https://en.sputniknews.africa/20241205/african-elephants-show-consistent-yet-flexible-personalities-shaped-by-social-context-study-says-1069562574.html
African Elephants Show Consistent, Yet Flexible Personalities Shaped by Social Context, Study Says
African Elephants Show Consistent, Yet Flexible Personalities Shaped by Social Context, Study Says
Sputnik Africa
The research of 34 Namibian elephants' behavior emphasized the importance of understanding the animals' individual personality traits, as well as the... 05.12.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-12-05T17:12+0100
2024-12-05T17:12+0100
2024-12-05T17:12+0100
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African elephants possess distinct and consistent personality traits, including aggression and friendliness, which are also influenced by their social environment, and develop with age, revealed a study of 34 wild males in Namibia's Etosha National Park, published by PLOS ONE scientific journal.Some behavior patterns were repeatable in different social contexts. Younger males and a keystone male had the greatest effect on adult males, while, surprisingly, presence of elephants in musth (a state of heightened aggression occurring annually) had little effect on others, scientists noted.According to the study, dominant older males, the most socially integrated in the group, balanced either aggressive or friendly behaviors, while younger males exhibited more similar to each other temperaments, suggesting that their personalities develop with age, under the influence of adult males' behavior patterns.
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animals, nature, africa, science, research, namibia, southern africa, wildlife, national park, elephants
African Elephants Show Consistent, Yet Flexible Personalities Shaped by Social Context, Study Says
Alla Shukanova
Writer / Editor
The research of 34 Namibian elephants' behavior emphasized the importance of understanding the animals' individual personality traits, as well as the importance of mixed-age groups for male elephants' well-being for effective conservation and management.
African elephants possess distinct and consistent personality traits, including aggression and friendliness, which are also influenced by their social environment, and develop with age, revealed a study of 34 wild males in Namibia's Etosha National Park, published by PLOS ONE scientific journal.
"Using repeatability models to assess ten behavioral categories, we found five behaviors (affiliation, aggression, dominance, self-directed anxious, and self-directed comfort) were consistent at the individual level," the publication said.
Some behavior patterns were repeatable in different
social contexts. Younger males and a keystone male had the greatest effect on adult males, while, surprisingly, presence of elephants in musth (a state of heightened aggression occurring annually) had little effect on others, scientists noted.
According to the study, dominant older males, the most socially integrated in the group, balanced either aggressive or friendly behaviors, while younger males exhibited more similar to each other temperaments, suggesting that their personalities develop with age, under the influence of adult males' behavior patterns.
