Elephants are very intelligent and highly social animals. They live in herds of up to 20 animals, which roam or migrate over a large area. There is no evidence of territoriality, but a home range exists, covering an area of around 10-70 square kilometres. A mature female matriarch usually leads the group and the group is very protective of newly born and young individuals. The herd consists of adult daughters or granddaughters and the immature young of both sexes. Groups of distantly related elephants will join together to form large herds in times of danger. The herds sometime split up forming new herds, but always maintain contact with each other at watering holes and feeding spots.

The tight bonding in the herd experience is important in the life of an elephant. The herd learns and accumulates knowledge through close relationships and this knowledge is passed from one generation to the next.

Males leave the herd at 14 years of age and live singly or with fellow bulls of the same age or older than themselves. A hierarchy exists in the bull area and this is well understood and strictly observed by the males. If a group of bulls comes across a cow in oestrous, the bull with the highest rank will mate with her.

Elephants are crepuscular animals, meaning they are active mainly in the early morning and at twilight. They share a special language of infrasonic communication that the human ear cannot hear. This special communication can carry for long distances and elephants a couple of kilometres away can recognise the signal of another elephant. Elephants can recognise stress signals and males recognise a female in oestrous.

Musth

There is a periodic phenomenon that occurs in elephants that is not well understood. This period is known as musth, which means ┐intoxicated┐ in Hindu. Musth is where the elephants secrete from a gland between the eye and the ear. Elephants are known to have strong behavioural changes during this time. Some males have been known to become extremely aggressive, especially those in captivity. Although it seems there is some correlation between musth and sexual behaviour, it is not really known why it occurs.

Diet

Elephants eat practically any vegetable matter, mainly grass, leaves, roots, flowers and fruit. The digestive system of an elephant is inefficient and only 40% of what they consume is digested. This means that elephants have large appetites and devote between 18-20 hours a day to eating or moving toward food. Feeding comprises of 80% of total behaviour; the rest of the time is spent playing, sleeping, bathing, and reproducing.

Elephants also need a regular supply of water and consume around 83-140 litres a day. During the dry season when water levels are low, elephants dig holes to find underground springs. Once the elephants have finished drinking from the wells, other animals use them to drink from. Other wildlife depend on the elephant during these periods. The waterholes provide the elephant with important minerals that are buried below the surface. When drinking, the elephant sucks the water into its trunk then sticks the trunks into its mouth and releases the water.

Adaptations

The tusks are adapted as weapons and used to move vegetation or gather food. The trunk is also used to gather food, drink, and bathe. Elephants are intelligent, and can learn throughout life, rather than relying upon instinct.