Male elephants socialising at the Boteti River The researchers found little evidence that size (particularly stride length) influenced the positioning of individual elephants in the group. These findings applied throughout the year in both the wet and dry seasons, suggesting that these mature bulls offer a significant contribution to elephant society, regardless of the season. The results indicate that young elephants show a significant preference for travelling in groups and that mature adult males were more likely to lead these group movements. The researchers focussed on all-male groups travelling on pathways to and from the Boteti River. The study was conducted in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park – where male elephants account for some 98% of the elephant sightings. In associating with older males, the study explains, adolescent bulls could benefit from decades’ worth of experience in utilising their environment effectively while negotiating potential risks such as conflict with people. In elephants, the males tend to leave their natal herds between 10-20 years of age, roaming vast distances and often forming temporary associations with other males of various ages. In social animals, males are typically the dispersing sex and, therefore, are assumed to be replaceable. Male African elephants congregate at hotspots of social activity on the Boteti river in Makgadikgadi While research into this area has tended to be mostly female-focused, there is no reason why there should be a sex-based distinction in the accumulation of knowledge over time, nor is it necessarily the case that males do not have the potential to occupy socio-cognitive roles similar to the females of the species – acting as “repositories of ecological knowledge”. In species with a relatively long life expectancy, such as elephants or killer whales, older individuals have been seen to respond more appropriately to a change in environment, as well as mobilising in response to potential threats. The authors explain that when animals move as a coordinated group, specific individuals may consistently be observed to influence the decisions and routes taken – whether due to their hierarchical dominance, a bolder temperament or advanced age. Instead, researchers argue that the selective harvesting of older males (through trophy hunting and illegal poaching) could have detrimental effects on wider elephant society. The assumption has generally been that these old bulls are largely redundant in terms of the overall survival of the population, but a new study conducted in Botswana has yielded results that challenge this conclusion. Calves nurse for four or five months but start nibbling on grass when they are less than one month old.There is a significant amount of research and knowledge surrounding the role that older female African savannah elephants play in decision-making and leading their herds, but little is understood about the contribution of older males. The cow leaves the herd to give birth and remains solitary until her calf becomes strong enough to run with the herd. CalvingĬalves gestate for 250 days and are born in late spring, weighing 20 to 25 pounds. When the demands of herding, defending, fighting, breeding, and placating 30 cows eventually wear out the master bull, he too will be driven off and replaced by fresher, and often younger, bull. Only about 10% of bulls will mate the unsuccessful bulls remain bachelors. Eventually the master bull drives all other bulls from the herd, keeping all rivals away from his harem of up to 30 cows. Males often engage in full-fledged, head-to-head combat with their antlers over who will remain with the cow herd. RuttingĪdult bulls attempt to join the cow herds in July. The antlers are made out of bone, and as they grow in the spring, they are covered with a system of nourishing blood vessels that looks like velvet. With each shedding and regrowth, the antlers increase slightly in size. The male elk shed and grow a new set of antlers every year that can weigh up to 40 pounds. The average adult female (cow) weighs between 375-425 pounds. The average adult male (bull) is 450-700 pounds, but can grow to over 800 pounds. The Tule Elk are the smallest of all the elk species in North America, and are native to California. There are three species of elk that live in California-Roosevelt, Rocky Mountain, and Tule Elk.
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