( 8/16 early morning about 6:30 am)—
All herd was at the upper yard near the little fountain, waiting for their human friends, the keepers to visit them 🙂 Just when Neepo got down on his belly on the sandpile… NOW!—the two little babies hurried to their big brother. Zuli started playing with Neepo’s tail as if it were a twig. He tried to grab it and put it high up in the air. Soon the “twig” slipped away from his mouth. Because it was attached to Neepo! He did that 4 or 5 times very obsessively. One time he did it so frantically that he looked like doing the “trunk-helicopter.” For the whole time, Neepo didn’t move at all. Dozing off? No, I don’t know so, just typical of him being so sweet to the little ones.
While Zuli was so concentrating on the target, Kaia was also very determined to climb up Neepo, the mountain! She was trying to stand on only her hind feet. I saw her do it several times or more…Zuli managed to distract her in the middle of the action! Very naughty of him…Kaia pushed him away…then Ta-da! She did it! Triumph.
Again, Neepo didn’t move a thing, still as and gentle as a big mountain. Our sweet Neepo, you are such a great giant! Following his dad Mabu and his mentor, Msholo’s footsteps for sure😁
Mama Nduala came in to stop the mischief at once, otherwise the two little munchkins never leave him alone!
it was really upsetting to hear of the moves of all the elephants without any notice to the public. we get attached to our ellies over the years and it felt like a big tear at my heart. i hope our san diego elephants can get a more beautiful encloser with waterfalls too! the setting at these other zoos sounds so much nicer and enriching. what do we have to do to get the same for our ellies?
Thanks Marula. Thanks blog monitor for putting link up. It was very interesting.
Hello, everyone! I found the fascinating article, called “Food for Thought.” A big thank you to the writer, Wendy😊🌻 and also the illustrator, Amy. It showed me how much SDZSP has been giving such great deals into Food that their animals eat. I’m so glad that I was able to read it. Thank you. “Food” as simple as it sounds, though it does EVERYTHING to them. You can clearly see what is happening behind the scene. I know that the SD elephants team have been searching for the best milk formula for baby ellies and also helping Reteti Elephant Sanctuary–RESCUE. Our Ndula and Umangani are doing big jobs! 🐘🐘🌟The nutritional values in the milk formula for different animals are also talked about in the article. Which I found absolutely intriguing as well as the special pellets did the “magic”—WOW! Incredible!
My hat off to the the keepers and volunteers who continue to give their hard work and dedication each day. Everyone must read it!
Dear Blog Monitor, could you give us the link to the article here so that everyone can get access to, please? Thank you so much.😉🐝❤️
Blog Monitor’s note: Here you go, enjoy!
Happy Birthday to your Babies!!
Thank you soo much for your webcams. I just love checking in everyday.
🙂
Denise
Yes, Jill that was some pool party. All the adolescents and the little ones. Love watching Khosi with her backward flops. And, of course Nisi the ever mindful swimming pool babysitter. As much treats, food and activity they received today, I am surprised they are not napping by now. Thank you Keepers for all that you do. You made today very special.
happy birthday zuli, and happy world elephant day!
Little ones having quite the pool party!
Happy birthday, Zuli! You’re a big boy now!
Thanks to both Jill and Blog Monitor for your helpful info to my questions.
Hey, Zuli — Bonne Anniversaire!
Happy Birthday to our Zuli and Happy World Elephant Day!!!
Best Wishes to Everyone 🐘🌈 xoxo
Thank you so much for the update! My co-worker and I watch the elephant cam daily. We have so enjoyed watching the babies grow and play! Happy 1st birthday Zuli!!
Happy birthday, Zuli!!!! Was anyone able to get a screen shot of any signs the keepers made? I see the crew is already chowing down on many scattered colorful boxes, so I assume they already tore through any decorations. . Blog Monitor, we would love to see a year in the life of Zuli post with photos of his birthday, hope one is on the way 🙂
Blog Monitor’s note: I will forward the request, but can’t make any promises.
How could I not write a haiku for Zuli’s special day?! Here goes:
Celebrate today /The best gift from last summer / Our little Zuli.
Happy Birthday, baby boy!
And thanks to all the keepers and staff for helping to successfully bring Zuli through his first year AND their part in making this a special day for the eles as well as all that love them at the park today and those watching from afar. We are enjoying all the box smashing and browse munching right now.
Happy Birthday to Zuli!!!
Happy Birthday, Zuli! My, that year went by fast!
Wishing all the Elephants, everywhere, captive and free, a wonderful “Worl Elephant Day!”
Zuli it’s your big day, Happy Birthday! Yahoo!
Happy Birthday Zuli!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Fredericka
I believe the older mature females would be able to mentor Zuli since he’s still so young. Neepo is too young at 8 years. If another mature bull came in later down the road he would mentor both. Not sure if I’m right but that’s my thought.
Neepo appears to be the only male, other than Zuli, correct? Will the former be an able enough role model for the latter, instructing the almost one-year-old the art of being a bull elephant?
Also, will there be any special observance of Zuli’s Birthday between now and Monday? I’m an elephant cam watcher, only, as I’m in Pennsylvania.
Blog Monitor’s note: Yes, Neepo is the only male at this time. I can’t answer the role model question, but I can tell you that Zuli’s birthday will be celebrated on Monday.
Thanks for addressing this, Curtis and the team – I think many of us fans were confused about the lack of communication since the zoos the guys went to all announced their arrivals and there was no similar post about Luti, Gadze and Msholo. I think many of us were expecting it since Luti and Gadze were born at the zoo and Msholo has been a part of the herd for so long. Perhaps everything is being saved for the new TV show. I think I speak for a lot of us when I say that we would have loved to have seen photos of the move as well as more information on the training.
Anyway, I’m super excited for Zuli’s birthday and can’t wait to see all the stuff he will destroy. On the cam today … the herd is enjoying their boxes. Has anyone noticed that Nisa has her own way of tipping the box towards her when she eats? She holds the box at an angle against her front leg. Not a drop of hay wasted, a girl after my own heart!
Great news all around. Going to love Zuli becoming a year old!
Love this article. Thank you for sharing and posting.
Curtis, Thank you so much for the update. Of course, the keepers and guests at their new homes will love the boys just as much as us. It is exciting to hear what you have planned for “our Ellie’s”. It will be interesting to see how they react. Can’t believe that Zuli will be one on Monday. Excited to see what type of Birthday and World Elephant Day celebrations are planned. I can just see the little whirlwind(s)now destroying everything in sight. Kaia will probably need to help.