Secrets of male elephant society revealed in the wild [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

By Helen Briggs
BBC Environment correspondent
3 September 2020

Older male elephants have an important role to play in the survival of the species by passing on their skills and knowledge to younger males, a study of African elephants suggests.

Matriarchs lead groups of daughters and their calves, while males grow up and leave the herd.

Mature bull elephants play an important role in leading these younger males, researchers have found.

And their loss by poaching or hunting could have "disastrous impacts".

The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports suggests older bulls are likely to occupy a similar role in male society as matriarchs in female breeding herds.

. . .

Mature adult bulls were more likely to travel at the front of groups of males, suggesting they may be important leaders with valuable ecological knowledge.

Survival secrets
The idea that lone older males do little for the survival of the species has been used as an argument to support the legal trophy hunting of old males.

However, the new research suggests that killing older males could have "disastrous consequences" in removing key figures in male elephant society.

More:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54018133