Elephants are NOT territorial. They are nomadic animals that travel in matriarchal, or female-led, societies. Male elephants are usually solitary but in nature they may associate with other adult males, or better known as, bulls, in small groups that constantly gain and lose members. Elephants usually have a home range from 10 to 70 square kilometers, and possibly larger depending on the size of the herd and the season.
The elephant's physiology is designed to support a nomadic life style with an average daily distance covered being 17km. They often have the stereotypical behavior of rocking back and for as a response to lack of movement. It is thought that Elephants are nomadic due to their destructive feeding behavior. They literally push down the environment surrounding them due to their large mass. Elephants knock down trees, daily, to strip bark or reach high leaves. They also kill large areas of grass when grazing.
In some instances, elephants will use their tusks to mark trees to establish territory of their home range.
Male elephants (bulls) associate in small groups that have a hierarchal-ranking structure that is constantly in flux. This meaning leaders constantly change depending on the size, age, and strength, when members leave and enter. They do not seek leadership roles, but rather adapt to the members in the group. However, bulls determine their dominance by sparring which is usually determined by size and strength. Their nomadic social system allows for maximum reproductive possibilities. With this life style, bulls can potentially find up to 30 mates in a year.
Female elephants associate in concentric rings, with the innermost ring comprising of related adult females. This family units can have group sizes from 3 to 25 members. The most dominant female, usually the oldest, is called the matriarch, and usually determines the ranging pattern for the family. In ideal circumstances, families congregate with other families for more protection.
Here is a video of some elephants in Tanzania migrating and acting in their non-territorial but nomadic behavior
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/elephants/behavior.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/feb/26/environment
http://www.water-for-elephants.com/en/what-life-for-the-elephants/detention-of-elephants-in-circuses.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjtrwyR5dU4
When I was reading through your blog on territorial behavior I found it very interesting how elephants behave in the same manner as giraffes. they are both non-territorial animals that travel in herds. They also show many of the same characteristics of determining dominance in the group. I wonder if this could possibly be because they are both found in similar environments? Another possible explanation for this behavior could be their large size. It's interesting how two different animals can be so similar!!
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