Elephant family structure is quite different than other animals. Traveling in different herd or families you will find the male and female elephants. They do not travel together in herds of different sexes. The exception being male calves, they do travel with the females. They develop close ties with the females of their herd. At the age of nine to some where around eighteen the males have to break off into another herd. It can take them upwards of four years to accomplish this. The adolescent male elephant must then learn the new rules and where he stands in the herd. Which is easier to do with their wonderful social skills.

The matriarch is the head of the female elephant herd. The order of the ranking in the female herd is the matriarch and her daughters, usually three to four of them. Then you have their calves. The elephant herd has any where from six to twelve elephants but some times they can have as many as twenty.

Elephants are very emotional animals. Not many animals have a sense of humor but elephants do. They love to play and celebrate. If a calf is born that is a wonderful reason for celebrating among the elephants. Games are often played between family members for fun.

There is also sadness, and mourning among the elephants. The bonds between elephants are so strong because they live for so long. They live as long as humans do so they become very attached. If a friend or family member dies the herd will grieve for them. If a calf is still born they mother and most times the aunts will mourn them. You can tell an elephant is grieving by the way they droop their ears, and the eyes are sunken into their heads. They have a mournful look about them.

Lifelong bonds between elephants have been formed over the long years spent together. They become very close to each other. Family members enjoy interacting with their herd. Most animals do not value their family structure but the elephant does. When elephant herd split they celebrate when they see each other at the watering hole. Making loud trumpeting noises with their trunks is how elephants celebrate.

The herd does everything together, such as searching for water or food, when they are traveling for these different reasons the matriarch leads them in a single file line. The calves hold on to the tails of their mothers with their trunks. The other females in the herd ensure that the calves are protected. They surround them as much as possible and keep any outside threats away from them.

Elephant family structure is quite different than other animals. Traveling in different herd or families you will find the male and female elephants. They do not travel together in herds of different sexes. The exception being male calves, they do travel with the females. They develop close ties with the females of their herd. At the age of nine to some where around eighteen the males have to break off into another herd. It can take them upwards of four years to accomplish this. The adolescent male elephant must then learn the new rules and where he stands in the herd. Which is easier to do with their wonderful social skills.

About the Author
Elephants have been Frank De Witts passion for over 40 years and especially the facts around elephant's family structure.