Caitlin O’Connell-Rodwell: Stanford University Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

The structure of African elephant society is primarily matriarchal in nature, where dominant female elephants make decisions for the herd as a whole with regard to safety, movements, resource choices and affiliations. Culture is often influenced by local environmental and social pressures, as well as the character of individual herd members. Aspects of elephant society that contribute to survival will be discussed in the context of mechanisms that elephants employ to communicate over long distances. In addition, new findings about elephant bull society will be reviewed, highlighting the importance of bonding and mentoring adolescent delinquent males.
http://www.bec.ucla.edu/papers/OConnellRodwell_4.16.07.pdf