It’s well-known among elephant rescuers that most miniature rescues often develop the most prominent personalities.

This is evident in the stories of many elephants in our history, like Kithaka, Kibo, Imenti, Ndotto, Ngilai, Lemeki, Bondeni, and Wendi (who is more than just a character!). However, one name missing from this list stands out – Kamok.

This month, I want to share the story of this little elephant who has brought trouble and joy throughout her time with us.

About ten years ago, the story of Kamok, known as the Queen of Mischief, began remarkably. A group of cattle herders noticed a sudden movement while sitting around a fire. Surprisingly, they found a newborn elephant entering one of their huts.

Frightened, as the mother elephant is usually nearby, they called for help from Stephen Elimlim, Senior Supervisor of Ol Pejeta Conservancy. When Stephen arrived, he discovered the tiny elephant hiding inside the hut.

Hoping the mother would return, he patiently waited, but she never showed up. Realizing the situation’s urgency, Stephen entered the boma to assist the helpless creature.

The author remembers an experience with a cold and unhappy baby calf who sought security in their boma, possibly drawn to the cattle. They gave the calf water and wrapped their jacket around her to keep her warm.

The playful nature of the newborn calf was evident as they stroked her, and she began to play before falling asleep due to her young age and prior fear. A rescue for the calf was organized for the following day.

The author stayed with the calf throughout the night and was glad to have made a new friend. The calf was named Kamok after a location on Ol Pejeta to constantly remind her of her origins.

Stephen carried Kamok alone to the rescue plane because of her small size. The sight of the calf surprised even the most experienced Keepers upon arrival at the airstrip.

Kamok’s umbilical cord was still soft, and her feet’s pads were clean and new, with ears that were pink-like petals. It was clear that she had been abandoned as a newborn.

We can’t be sure why Kamok’s mom left her, but we can make an educated guess. Kamok had weak legs and couldn’t walk properly.

Baby elephants must travel long distances shortly after birth, so if Kamok couldn’t keep up, her mom would have had to abandon her. It’s a sad situation, but necessary for the herd’s survival.

Kamok faced a significant disadvantage because she didn’t receive her mother’s colostrum. Caring for any newborn is challenging, but for Kamok, it was even more difficult.

To give her some natural antibodies, we had to infuse plasma from a healthy elephant into her tiny body.

Our dedicated keepers provided round-the-clock care, and Daphne was critical in Kamok’s recovery. Gradually, Kamok’s mobility improved, and her health stabilized, giving us cautious optimism for her future.

Kamok’s recovery had a significant impact on her personality. Mishack, who has been with us for a while, described her as ‘The Boss.’ Despite her small size, Kamok had a larger-than-life character that we couldn’t resist.

She arrived at the Nursery when she was young, but because of her lively demeanor, she quickly became the oldest resident. Kamok may have been young and small, but she acted like she was in charge of everything!

Kamok never led the other orphaned elephants astray. She was always focused on having fun alone.

Kamok enjoyed being in the spotlight and didn’t like sharing it, especially with new rescues who might take attention away from her. If anyone got in her way, she would push or kick them.

During visiting hours, Kamok would entertain the crowd by dancing near the rope cordon and pretending to charge at them when she thought the Keepers weren’t watching. This made visitors laugh, but the Keepers had to work hard to control her.

In fact, two Keepers were assigned to keep an eye on Kamok at all times to prevent her from causing too much trouble.

Edwin, the Head Keeper at the Nursery, deeply understood Kamok’s personality. Even though she left the Nursery seven years ago, he remembers her as one of the most playful elephants he ever encountered.

When she relocated to our Ithumba Reintegration Unit in 2016, he must have felt a combination of nostalgic and relieved emotions.

When Kamok arrived at Tsavo, she was surprised to find more giant, older, and more skilled elephants already living there.

Despite her assertiveness, the other elephants quickly put her in her place. This experience was a turning point for Kamok, as respect is crucial in elephant society. She soon realized that being impudent wouldn’t win her any allies.

So, she adjusted her behavior accordingly. However, true to her nature, Kamok never fully adhered to the rules of elephant etiquette and always pushed the boundaries.

Many young girls often dream of becoming nurturing figures, but Kamok deviates from this norm. Caring for children doesn’t appeal to her; she sometimes shows hostility towards them.

Kamok takes pleasure in teasing the babies of former orphans, playfully pushing them without their mothers noticing.

However, there is one exception to her disinterest in young ones – Ambo, a kind young male elephant who has captured her heart.

While it’s uncertain what kind of mother Kamok would be, her affection for Ambo brings hope.

Kamok, a lovable elephant at Ithumba, has always had a mischievous personality. Her Keeper, Emmanuelle, shares that Kamok may not be a natural leader like some other orphans but still manages to hold her ground.

However, this year was different for Kamok as she began embracing her independence and transitioning into a fully wild life.

In her usual fashion, Kamok attempted to form her own little herd with Ambo and Larro, but they weren’t quite ready to live in the wild yet, so she reluctantly brought them back to the main herd at sundown.

Kamok devised a unique approach to boost her confidence by teaming up with her peers – Barsilinga, Sana Sana, Kauro, Malkia, Rapa, Pare, and Kithaka, all of whom are around the same age.

With the support of this group, she felt empowered to unleash her true self and embrace more adventurous experiences.

Once again, Kamok was spotted with her close friend Ambo. But their story doesn’t stop there. Kamok has also teamed up with Mulika, Sidai, Yetu, and their energetic young ones.

With Mulika and Sidai, aged 23 and 19, being experienced mothers and leaders, Kamok is likely learning from them and enhancing her maternal skills.

Within a mere decade, ‘The Boss’ has achieved remarkable feats, with a future brimming with possibilities.

Although the future is uncertain, we remain optimistic that Kamok will soon escort her little one to the fences, continuing the heartwarming tradition of ex-orphans introducing their offspring to their human caretakers.

This milestone holds tremendous significance for Kamok, who entered our world as a newborn. Despite her challenging beginnings, Kamok has grown to become an extraordinary force of nature.