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Title: Social interactions between two groups of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) with particular focus on interactions involving two bull calves
Author: Alexis Hoy
Establishment: University of Plymouth
Summary: This investigation explores the social interactions within and between two groups of elephants housed adjacent to each other at Colchester Zoo.Like social groups in the wild, the elephants seemed to follow the matriarchal system whereby there is one dominant female.
Complete article:
This investigation explored the social interactions within and between two groups of elephants housed adjacent to each other at Colchester Zoo. One group contained two adult females and a calf, and the other group contained one adult female and a calf. Significant differences were found in the total social involvement of individuals. This difference was found with the two calves which were more socially involved than two of the adult females. The most frequent interaction the calves engaged in was play. There was also a significant difference in touching behaviour between certain individuals and the tendencies of individuals to perform or receive interactions. Overall the study showed that an elephant’s previous experiences will have an effect on the nature of social behaviour in the future. The group at Colchester Zoo had certain correlating characteristics with those of wild social groups, as the zoo elephants seemed to follow the matriarchal system whereby there is one dominant female.
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