Elephants are a matriarchal group where the role of the male species is sidelined,a factor which distinguishes them from other animals, said Prof R Sukumar of the Indian Institute of Science,Bangalore. He was speaking at the silver jubilee celebration of the Institute of Microbial Technology on the topic: world of elephants. He said elephants are socially interactive and stay together in groups. The core of this species is the family,which is headed by a female, he said. Talking on the behavioural pattern of elephants,Sukumar pointed that male elephants experience different social milieus in different stages of their life. Drawing a parallel with human behaviour,Sukumar maintained that as in the case of human beings,the maternal investment is more in male calves. Speaking about the communication pattern,he said its sense of smell is more strong as compared to dogs. Expressing disappointment over the increasing incidents of poaching,Sukumar said that steps should be taken to prevent elephants population from dwindling.
