Mother-Offspring Relationships

Females normally have calves every 4 to 9 years; population density and nutrition determine the frequency (Estes 1991). Cows stay very close to their calves and are very attentive. As the calf gets older it becomes the calf's responsibility to stay close to the mother. Mothers often touch their babies (Estes 1991). Older siblings will act as alloparents for younger siblings, especially female siblings near puberty (Moss 1982). If a baby wanders off from the family unit, lions and hyenas are potential predators. The herd engages in group defense of the young (Estes 1991). Mothers will not abandon a sick calf. Elephants have a long childhood during which they learn many behaviors, such as what foods are edible and communicative gestures (Moss 1982).