When male elephants reach sexual maturity they become extremely competitive and aggressive- this new behaviour causes changes in the relationship with their matriarchal herd and as a result, the young males are eventually forced to leave and form their own bachelor herd. When these male elephants reach their 20s their body chemistry begins to change priming them for mating. Once he has found a suitable mate a delicate courtship process begins- once copulation is complete he leaves the female and returns back to his bachelor boys club.
Up Next in Season 1
-
WN10 Elephant Communication
Elephants have a highly social language system that involves all of their sense and more than 70 different calls. Low-frequency calls can be heard over ten kilometres away which give notice to other elephants in the area regarding movement, direction and territory whilst more immediate calls comm...
