Here's how elephant families are not so different from our own....
In the forests of Sumatra, close-knit Sumatran elephant herds rely on one another for safety, learning, emotional support, and survival. The mother and calf in the photo below are part of one such family. Moving together through their forest home in the Bukit Tigapuluh ecosystem, where every step they take depends on the strength of the herd around them.
And they depend on you, too.
Asian elephant families are among the most intelligent and social animals on Earth. Their family groups, made up of mothers and daughters with young males, stay together for life.
At times, many herds join together, creating groups of more than 60 elephants! They move as one, communicate constantly and care for one another.
Young males will eventually leave their families between the ages of 8-13-years-old. At first, they form small bachelor groups with other young males, learning how to navigate the world on their own. As they mature, they become more competitive and spend more time on their own.
Elephant society is built on compassion and cooperation. Matriarchs will lead with deep knowledge, guiding their family through dense forest, finding food and water, and teaching the young how to survive.
When one elephant is distressed, injured or struggling, others gather around to help, offering comfort and support. Their empathy is real, profound, and vital to the survival of every herd.
And your compassion is just as powerful. Every action you take, big or small, helps protect these elephants, their families, and the forest they depend on.
This video below is proof that your kindness is everything. It shows that you’re giving herds the chance to live wild, safe and free. Just as they were born to be!
The bonds between elephants remind us why protecting families, not just individuals, is so important. Every calf relies on its mother. Every herd relies on its matriarch. And all of them rely on safe, healthy forests where they can roam freely and thrive together.
You’re giving them that safety.
And I cannot thank you enough! Your kindness is helping secure the future of elephants, their families, and their entire species.