The absence of adult elephants due to the illegal hunting In search of ivory, he creates a problem that affects not only the group of these animals, but also other species, including man.
According to a new study, led by Exeter University in the UK, in collaboration with Elephants to AfricaWithout the wisest and oldest specimens, conflicts between people and wildlife increase.
Teenage elephants, in particular, were more afraid when they were alone compared to other males.
The reason is that younger elephants become more aggressive when the older ones are missing, to the point of attacking vehicles and other animals. Therefore, the authors suggest that it is the more experienced individuals who reassure the group.
“It appears that the presence of more experienced and older elephants in groups can play a key role in keeping younger and less experienced males calm and reducing their perception of the current threat level, which means there is less risk of harm to humans. and other species”, emphasizes the main author, Connie Allen, Exeter Animal Behavior Research Center.
To reach these conclusions, the team examined the behavior of 281 male elephants in an all-male areathat of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park (Botswana) for a period of three years. Elephants were divided into four age groups, adolescents (10-15 and 16-20 years) and adults (21-25 and over 26 years).
The results revealed that with fewer older male elephants, the rest of the group was more likely to be aggressive towards non-elephant targets such as vehicles, cattle and other species. it was the elephants teenagers, in particular, those who were more fearful with these goals when they were alone compared to other men. This indicates that socially isolated adolescents can also pose a greater threat to individuals.
“Our research draws attention to what is often a largely neglected area of animal behavior: the complex relationships and connections that occur between males in male-only non-reproductive societies,” says Allen.
Reduce conflicts with humans
The authors indicate that, alternatively, older males may look to younger males to attack people or other targets. Understanding these causes of aggression is essential to avoid conflicts between humans and elephants, says the professor. Darren Croft, from the British university.
Contrary to popular belief, the older males, who become hunting trophies, play an important role in shaping the behavior of the younger ones.
Contrary to popular belief, the older males, who become hunting trophies, play an important role in shaping the behavior of the younger ones. “These results provide an important message for wildlife managers and they suggest that removing elderly male elephants from populations can lead to conflicts between humans and wildlife,” adds Croft.
For this, wildlife management must be based on how these animals interact with each other. “Future research into social behavior will continue to improve conservation efforts for this iconic species,” he concludes. Lauren Brent, from the University of Exeter.
Reference:
Connie Allen et al. “Reduced presence of older males associated with increased rates of aggression to non-conspecific targets in male elephants” Annals of the Royal Society B
Source: SYNC
Rights: Creative Commons.
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