- •Day and night, the orphanage keepers checked on both Murera and Mwana and ensured that the baby was well-fed.
- They added that Murera suddenly began propping her leg forward on the 11th day and allowed Mwana to nurse.
Image: Sheldrick Wildlife Trust/Twitter.
After 13 years, an elephant which has gone through several difficulties has finally given birth to a baby girl.
Named Murera, the elephant was put to bed on March 12, 2023, at Umani Springs.
“Murera let out a single warning trumpet and drifted into the nearby bushes. We wondered how her body would handle labour, but the entire birth was seamless,” Sheldrick Wildlife Trust reported.
But with the joy of getting a newborn, her birth journey was also faced with some difficulties.
The trust says she was unable to nurse her newborn baby. Her keepers said the mother wandered off anytime the baby came closer to nurse.
“While Murera was very attentive and loving towards her baby, Mwana, she would not allow her to nurse. Any time the tiny calf attempted to suckle, Murera wandered off,” the Trust said.
The Trust decided to hand-milk the mother elephant and then bottle-feed the baby.
Day and night, the orphanage keepers checked on both Murera and Mwana and ensured that the baby was well-fed.
“It was a full-time, round-the-clock job (on top of the not-insignificant responsibility of caring for an entire herd of orphaned elephants!), but one we were committed to continuing for as long as necessary,” keepers said.
They added that Murera suddenly began propping her leg forward on the 11th day and allowed Mwana to nurse.
On the other hand, Mwana, who always had a healthy appetite, made a smooth transition from the bottle to breastfeeding.
“Only time will tell how Murera and Mwana’s little family takes shape. Perhaps they will remain anchored to the Umani herd, or they may venture further afield as Mwana grows. However, as their story unfolds, we will be there to support them, love them, and cheer them on,” noted Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.