With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: 1. The leader of an elephant group is a female. 2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months. 3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only. 4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

QUESTION

Hard

Environment & Ecology

Prelims 2020

With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:

The leader of an elephant group is a female.
The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.
An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.
Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Female elephants, particularly older and more experienced ones, often lead the herd, while males may roam alone or form bachelor groups.

Statement 2 is correct: The gestation period for elephants is indeed one of the longest among mammals, ranging from about 18 to 22 months.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Female elephants can continue to reproduce well into their 40s and sometimes even into their 50s, although their reproductive capability tends to decrease with age.

Statement 4 is incorrect: Kerala does have a significant elephant population, but the highest elephant population in India is typically found in the state of Karnataka, followed by Assam.