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The
Boys
At around the age of 11—12 years the young males go into
puberty. At this time they will leave the breeding herds and
start a nomadic life that will last their entire life.
Bachelor herds form when these young males meet up
and start traversing the African plains between the different
breeding herds of females. Some of the friendships made in
the bachelor herds will last for the entire life of the males.
During these early stages of their bachelor status they will
meet up of some of the older elephant bulls. These bulls
will act as their teachers, teaching them the necessary dis-
cipline, proper behaviour and ethics they will need to be
able to function when they reach full maturity.
These lessons are vital to the young males as all knowledge
comes through teaching and learning.
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