Jennifer Hodgins

 

Dominance Relationship Ranking Among Wild Female African Elephants.

 

 

Like most wild animals, there is certain amount of fight for survival, especially for resources, ie food and also mates.  Individuals may help each other out, but they may alternatively be competitive therefore leading to dominance rank relationships.

                                                                                                                     

Due to predation pressures, female elephants are compelled to live in groups and therefore resources can lead to competition thus the nature of female elephants regarding their social relationships can be observed for eg; if resources are rare like water, minerals, and high quality foods. On the other hand if resources are in great supply then female elephants of the same family groups tend to live in equal societies with poor social relationships within the female species.

 

Regarding the wild female elephant, there is three possible dominance rank relationship types that have been proven;

                                

1. Egalitarian (equal) where resources are in good supply and there is very little competition. Their main function is cooperative care and protection of their offspring from predators. There is no mutual help in competition.
2. Linear, nepotistic- in this case resources are clustered, therefore competitive environment. Fitness benefits are a gain to female relationships to help their kin to attain rank and acquire resources. These elephants live in fission- fusion societies which means groups divide and later reform which leads to minimizing competition.
3. Linear, not nepotistic- here resources are in great supply but some resources are clustered which causes competition. Here linear hierarchies reduce competition ie; the older females have higher hierarchies. There are no fitness benefits for assisting kin in attaining rank. Other forms of cooperation ie; offspring care against predatation allows for female bonding and morale. Evidence shows that age and size based linear hierarchies serve conclusions here.

 

 

Studies from Amboseli and Tarangire elephants show best studies of wild elephant populations in Africa.

An Amboseli population is 1200 elephants. Population has been unaffected by poaching and hunting. They have a permanent source of water from springs. Average age of an wild elephant s first calf is at 14.1 years. The age difference between the youngest and oldest adult female of the same family ranged from 24 to 53 years. Age estimation – back length, footprint length, shoulder height, head morphology.

 

Tarangire elephant population is 2000 elephants. Population has been affected by poaching and hunting which has altered age groupings. In dry season elephants rely on the Tarangire river for their main source of water supply. Average age of their first calf is at 10 years. Age estimation using morphology- tusk size, back length, shape of head, height of shoulder, tooth eruption and wear.

 

General behaviour- elephants are not only social units but they are also genetic units. Females remain with their relatives throughout their lives. Therefore are made up of close maternal kin. They stay in close proximity (about 4 body lengths apart), which means dangerous conditions if a conflict should occur. In nepotistic (clustered) hierarchies, their daughters inherit a rank near their mother. They outrank older females, non first order relatives and those of lower ranking than their mother.

 

In conclusion, elephants possess good memory and many observations have shown that elephants have theory of mind and anticipatory planning abilities that involve fore seeing future events eg; pain to themselves or others and possibly their own deaths. Female elephants have well differentiated social relationships. They are large, highly social and intelligent animals.

 

Article used;

Dominance rank relationships among wild female African elephants.

Elizabeth A.Archie, Thomas A.Morrison, CharlesA.H.Foley, Cynthia J Moss,  Susan C.Alberts.

      Department of Biology, Duke University

      Tarangire Elephant Project

      Amboseli elephant research project.

       Published 16^th November 2005.                         

 

Further References;

Ethical Management of elephants and the value of long term field

       Research, by Joyce H.Poole,and Peter Granli, Amboseli elephant

       Research project and elephant voices.

       AV Magazine 2005.