Contrary to the nineteenth century myth of the “harem bull”, wild elephants are almost always led by the oldest female, the matriarch with exhaustive knowledge of the territory that must provide for her herd. After a 21-22 month gestation period, an elephant calf emerges into a loving network of mother, aunties, and cousins. A female calf will most likely spend the rest of her life in the warmth of family, whereas the males invariably turn so rambunctious and troublesome