Loading...

Elephant Families and Memory

The Matriarch

Elephant herds are led by the oldest female — the MATRIARCH. She is the wisest member who remembers where to find water during droughts, which paths are safe, and how to avoid danger. A herd is usually 8 to 15 related females and their calves. The matriarch's decades of experience and knowledge keep the whole family alive. When the matriarch dies, her knowledge is lost, which is why poaching (illegal hunting) is so devastating — it removes the leaders who hold the family together.

Elephant Families and Memory

The Matriarch

Elephant herds are led by the oldest female — the MATRIARCH. She is the wisest member who remembers where to find water during droughts, which paths are safe, and how to avoid danger. A herd is usually 8 to 15 related females and their calves. The matriarch's decades of experience and knowledge keep the whole family alive. When the matriarch dies, her knowledge is lost, which is why poaching (illegal hunting) is so devastating — it removes the leaders who hold the family together.