Elephants, Earth’s largest land mammals, begin their lives at a considerable size. A newborn elephant, known as a calf, enters the world ready for a remarkable growth journey. This initial size helps calves quickly integrate into the herd and develop behaviors necessary for survival.
Initial Size and Species Variation
Baby elephants are born large, with their size varying between African and Asian species. An average African elephant calf weighs around 120 kilograms (264 pounds) at birth and stands about 1 meter (3 feet) tall. Male African bush elephant calves can be even larger, sometimes weighing up to 165 kilograms (364 pounds) or more. African forest elephant calves are smaller, typically around 90 kilograms (200 pounds).
Asian elephant calves are also substantial, usually weighing about 91 kilograms (200 pounds) at birth, with a range of 90 to 113 kilograms (200 to 250 pounds). Both African and Asian elephant calves stand approximately 1 meter (3 feet) tall. Their ability to stand within minutes of birth and walk within one to two hours is a biological adaptation that enables them to keep pace with their nomadic herds. The gestation period for elephants is among the longest of any mammal, lasting between 18 to 22 months, which contributes to the large size of the calf at birth.
Growth Trajectory and Influencing Factors
Elephant calves exhibit rapid growth in their early years, which is essential for their survival and integration into the herd. They typically gain about 0.90 kilograms (2 pounds) per day, allowing a calf to reach 408 kilograms (900 pounds) within its first nine months. By six months of age, a baby elephant can weigh around 300 kilograms and stand about 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall.
Weaning is a gradual process for elephant calves, beginning with experimentation of solid foods like grass and leaves around four to six months of age. Calves remain dependent on their mother’s milk for at least two years, and sometimes continue nursing for up to ten years. Full weaning often coincides with the emergence of their tusks, which become visible around two to three years old and can make suckling uncomfortable for the mother.
Elephants reach sexual maturity at varying ages depending on the species and individual factors. Female African elephants typically become reproductively mature between 10 and 12 years of age, while males often mature later, with successful mating usually occurring around 35 years. Asian elephant females generally reach sexual maturity around 14 years, and males between 15 to 20 years. Full physical maturity, where elephants attain their adult size and strength, is generally reached between 18 to 20 years of age. Factors such as nutrition, maternal care, and environmental conditions, including rainfall, significantly influence a calf’s growth rate and the age at which it reaches maturity.