Playful Elephant, P21-438 D

There are four distinct personalities within an elephant herd – the leaders, the gentle giants, the playful rogues and the reliable plodders. Each personality brings something unique and essential to their community. The leaders influence the movements and direction of the group. Gentle giants bring affection. Playful rogues tend to be younger, more curious and more active. Sometimes this trait diminishes with age, but not always. Reliable plodders are those that are consistent at making good decisions. They help care for the infants, and are calm in the face of danger. Males develop strong friendships, and older males tend to mentor younger ones, who follow them and learn from them. Elephants rely on wallowing in water or mud to cool the body.