The Social Lives of Elephants
from Picture-Perfect STEM by Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry
Click Here to listen to Mrs. Heidi read this text aloud.
A Herd of Elephants
Elephant herds are well-known for their complex social structure. Within the herd can be one or more family groups. A family is usually made up of a mother, her sisters, her daughters, and their babies. or calves. Males, or bulls, live with the herd util they are about 13 years old, and then they join other males or roam on their own. Sometimes, herds of elephants combine with other hers to form even larger clans. Elephants are very affectionate with their friends and family members and form strong bonds that can last a lifetime.
Elephant herds are well-known for their complex social structure. Within the herd can be one or more family groups. A family is usually made up of a mother, her sisters, her daughters, and their babies. or calves. Males, or bulls, live with the herd util they are about 13 years old, and then they join other males or roam on their own. Sometimes, herds of elephants combine with other hers to form even larger clans. Elephants are very affectionate with their friends and family members and form strong bonds that can last a lifetime.
Mama Knows Best
The matriarch is the oldest and most respected female in the herd and usually the largest too. She decides when to move, how fast to travel, and when to stop. The herd stays close to the matriarch, and she defends it from predators. The matriarch teaches her daughters how to care for their babies, and all of the adult females in a herd teach the younger elephants how to eat and behave.
The matriarch is the oldest and most respected female in the herd and usually the largest too. She decides when to move, how fast to travel, and when to stop. The herd stays close to the matriarch, and she defends it from predators. The matriarch teaches her daughters how to care for their babies, and all of the adult females in a herd teach the younger elephants how to eat and behave.
Better Together
Animals live in a group for many reasons. One benefit for elephants is that members of a herd take care of each other. When a calf is born, the herd raises it. When an elephant is sick or injured, the herd cares for it. Another advantage of living in a group is that elephants help each other find enough food to fuel their massive bodies. Adult elephants can eat more than 300 pounds of food a day, and they spend about 16 hours a day eating! Living in a group also provides safety in numbers. When danger is near, elephants often form a defensive circle, with the youngest elephants in the middle and the adult females facing outward. No predators wants to mess with a circle of elephants!
Animals live in a group for many reasons. One benefit for elephants is that members of a herd take care of each other. When a calf is born, the herd raises it. When an elephant is sick or injured, the herd cares for it. Another advantage of living in a group is that elephants help each other find enough food to fuel their massive bodies. Adult elephants can eat more than 300 pounds of food a day, and they spend about 16 hours a day eating! Living in a group also provides safety in numbers. When danger is near, elephants often form a defensive circle, with the youngest elephants in the middle and the adult females facing outward. No predators wants to mess with a circle of elephants!
If you'd like to learn more about the social lives of elephants I recommend reading these books found on Get Epic.
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