At Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT), conservationists have watched generations of African elephants grow from rescued orphans into thriving families. Along the way, they've discovered something remarkable: Nurturing a calf isn't just a mother's job.
“It
is often said that good fathers lead by example,” SWT wrote on Facebook. “That is certainly true with elephants — older bulls are mentors, guardians, and founts of wisdom.”
The team at SWT has found that male elephants play just as important a role in raising calves as the females do. While the females often nurse, protect and care for the youngest members of the herd, the males help shape the calves' social development.
“They teach younger bulls how to behave and help them navigate the wild,” SWT wrote. “Far from the solitary figures they’re often made out to be, bulls form strong friendships and show great loyalty.”
Over the years, there have been many instances of male elephants at SWT taking vulnerable calves under their wings. But one particular scene the other day left the SWT team in awe, when a large male elephant, also referred to as a bull, was visiting the herd one morning and suddenly found a sleepy baby at his feet.
“Baby Saba (ex-orphan Sunyei’s daughter) got sleepy and settled at the feet of a visiting bull,” SWT wrote. “He happily stood guard over the little girl until she was done with her nap!”
You can watch that heartwarming moment here:
It was a beautiful scene to witness; a clear display of the elephants’ natural instincts to care for each other. And just another example of how pivotal male elephants are to the development of multigenerational herds.
“Many of our orphans, such as Kiasa and Talek, were taken under the wings of benevolent bulls until help arrived,” SWT wrote. “Bulls can even step in as ‘honorary nannies,’ as this scene shows.”
In other instances, it’s not just the males who watch over elephant calves while they nap. Sometimes, the entire herd comes together to ensure their sleepy babies remain safe while getting the rest they need. Like when a group of three calves, Lenny, Sulwe and Zigi, were born, and their caregivers made sure they could sleep whenever and wherever they pleased.
“As babies do, they napped suddenly and often,” SWT wrote on Facebook. “When they showed signs of sleepiness, the entire herd would stop and circle round, so they could rest safely and soundly.”
Even though the babies are now older, they still get randomly sleepy throughout the day — and their herd is always ready to stop and let them rest for as long as they need.
You can watch that happen here:
There’s still much to be learned about African elephants, and the folks at SWT couldn’t be happier to have such a lively herd to observe. Whether they’re watching baby elephants navigate the world for the first time or seeing the wise adults naturally stepping in to help, the team remains in awe of the remarkable bonds they witness every day.
And with every new observation, they gain a deeper appreciation for just how much these gentle giants have to teach us about family, trust and caring for one another.
