If all goes well the oldest and wisest elephant cow leads the family herd for well over 15 years – the matriarch. She has shown the herd she deserves this high status – she has earned their loyalty and respect. They adore her. 

The family herd will regularly travel along ancient routes and besides teaching them this and good manners and also their place in elephant society, she dispenses wisdom and infinite knowledge by teaching them where hidden food and water exists and other important life and survival skills.

For example, they might have to cross a challenging desert, but she knows where to drink enough water and stock up on fuel (food) before they travel across that barren area. She shows them, teaches them (which they remember) for further travels, when she is no longer around, or they have left the family herd – like young bulls know a bit before they team up with a bachelor herd that have a patriarch or when fully mature and seeking a cow in oestrus – he can navigate on his own because she taught him critical survival strategies. 

This grand old lady ensures her trusting herd has enough energy to transverse a challenging journey and then the caches where vital food and water offers replenishment after that exhausting journey.
 

That type of knowledge takes many years to attain.

This is why it is devastating for a herd to lose their beloved matriarch, who is likely the grandmother to most of them. If she dies prematurely, this can break up the herd or completely destroy them. Often her eldest daughter will have to take over her proven status – the daughter may only be about 35 years – still far too young to know where, what and how. Unfortunately, we see this more and more often due to the circumstances already mentioned – broken family herds. 

• Photo: Clint Ralph. clintralphphotography