BEHAVIOR
Asian elephants live in areas with more vegetation and experience more wet climates. Due to their habitat conditions it can lead to less competition for resources. We can conclude that they potentially have smaller social groups because of this. Asian elephants also don’t experience much predation whereas others are attacked by lions. Therefore they don’t find the need for large social groups in order to have protection. Although asian elephant groups run small they still form tight family bonds. Sometimes the groups will consist of 6-7 related female elephants. The herd is typically led by the eldest and largest female (matriarchs) and ranges from 8-100 elephants. Elephants of the herd all work together to protect the young calves. When male elephants reach the age of 12-15 they will temporarily leave the herd and live in solitary or with other males. The female elephants are found to be more social than the males. The females generally will stay together for the majority of their lives.
It has been observed that asian elephants will remain with an ill or hurt elephant of their herd. They stay to protect and help them while they heal. Kyoto University observed that as elephants come across dying elephants that they slowly approach and inspect them during the pre and peri mortem phases. The female elephants will also release high frequency sounds when they come across a dying calf. Researcher’s state that this behavior can indicate signs of distress as a response to death. The gathered information presents that Asian elephants have emotional and cognitive behaviors. They’re known to be intelligent with a large memory span. Since they have such great memories it helps the matriarchs lead the herds in dry seasons where they can recall salvation. There are times where the elephants have to migrate for miles until they find water. It has been found that elephants can also communicate from far distances using subsonic rumbles. They can travel through the ground quicker than in air and the other elephants can receive messages through skin, feet, and trunks. It is hypothesized that mates and social groups utilize the rumbles to communicate. They’ll release snorts, cries, and roars in low-high frequencies to warn one another. Oklahoma State University performed a study to monitor the association between play and stress levels. They observed elephants from the ages of 9 months to 52 years old consisting of 3 males and 7 females. To run their trial the elephants were given enrichment items like fiddle chains, chimes, and a tire to engage them in play. It was reported that six of the eight elephant’s from the trial engaged in play and that play behaviors reduce stress levels. |