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Project Noah Nature School
Loxodonta Africanus
Elephant herds comprise females & juvenile males led by a matriarch. Adult bull elephants do not form part of the herd & only interact with the females during mating. Females may mate with a number of different bulls during their receptive period & select which of her partners actually inseminates her - usually the largest strongest bull. This ensures her progeny have the best chance of survival through inheriting these traits.
This bull approached the hide we were in & displayed some quite aggressive behavior including a couple of mock charges at us. You can see in photos 3 & 4 that he has discharge from glands above his eyes that indicate he is in musth. Musth is a periodic condition in bull elephants, characterized by highly aggressive behavior, accompanied by a large rise in reproductive hormones - testosterone levels in an elephant in musth can be as much as 60 times greater than in the same elephant at other times.
This bull approached the hide we were in & displayed some quite aggressive behavior including a couple of mock charges at us. You can see in photos 3 & 4 that he has discharge from glands above his eyes that indicate he is in musth. Musth is a periodic condition in bull elephants, characterized by highly aggressive behavior, accompanied by a large rise in reproductive hormones - testosterone levels in an elephant in musth can be as much as 60 times greater than in the same elephant at other times.
Spotted on Mar 20, 2008
Submitted on Aug 20, 2011
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