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Blogsia - Elephants have unique ways of communicating with each other and their groups. A recent study has revealed how male elephants signal their herds to leave a location.
Researchers from Stanford University and other institutions have been observing male elephants in Etosha National Park, Namibia. They investigated the sounds produced by these males, such as rumbling noises.
It turns out that these low-frequency sounds are signals from male elephants indicating, "It’s time to go." When a male elephant produces this sound, others respond one by one, creating a low-frequency chorus that echoes across the savannah like a whisper.
"We were surprised to learn that male elephants, typically thought to have loose social bonds, use advanced vocal coordination to initiate a coordinated action," said Caitlin O'Connell-Rodwell, a researcher at the Stanford University Center for Conservation Biology, as reported by phys.org.
The researchers found that the herd communicated precisely and conveyed a clear message: "It’s time to continue the journey."
After the rumbling sound, the elephants moved slowly, following the lead of the rumbling male as they traveled at night to their next destination.
From Female to Male: Unveiling the Truth
This new study challenges previous beliefs about the behavior that prompts a group to move. It was once thought that this behavior was typical of female elephants within family groups.
However, researchers discovered that this behavior is actually performed by male elephants. O'Connell-Rodwell has conducted nighttime field research since 2004 and had previously recorded the "move forward" rumbling sounds from males.
Her research aimed to understand how elephant vocalizations travel through the ground. Over 20 years, O'Connell-Rodwell and her team studied the sounds produced by elephants to learn about their acoustic characteristics and behavioral patterns.
They used this information to understand the relationships and social structure among male elephants, including who initiates calls, how other elephants respond, and the series of events leading to coordinated departures.
The "move forward" rumbling observed in male elephants resembles previously recorded sounds from female elephants. In fact, O'Connell-Rodwell and her team hypothesize that males likely learn this behavior when they are young.
"Our research found that elephants use a form of syntax by making 'move forward' sounds. When they combine nouns and verbs, it's a form of language," she explained.
Maintaining Social Bonds
Beyond linguistic insights, the study revealed that some dominant male elephants play crucial roles in their social groups, helping to maintain cohesion and stability.
"These males act as mentors. They care for younger elephants in need and always seek physical contact. Older males are willing to guide the young, share resources with them, and participate in their emotional ups and downs," said O'Connell-Rodwell.
In countries where hunting is permitted, caution is needed to avoid hunting older male elephants with strong social bonds. Removing such elephants can disrupt social cohesion and mentorship structures within elephant populations.
The study also highlighted that strong social bonds and interactions are vital for the well-being of male elephants in captivity and semi-captivity, emphasizing the need for environments that support such social structures.
"Our findings not only highlight the complexity and richness of male elephant social life but also advance our understanding of how they use vocalizations in rituals and coordination, bringing us closer to the concept of elephant language," she concluded.
The "move forward" rumbling observed in male elephants resembles previously recorded sounds from female elephants. In fact, O'Connell-Rodwell and her team hypothesize that males likely learn this behavior when they are young.
"Our research found that elephants use a form of syntax by making 'move forward' sounds. When they combine nouns and verbs, it's a form of language," she explained.
Maintaining Social Bonds
Beyond linguistic insights, the study revealed that some dominant male elephants play crucial roles in their social groups, helping to maintain cohesion and stability.
"These males act as mentors. They care for younger elephants in need and always seek physical contact. Older males are willing to guide the young, share resources with them, and participate in their emotional ups and downs," said O'Connell-Rodwell.
In countries where hunting is permitted, caution is needed to avoid hunting older male elephants with strong social bonds. Removing such elephants can disrupt social cohesion and mentorship structures within elephant populations.
The study also highlighted that strong social bonds and interactions are vital for the well-being of male elephants in captivity and semi-captivity, emphasizing the need for environments that support such social structures.
"Our findings not only highlight the complexity and richness of male elephant social life but also advance our understanding of how they use vocalizations in rituals and coordination, bringing us closer to the concept of elephant language," she concluded.
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