Older bull elephants control young males (original) (raw)
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- Published: 23 November 2000
Nature volume 408, pages 425–426 (2000)Cite this article
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Orphaned male adolescents go on killing sprees if mature males aren't around.
Abstract
Musth is a state of heightened sexual and aggressive activity in male elephants1,2. Between 1992 and 1997, young orphaned musth male African elephants (Loxodonta africana) that had been introduced to Pilanesberg, South Africa, killed more than 40 white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). The killing ceased after six older male elephants were introduced from the relatively normal Kruger Park population. The deviant behaviour of the young Pilanesberg males was rectified by the consequent reduction in musth.
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Figure 1: Observed (black bars) and probable (white bars) musth periods of elephants identified by number.
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Author notes
- Andre Klocke: Deceased
Authors and Affiliations
- School of Life and Environmental Science, George Campbell Building, University of Natal, Durban , 4041, South Africa
Rob Slotow, Bruce Page & Andre Klocke - North West Parks and Tourism Board, Pilanesberg National Park, PO Box 1305, Mogwase , South Africa
Gus van Dyk - PO Box 24747, Nairobi , Kenya
Joyce Poole
Authors
- Rob Slotow
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - Gus van Dyk
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - Joyce Poole
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - Bruce Page
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - Andre Klocke
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Correspondence toRob Slotow.
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Slotow, R., van Dyk, G., Poole, J. et al. Older bull elephants control young males.Nature 408, 425–426 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35044191
- Issue Date: 23 November 2000
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35044191
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