Stayed at Dos Picos County Park in Romona, California for two days. Fortunately, it was not damaged in the recent fires. Love the way they use bark and leaves for mulch under the oak trees and don’t try to grow grass.
Dos Picos has a fishing pond, which had visiting ducks and coots while I was there. It is also just 20 miles from the San Diego Wild Animal Park that I wanted to visit to see the elephants. Two babies have been born since I was last there, the youngest is just a few weeks old.
Baby Kamile. You can see some fire damage in the background.
Kamile nursing, with Khosi and Punga next to her and Kamile’s mom, Umoya, keeping an eye on the group. Umoya allowed Khosi to nurse from her before Kamile was born, thus giving Khosi two mom’s, her real mom, Umngani, and Umoya. After Kamile was born, Khosi continued her claim on Umoya, so that Umoya has been nursing both girls. There has to be some sibling rivalry there. At times, on the elephant cam, I have seen Umoya try to avoid Khosi.
Punga, the male calf.
Being the first born in the recent group of births seems to have given Khosi some status. She is comfortable with both the adult and young elephants. Here, Kamile and her mom look her way.
