They Must Stand Up Immediately After Birth
Newborn African elephants must stand up just 20 minutes after birth. Otherwise, they would be defenseless against predators such as lions and hyenas. They almost always fall during their first steps, but the herd encourages them. The mother elephant gently nudges her calf's ear to encourage it to stand up.
The Depth of the Mother-Daughter Bond
Female calves form much stronger bonds with their mothers. A female calf stays with her mother until she is nearly 10 years old, learning social skills by observing her mother directly. Male calves, on the other hand, leave the herd around 8–10 years old to begin living independently. The female calves remaining in the herd ensure the continuity of the species.
Baby Elephant Nursery: The “Allomothering” System
Baby elephants are raised not only by their mothers, but also by young female elephants known as “aunts.” In this system, young females, especially those between the ages of 10 and 15, voluntarily take on the responsibility of raising a baby elephant to “gain experience.” This social structure increases the baby's chances of survival and provides practical training for future mothers.
Milk Obsession: The Average Breastfeeding Period for Elephants is 4 Years
A baby African elephant suckles its mother's milk for an average of 4 years. However, in some cases, especially if the mother does not become pregnant again, this period can be extended to 6 years. Even though the calf begins to eat grass after the age of 2, it does not easily give up milk. Some baby elephants even become angry and lie down on the ground and kick when their mothers refuse to nurse them.
It Takes Years to Learn How to Use the Trunk
A newborn African elephant does not know how to use its trunk in the first few months. It usually shakes it, steps on it, and even hits itself in the eye. Control of this vital organ is gained over time, depending on muscle development and experience. At around 1 year of age, it learns to drink water and play with soil.
Playful Little Ones
Baby elephants are surprisingly playful. They especially love games such as rolling around in the dirt with other calves, jumping into puddles, and covering themselves in mud. Interestingly, these games are not just for fun; they also serve to regulate body temperature and protect against parasites.
Moments When Babies Go Quiet: Danger Alert
Adult elephants are known for their loud trumpeting calls. However, baby elephants become silent when they sense danger. They remain motionless, hiding behind their mothers and covering their bodies with theirs. Silence is a defense strategy for them, especially against opportunistic predators such as jackals.
Mourning is also taught to baby elephants
If someone in the herd dies, baby elephants go with the adults to the dead individual, smell them, and touch them. This ritual is not just a habit, but part of emotional education. The baby's emotional intelligence is shaped in a social context.
Finds Its Mother with Sound Frequencies
A newborn African elephant recognizes its mother among hundreds of individuals in the herd using ultra-low frequency sound waves. These frequencies are inaudible to the human ear. The mother's vibrations reach the calf's paws and body through the ground. Therefore, when the calves are separated from their mothers, they crouch down and listen.
The First Mud Bath Is Like a Ritual
Baby elephants take their first mud baths in the first weeks after birth. This moment is a special stage in their lives, as they enter both the world of play and develop protective habits. The mother sprays mud on her calf's back with her trunk. This protects the calf from the sun and keeps insects away.
Baby Elephants Sleep Standing Up
Baby elephants spend almost all of their sleep lying down during their first months. But after a few months, especially during migration, they spend most of their sleep standing up. Interestingly, baby elephants often show signs of dreaming while they sleep: they twitch their trunks, shake their ears slightly, and sometimes even let out small cries.
They Have First Priority During Migration
When elephant herds migrate, the youngest members are positioned at the center. Baby elephants are surrounded by females. Male elephants move along the edges and are the first to intervene in case of danger. This provides both a natural shield and reduces the stress of navigation for the babies.
False Nursing: Mothers Take the Nursing Position Even If They Have No Milk
Some elephants, especially after trauma or when there is stress in the herd, have been observed to take the nursing position even though they have no milk. This is a comforting behavior. Even if the baby does not get any milk, it leans against its mother's belly and sucks, calming down psychologically.
Thick Skin, but Sensitive to Touch
Despite their thick skin, baby African elephants have extremely sensitive skin. Even mosquito or fly bites can bother them. This is why mud baths are not only essential for protection from the sun but also for protection from insects. Additionally, the gentle touches made by the mother's trunk create a “feeling of safety” in the baby.
Toy Obsession in Baby Elephants
Baby elephants often become attached to a specific object: a tree branch, a large rock, or a clump of compacted mud. They play with this object for days, carry it around, and sometimes even keep it by their side while sleeping. Just like human babies' blankets or stuffed animals, it has a comforting effect.
Reaching Their Mother by Tracking Urine and Feces
Baby elephants have an excellent sense of smell. When they get lost, they can find their way by smelling their mother's urine and feces. They can even use this method to find their way from 3-4 kilometers away. This method of finding their way is instinctive and an innate skill.
Baby Elephants That Cannot Drink Water at First Think It Is a Game
Newborn elephants cannot use their trunks properly, so when they try to drink water for the first few times, they actually draw water into their noses and sneeze. Thinking this is a game, the babies often start playing by hitting puddles with their trunks. The ability to drink water fully develops around 6 months of age.
Emotional Response to Losses in the Herd
When a calf notices the death of another baby elephant, it may open its mouth and let out short moans and refuse to leave the dead calf. They copy the mourning behavior of adults. Sometimes, calves other than the mother try to sleep next to the dead calf.
Olfactory Memory Recognizes Not Only the Mother but Also Danger
Baby elephants show signs of distress when they smell the feces or urine of predators. This behavior is not innate; they learn it by observing the reactions of their mothers and other adults. It has been observed that they develop an earlier response to the smells of lions and humans.
They Have a Sense of Ground Softness
Baby elephants are more cautious than adults on ground such as swamps or mud. Sometimes they are seen stepping lightly on the ground and then taking a step back. This behavior is an early example of survival instinct and shows how powerful the spatial awareness of elephant brains is.
They Can Even Recognize Their Mother's Footsteps
Baby elephants can distinguish their mother's footsteps from those of other adults. Each elephant has a different walking rhythm and produces different vibrations when it steps on the ground. This allows calves to intuitively locate their mother even in a large herd. It's like a child distinguishing their mother's voice in a crowd, but entirely through ground vibrations.
Baby elephants have a secret touch language
Like adult elephants, baby elephants communicate by touching each other with their trunks. However, they develop a more “playful” touch code among themselves. A light touch behind the ear means an invitation to play, while tapping the trunk on the ground and making eye contact is a warning. These behaviors are usually learned not from mothers, but from time spent with peers.
Silent Leadership That Slows Down the Herd
If there is a baby elephant in a herd, the group's speed is adjusted to the pace of the calf. Especially when the baby has difficulty walking uphill, the mother deliberately slows down and the others follow her. This is done not with any verbal commands, but entirely through body language and observation. The baby's pace can sometimes slow down a herd of 20 individuals.
The Largest Baby Ever: A Record-Breaking Calf Born Weighing 122 Kilograms
An average African elephant calf weighs between 100 and 120 kilograms at birth. However, a baby elephant recorded in Botswana in 2021 weighed a full 122 kilograms at birth. This makes it the heaviest baby African elephant ever recorded. Interestingly, this calf was able to walk just 15 minutes after birth.
The Development of Sound Frequencies Happens Step by Step
Newborn elephants can only make high-pitched, short sounds at first. As they age, their voices deepen and they begin to produce ultrasonic vibrations. They usually make their first “low-frequency vibrating calls” around the age of 6 months, and these calls can travel not just a few meters, but up to 10 kilometers.
They Start Chewing Before Their Teeth Are Even In
Baby elephants' teeth begin to emerge a few weeks after birth. However, even before this time, their mothers encourage them to chew plants. In this case, the baby turns the plants around in its mouth without crushing them, strengthening its mouth muscles. The actual chewing reflex develops in parallel with the emergence of the teeth.
Chain Closure to Protect the Young
In times of danger, female elephants gather together to form a “living wall.” They surround the calf in a circle and tightly wrap it with their trunks. This circle serves not only as physical protection but also as a psychological shield. The calf remains almost completely still during this time. This behavior is particularly observed during lion attacks.
Baby Elephants' Learning Speed Is Similar to That of Human Children
Baby elephants' problem-solving and memory skills are comparable to those of 3-4-year-old human children in some tests. For example, they are quite successful in tasks such as going around an obstacle or using one object to reach another. This learning process develops through experience and imitation.
Playing in the Sun: Shadow Obsession
Some baby elephants stop playing in the midday sun but perk up again when they move into the shade. The herd creates shade for the baby by forming a circle with the large ears of adult elephants. This behavior is repeated every day, especially in hot seasons. The calf determines its play area by following the shadow created by the ears.
Final Fact: Early Human Contact Has a Lasting Effect
Baby African elephants' first contact with humans usually occurs through abduction, the death of their mother, or rescue operations. These experiences either create a lasting sense of trust in the calf or develop irreversible fear. If contact is established at the right time and in the right way, these elephants will form calmer and more social relationships with humans in the future. However, early traumas can lead to aggressive behavior throughout their lives.