6 facts about baby elephants – let’s ‘trunk’ about it!

Watch this adorable baby elephant calf following its mum on her every step!

Did you know newborn elephants weigh around 200-250 pounds (90-113 kg) and stand about 3 feet tall at birth?

Despite their size, these little giants can stand and walk within an hour after being born – all so they can reach their mother’s milk, which they drink by mouth, not trunk!

1. Gestation and Birth
   Elephants have the longest gestation period of any land mammal, lasting about 22 months. This extended pregnancy allows the baby elephant to be born in a highly developed state, capable of standing within minutes and walking within an hour after birth. This advanced development helps the calf keep up with the herd immediately, which is crucial for survival in the wild.
2. Protection and Social Structure
   Elephants live in strongly bonded, female-led (matriarchal) herds. When a female gives birth, other females in the herd, often aunts and sisters, help protect and care for the newborn. The herd acts like a nursery, where multiple mothers and relatives collectively rear and guard the calves, providing safety and teaching survival skills.
3. Using Their Trunk
   Baby elephants are born with trunks that lack muscle strength, so they initially use their mouths to nurse. They start experimenting with their trunks between four and six months of age by picking up grasses and leaves, which helps strengthen the trunk muscles. Playing and swinging the trunk are important activities for developing this vital appendage.
4. Survival Skills and Learning
   Calves are highly dependent on their mothers and other female relatives for the first three years of life. They learn which plants are edible and how to find food by mimicking older elephants. The herd adjusts its pace to ensure the young can keep up, and the calves benefit from the collective knowledge and protection of the group.
5. Communication and Affection
   Baby elephants communicate with the herd through trumpeting and physical touch. They express affection and seek comfort by touching and staying close to their mothers and other herd members. This social bonding is essential for emotional security and survival.
6. Physical Characteristics at Birth
   Newborn calves typically weigh around 90 to 120 kg (200 to 264 pounds) and stand about 1 meter (3 feet) tall, roughly the size of a 4-year-old human child. Despite their size, they are born blind and rely heavily on their mother’s guidance and the support of the herd to navigate their environment.

These facts highlight the remarkable adaptations and social dynamics that enable baby elephants to survive and thrive from the moment they are born.