ELEPHANTS AND MENTORSHIP
11 October 2018
“Daddy, why is the big one bullying the small one”?
We are looking at two elephant bulls. Tusks locked in a wrestling match. Their massive heads collide with an audible crash like far off thunder. The younger bull waivers, hesitates. The old bull takes the opportunity.
His great bulk moves forward alarmingly quickly. The younger bull cannot resist the momentum and force of the old warrior. His knees buckle. He utters a desperate yell; turns and runs. The old bull rests. His askari has learnt his lesson. Wounded pride will give way to knowledge to be used when the time is right…
Elephants have a complex social structure. Cows and calves will follow a matriarch whilst bulls will move around solitary or in small groups consisting of a dominant bull and one or more younger bulls, or askaris (helpers).
These young bulls learn the ways to an elephant cows heart from the older bull. It learns how to fight, what to eat, where to eat and what to avoid ensuring a long life.
This mentorship is vitally important for the development of the young bulls. Without this young elephant will sometimes become delinquents, maturing much too fast and then becoming a threat and a nuisance to the matriarchal herds.
Being part of an all-boys group also means fun! When swimming the young bulls become even more boisterous, dragging one another under water, standing on each other’s back, and generally behaving like all boys do when in the same situation.
This helps with the establishment of a certain dominance under the young bulls, limiting serious fights amongst them later.
A small voice pipes up from the back: “Daddy, do you think we can take him back to England with us; I will teach him how to behave. Promise!”
BUSHVELD GREETINGS