Older bull elephants control young males (original) (raw)

Nature volume 408, pages 425–426 (2000)Cite this article

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

  1. Andre Klocke: Deceased

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life and Environmental Science, George Campbell Building, University of Natal, Durban , 4041, South Africa
    Rob Slotow, Bruce Page & Andre Klocke
  2. North West Parks and Tourism Board, Pilanesberg National Park, PO Box 1305, Mogwase , South Africa
    Gus van Dyk
  3. PO Box 24747, Nairobi , Kenya
    Joyce Poole

Authors

  1. Rob Slotow
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  2. Gus van Dyk
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  3. Joyce Poole
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  4. Bruce Page
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  5. Andre Klocke
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Corresponding author

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

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