Our last few EleFACT Fridays have been about male elephants, so this week we’ll be focusing on matriarchs and their leadership status within the elephant herd. It can be said that the matriarch of a herd takes on the most important role of the family structure; she is often the…...
EleFact Friday – What is Musth?
We’re back this Friday with more EleFACTs about male elephants. Have you heard of musth? This annual hormonal cycle naturally occurs in adult bull elephants and can last anywhere from a few days to as long as several months. Physical and behavioral changes are characterized by secretion of a hormone-rich…...
EleFact Friday: Jacobson’s Organ
Happy EleFACT Friday! Have you heard of the Jacobson’s organ? Named after Ludwig Jacobson, it is also known as the vomeronasal organ or VNO and helps elephants in pheromone detection. Other mammals, reptiles, and amphibians also have one. When elephants can’t collect all the information they need about something through…...
EleFact Friday: More Tooth Talk
Today we have more tooth talk for EleFACT Friday. Elephants have hypsodont teeth, which are high-crowned and extend unusually far above the gumline. Teeth like this provide plenty of extra tooth material to combat the wear and tear that comes from abrasive substances that the elephants chew on. Their teeth…...