On a wonderful visit to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania (go there if you can - you will not regret it!), we spotted what had to be a newborn elephant. Clean and dry, but darker and so tiny!
Elephants are huge. A herd of elephants is an impressive sight. But new baby elephants are relatively tiny, weighing around 110 kg (or 250 lb), just 5% of their mothers’ weight, and so are vulnerable to predation from lions and hyenas. They can’t run away and lack any self-defense mechanism. But they have Mom. And Grandma. And Sister Ekela and Aunt Elene.
Mothers’ helpers
Baby elephants stay with their mothers even after they are sexual mature (6-10 years), and are not even weaned until they are 4-5 years old (growing tusks apparently become a nuisance to the nursing mother, a fair reason for weaning!). During this time, the young elephants learn about their home terrain and its resources (food, water) as well as social norms of the herd, but not just from their mothers.
Elephants practice allomothering (“allo” meaning different): that is, adult females without calves of their own will help guide and protect the young of their relatives in the herd. They care for, comfort, protect and watch over (“babysit”) others’ calves, accompany the young ones while traveling, and even allow them to nurse in some cases. Relatives help with rearing young not only in elephants, but also social insects like bees, pack animals such as wolves or jackals, and, of course, primates, including humans.
Allomothering, also called cooperative breeding, frees the biological mom to rest and to eat enough to keep up her strength and milk production, yet it slows the allomother’s feeding efficiency, so it has a cost to her survival (potentially decreasing her fitness). Why do they do it?
The other females in the herd or pack are usually closely related to the real mother and the little one, and are often nulliparous, that is, they have not yet given birth themselves. By helping their sister-aunt-mother, they enhance their own inclusive fitness by improving the chances that the baby, which shares a high portion of its genes with the allomother, will survive and reproduce. Remember that fitness involves passing on one’s genes to the next generation, so allomaternal behavior makes sense among animals that are closely related by allowing them to improve their broader fitness even before they have their own young. Thus the tight formation of brawny, motivated females staring back at us, surrounding and protecting the lone half-pint peering out from the middle.
Newborn defense
When they decide that another animal (usually a lion), or a group of human tourists, is a potential threat to a newborn, elephant females – mom, sisters, cousins, aunties – will circle around the little one and face outward, tusks held high. There is a low soft rumbling that lets you know they are onto you. This is not a greeting, and the oversized rugby team in front of you displays its solidarity for a common cause. The little dude or dudette in the middle that is the cause of this commotion is likely oblivious to the threat, but follows orders and stays put.
This video and this one, among others, give a sense of their superb organization.
We seriously enjoyed the teamwork of this herd as much as the antics of the little ellie still trying to figure out how to manage its trunk. Like us, young elephants mature slowly, and it can take over a year to fully learn to use their trunk.
Elephants are probably my favorite animal: they are smart, social, gentle when not harassed, and now under considerable threat from human greed, ignorance, and desperation, so I will add more posts on them in the future!
To learn more:
On African and Asian elephant allomothering:
Lee, P. C. 1987. Allomothering among African elephants. AnimalBehaviour, Vol 35(1): 278-291. doi: 10.1016/S0003-3472(87)80234-8. and
Gadgil, Madhav; Vijayakumaran Nair, P. 1984. Observations on the social behaviour of free ranging groups of tame Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus Linn). Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences - Animal Sciences, 93 (3). pp. 225-233. ISSN0253-4118.
On cooperative breeding in general, particularly with respect to humans:
Hrdy, S. 2001. Mothers and others. Natural History Magazine online. Adapted from a University of Utah Tanner Lecture entitled, “Cooperation, Empathy, and the Needs of Human infants”.
Elephants are huge. A herd of elephants is an impressive sight. But new baby elephants are relatively tiny, weighing around 110 kg (or 250 lb), just 5% of their mothers’ weight, and so are vulnerable to predation from lions and hyenas. They can’t run away and lack any self-defense mechanism. But they have Mom. And Grandma. And Sister Ekela and Aunt Elene.
Mothers’ helpers
Elephants practice allomothering (“allo” meaning different): that is, adult females without calves of their own will help guide and protect the young of their relatives in the herd. They care for, comfort, protect and watch over (“babysit”) others’ calves, accompany the young ones while traveling, and even allow them to nurse in some cases. Relatives help with rearing young not only in elephants, but also social insects like bees, pack animals such as wolves or jackals, and, of course, primates, including humans.
Allomothering, also called cooperative breeding, frees the biological mom to rest and to eat enough to keep up her strength and milk production, yet it slows the allomother’s feeding efficiency, so it has a cost to her survival (potentially decreasing her fitness). Why do they do it?
The other females in the herd or pack are usually closely related to the real mother and the little one, and are often nulliparous, that is, they have not yet given birth themselves. By helping their sister-aunt-mother, they enhance their own inclusive fitness by improving the chances that the baby, which shares a high portion of its genes with the allomother, will survive and reproduce. Remember that fitness involves passing on one’s genes to the next generation, so allomaternal behavior makes sense among animals that are closely related by allowing them to improve their broader fitness even before they have their own young. Thus the tight formation of brawny, motivated females staring back at us, surrounding and protecting the lone half-pint peering out from the middle.
Newborn defense
When they decide that another animal (usually a lion), or a group of human tourists, is a potential threat to a newborn, elephant females – mom, sisters, cousins, aunties – will circle around the little one and face outward, tusks held high. There is a low soft rumbling that lets you know they are onto you. This is not a greeting, and the oversized rugby team in front of you displays its solidarity for a common cause. The little dude or dudette in the middle that is the cause of this commotion is likely oblivious to the threat, but follows orders and stays put.
This video and this one, among others, give a sense of their superb organization.

We seriously enjoyed the teamwork of this herd as much as the antics of the little ellie still trying to figure out how to manage its trunk. Like us, young elephants mature slowly, and it can take over a year to fully learn to use their trunk.
Elephants are probably my favorite animal: they are smart, social, gentle when not harassed, and now under considerable threat from human greed, ignorance, and desperation, so I will add more posts on them in the future!
To learn more:
On African and Asian elephant allomothering:
Lee, P. C. 1987. Allomothering among African elephants. AnimalBehaviour, Vol 35(1): 278-291. doi: 10.1016/S0003-3472(87)80234-8. and
Gadgil, Madhav; Vijayakumaran Nair, P. 1984. Observations on the social behaviour of free ranging groups of tame Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus Linn). Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences - Animal Sciences, 93 (3). pp. 225-233. ISSN0253-4118.
On cooperative breeding in general, particularly with respect to humans:
Hrdy, S. 2001. Mothers and others. Natural History Magazine online. Adapted from a University of Utah Tanner Lecture entitled, “Cooperation, Empathy, and the Needs of Human infants”.
Such a nice blog you have shared here. Thanks for sharing about this with us.
ReplyDeletePlease visit Call Girls in Kolkata to know why The Call girls in Kolkata are known for their dusky and fair skin tone and you can take the service from any of them according to your wish.
call girls in Kolkata
Kolkata call girls
call girl services in Kolkata
Kolkata call girl services
call girl agency in Kolkata
Kolkata call girls agency
call girl agencies in Kolkata
Kolkata call girl agencies
independent call girls in Kolkata
independent Kolkata call girls
escorts in Kolkata
Kolkata escorts
independent escorts in Kolkata
independent Kolkata escorts
Great job for publishing such a beneficial web site. Your web log isn’t only useful but it is additionally really creative too. There tend to be not many people who can certainly write not so simple posts that artistically. Continue the nice writing 먹튀
ReplyDeleteGreat job for publishing such a beneficial website. Your web log isn’t only useful but it is additionally really creative too. There tend to be not many people who can certainly write not so simple posts that artistically. Continue the nice writing 먹튀검증
ReplyDeleteReally nice and interesting post. I was looking for this kind of information and enjoyed reading this one sad shayari in friendship
ReplyDeletewow very nice GMSHOP
ReplyDeleteYour blog provided us with valuable information to work with. Each & every tips of your post are awesome. Thanks a lot for sharing. Keep blogging shayari in hindi love romantic
ReplyDeleteIt’s rare knowledgeable people with this topic, however, you be understood as there’s more you are referring to! Thanks poetry in urdu romantic
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us. I assure this would be beneficial for most of the people purple runtz
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog We would like to thank you look good!! If you want to play satta. Satta-king-world is the best website. Thousands of people are playing this game. Satta result is shown online so check Satta-king-world result. steel square pipe
ReplyDeleteGlad to read your article, looking forward to sharing your adventures and experiences and expect a quality work!
ReplyDelete먹튀검증사이트
Hey, this day is too much good for me, since this time I am reading this enormous informative article here at my home. Thanks a lot for massive hard work. 123 movie
ReplyDeleteHey there, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues.
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at your blog in Chrome, it looks 2021 Jamb runs
For making a good website, people hire a website developer in Lahore. They are providing a good website under their skilled and experienced staff.PINEABLE KUSH
ReplyDeleteI’ve been surfing on-line greater than 3 hours
ReplyDeletelately, yet I never found any fascinating article like yours.
It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content material as you
probably did, the net shall be much more useful than ever before buy psychedelics online
my daily moments recipes
ReplyDeletegreat info on this website
great info on this website thanks for sharing with us healthy recipes
ReplyDeletewow very nice คา สิ โน ออนไลน์ ได้ เงิน จริง
ReplyDeleteYour post is very helpful to get some effective tips to reduce weight properly. You have shared various nice photos of the same. I would like to thank you for sharing these tips. Surely I will try this at home. Keep updating more simple tips like this sexy บาคาร่า
ReplyDeleteClick here to view
ReplyDeletegreat info on this website
simple
ReplyDeletevery informative and useful website
This is a great motivating content.I am fairly much happy with your great work.You put really very information. 먹튀검증
ReplyDeleteGood focuses you composed here..Great stuff...I think you've made some really fascinating points.Keep up the great work All India Dating.
ReplyDeleteI have browsed most of your posts. This post is probably where I got the most 먹튀검증업체
ReplyDeleteSuperbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place 먹튀
ReplyDeleteThis type of message always inspiring and I prefer to read quality content, so happy to find good place to many here in the post, the writing is just great, thanks for the post. KSB Etanorm
ReplyDeletePleasant blog and totally exceptiona 메이저놀이터
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your article I was amazed. I know that you explained it very well. And I hope that other readers will also experience how I feel after reading your article 토토사이트
ReplyDeletethis is really good website, coolest I have ever visit thank you so much, i will follow and stay tuned much appriciated 메이저 파워볼사이트
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic for a blog. I have been searching the Internet for fun and came upon your website. Fabulous post. 안전놀이터
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this interesting blog with us.My pleasure to being here on your blog..I wanna come beck here for new post from your site 먹튀검증
ReplyDeleteI like your blog. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing it 토토사이트
ReplyDeleteVery good written article. It will be supportive to anyone who utilizes it, including me. Keep doing what you are doing – can’r wait to read more posts 메이저놀이터
ReplyDeleteI think this is one of the most significant information for me. And i'm glad reading your article 먹튀검증
ReplyDeleteI definitely enjoying every little bit of it. It is a great website and nice share. I want to thank you. Good job! You guys do a great blog, and have some great contents. Keep up the good work 먹튀검증
ReplyDeleteNice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely helpful information specially the last part I care for such info a lot. I was seeking this particular information for a very long time. 먹튀검증
ReplyDelete"Appreciation to my father who shared with me concerning this web site, this weblog is genuinely remarkable.
ReplyDelete" 먹튀검증업체
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free. 안전놀이터추천
ReplyDeleteThis blog has all the perfection that makes it unique in all. I will be back again and again. 먹튀검증커뮤니티
ReplyDeleteI propose merely very good along with reputable data, consequently visualize it: 먹튀검증추천
ReplyDeleteI truly appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank God I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again. 온라인카지노
ReplyDelete"Hi there colleagues, its fantastic piece of writing
ReplyDeleteconcerning tutoringand fully defined, keep it up all the time." 먹튀폴리스
"This article offers clear idea in favor of the new users of blogging, that truly how to do blogging.
ReplyDelete" 사설토토
Just admiring your work and wondering how you managed this blog so well. It’s so remarkable that I can't afford to not go through this valuable information 메이저놀이터주소
ReplyDeleteThis article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. 안전놀이터
ReplyDeleteVery useful information shared in this article, nicely written! I will be reading your articles. Looking forward to read such knowledgeable articles 메이저토토
ReplyDeleteExcellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! 안전놀이터
ReplyDeleteThank you for some other informative blog. 먹튀검증업체
ReplyDeleteAwesome issues here. I am very satisfied to look your article. Thanks a lot and I’m taking a look forward to contact you. 놀이터토토
ReplyDeleteYes, I am entirely agreed with this article, and I just want say that this article is very helpful and enlightening. 메이저놀이터추천
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic for a blog. I have been searching the Internet for fun and came upon your website. Fabulous post. 메이저놀이터목록
ReplyDeleteThe post is written in exceptionally a decent way and it contains numerous valuable data for me. 안전놀이터코드
ReplyDeleteIt’s really a fantastic website, thanks for sharing. There's no doubt i would fully rate it after i read what the idea about this article is. You did a nice work 먹튀수사대
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this information. I really like your blog post very much. You have really shared a informative and interesting blog post with people courtier immobilier hull
ReplyDeleteI feel very amazed that I read this. It is very helpful and very informative and I really learned a lot from it. 토토커뮤니티
ReplyDeletei read your article its good for humanity thanks for sharing this its very informative 먹튀폴리스
ReplyDeleteI have been checking out a few of your stories and i can state pretty good stuff. 토토사이트
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete있습니다.대략적으로 https://www.totomonkey.com/ 토토사이트 알려진 업체 수만 하더라도 5,000개가 넘는다고 말합니다. 한 달도 버티지 못 하고 문을 닫는 곳이 아주 많습니
다. 저희 역시스포츠배팅을 즐기는 사람들입니다. 다양한 곳에서 게임을 해 왔으며 먹튀 또한 여러 번 당하였습니다. 심지어 검증업체에서 커미션도 지급받지못 한 경우가 있습니다. 산전수전 다 겪으면서 여러 업체들을 컨택하여 왔으며 현재 검증 된 업체들은 지난
2년 동안 저와 가족방 식구들이 이용하면서 단 한 번의 사고도 없는 가장 안전한 메이저업체라고 자신있게 말 할 수 있습니다. 먹튀 때문에 쉽게 이용하지 못 하시겠다구요? 그렇다면 안심하세요. 저희 가족방은 24시간 수 천명의 인원들이 지켜보는 대한민국 최대
규모의 단체방입니다. 안심하고 검증업체를 이용하셔도 됩니다.
Very informative post ! There is a lot of information here that can help any business get started with a successful social networking campaign 먹튀폴리스
ReplyDeleteWe are one of the best cosplay costumes supplier in China.Good looking,educated,sexy,college girls,housewives,model,russains are ready for your personal service. courtier immobilier aylmer
ReplyDeleteGreat post i must say and thanks for the information. Education is definitely a sticky subject. However, is still among the leading topics of our time. I appreciate your post and look forward to more. posicionamiento web tijuana
ReplyDeleteGreat article Lot's of information to Read...Great Man Keep Posting and update to People..Thanks courtier immobilier buckingham
ReplyDeleteI have express a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style of blogging. I added it to my favorite’s blog site list and will be checking back soon… digital marketing malta
ReplyDeleteThe details you supply in your write-ups. Maintain sharing of this type info. I truly value your operate in this article. Below we are examining simply exactly how to the setup hp printer. You can resolve those concerns with the assistance of 먹튀폴리스
ReplyDeleteThis article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. This is very nice one and gives indepth information. 이기자벳
ReplyDeleteIt is somewhat fantastic, and yet check out the advice at this treat. 안전놀이터
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete