plz answer a question about elephants that i've had since i was a kid.?

Question

if the oldest female is always the Matriarch of the herd, what happens if she's not exactly the brightest member of the herd? i mean, if she somehow managed to survive to adult hood and assume that position, what does the herd do if she can't find good places to eat, drink,etc? has there ever been a documented case where this happened?

Answer 1

Yeah, then they die. I'm sure if elephants are being led around and they can't find food or water, after a while they change and follow another elephant.

Answer 2

Generally speaking the matriarch is the mother, grandmother or great grand mother to all the other members of the herd. If she were not able to find good food and water she would probably not survive. However in your scenario the herd would most likely break due to lack of food or another member would step up and become matriarch simply because other member would follow them instead probably a child of the former matriarch. The new matriarchs children would follow her while the others may still follow the older matriarch. Keep in mind that female elephant herds do not determine dominance by aggression or fighting. It is most often the oldest female that is the wisest but may not be. In general she would be followed because the other members have been following her and deferring to her all their life.

As resources become more scarce each animal will begin to fend for themselves more.

Answer 3

I think Moara has the right idea. I don't know about elephants, but in a horse herd there is usually a "boss mare" in charge. Stallions will protect their herd, but they are expendable. The boss mare usually makes all the decisions for the herd and keeps every one in line. The other horses look to her for leadership. From my experience, the boss mare is chosen for her dominant personality and ability - not age.

Answer 4

I don't believe that the elephants strictly follow the oldest female, but rather the most dominant of the older ones. I'm not sure how it works with elephants exactly, but in other group animals, it's not like they elect a leader, it's more like a ranking system with individuals knowing who they're above and who they're below. For male elephants it's who's the most agressive, and who wins the most tussles. My guess would be that for females, it's a combination of how many younger females they've given birth to and raised (which would be related to their ability to find food and water and avoid predators), as well as their general standing with their peers in terms of assertiveness.

That's not to say that there might not be herds where the matriarch hasn't happened upon her position through dumb luck, but I don't think it's as likely as you might thing, and I don't believe that the other elephants are capable of thinking "Things aren't going well for us, we should depose our leader and get a new one"

Answer 5

Sounds like survival of the fittest. If there is a bad gene in the pool it is better for the entire herd not to survive.

Answer 6

It happens all the time, just as it does in human culture. Do you HONESTLY believe that the heads of State of each nation in the world are the "brightest members" of our 'herd'? I hope not!

But we're doing okay, I think...LOL!

Answer 7

i guess the herd would find a new leader

Answer 8

Hmm.. I honestly don't know, I would think that they would just find a new leader.

I feel obligated to apologize for other peoples stupid/rude comments above me.

I think it should all be fine though, just watch and seee how they're doing and how it affects them, and maybe it will be fine.

Hope I helped.

Goodluck.

Answer 9

well thats just unluky 4 da other elephants isnt it!!
quite an odd question tho lmao!!
if i woz an elephant nd i woz gettin bossed about by a stupid elephant id just run away!

Answer 10

One word.... Lemings