Life Cycle of an Elephant

Birth

Birth to about 5-10 years

old, Dependent on

Mother.

Adolescent

10-17 years old, Starts to break away from Mother.

Sexual Maturity

8-13 years old, Starts to break away from Mother.

Mating

20 years old

Adulthood

18- about 70 (life

expectancy of an elephant)

Stages

Birth• 5 – 10yrs

Adolescent• 10-17yrsSexual Maturity

• 8-13yrs

Mating• 20yrsAdulthood• 18-70yrs

Breaking away from

the Mother

Calve is a vegetarian

Calve is born about after 22-24 months.

First 3-5 years of their life they are dependent on mother for nutrition, hygiene, migration, and health.

This period is to teach the young all they will need to know, in order to survive on their own.

They learn how to properly use their trunk, for feeding, drinking, and bathing

The first calve of the season is born about 2 months before the first rain. This is to ensure that the vegetation is soft and lush when they start to feed.

Stage 1: Birth (5-10)

Elephant is not dependent on mother anymore.

It is during this stage that the Elephants reach sexual maturity (8-13).They do not mate at this age yet.

This is the time in which young elephants begin to break away from the main herd.Young bulls in particular, tend to form smaller groups called “bachelor pods”.Females are more likely to stay with the main herd.

Stage: 2 Adolescent (10-17)

Life expectancy of an elephant is 70 years old.

They start mating at age 20 and stop bearing calves at about age 50.Like humans elephants go through something similar to “menopause”.Also like humans elephants go through age-related illnesses, like cardiovascular diseases and arthritis.During this stage many bulls wonder to find new mates.

Females will stay with the main herd.

Stage: 3 Adulthood (18-70)