Female elephants, just like their male counterparts, are amazing creatures that display complex emotional and social behavior. If you’ve ever wondered what a female elephant is called, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Female elephants are commonly referred to as cows. Other names used include matriarchs and nannies.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various names used for female elephants like cows, matriarchs, and nannies. We’ll take an in-depth look at the following:
* The commonly used terms for female elephants
* Differences between female elephant names by region and language
* Descriptions of female elephant social roles tied to names like matriarch and nanny
Commonly Used Names for Female Elephants
Cows
Female elephants are often referred to as cows. This term refers specifically to mature females that have already given birth to calves. Cows play a vital role in elephant herds, providing leadership, experience and teaching young elephants important survival skills.
They help protect and care for calves in the herd. Cows have strong social bonds with other elephants and their social knowledge is invaluable to the herd. An elephant herd relies heavily on its mature female members for cohesion and stability.
Matriarchs
The most respected and experienced female elephant in a herd is called the matriarch. She is usually the oldest and largest female. Matriarchs earn their position by demonstrating leadership abilities and intelligence over time.
A matriarch serves as the decision maker for the herd and guides them to food and water sources she remembers from decades of experience. She also leads the migration of the herd and resolves conflicts when they arise.
Matriarchs are integral to passing down knowledge and traditions from one generation to the next. When a matriarch passes away, her eldest daughter typically takes over this important leadership role in the herd.
Nannies
Female elephants who care for and protect the young calves in an elephant herd are referred to as nannies. These females often stay by a new mother’s side to offer guidance and support in raising her calf. They also lovingly watch over calves when the mothers need to feed.
Nannies will even nurse calves sometimes, especially orphaned ones. The nannies use their trunks to soothe upset calves. Their gentle nurturing and affection helps form strong bonds between the calves and the rest of the herd members.
Nannies are essential caregivers who devote themselves selflessly to ensuring the survival and well-being of the calves.
Regional and Language Differences
English Speaking Regions
In English speaking areas like Africa, India, and Asia, female elephants are most commonly referred to as “cows”. This comes from the general terminology used for female bovine animals. Other English names used include “matriarch” to denote an older, experienced female elephant that leads the herd, and “calf” for a young female elephant.
Swahili and Africa
In Swahili, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa, a female elephant is called “tembe”. Some specific Swahili names used by indigenous African people that live near elephants include “Bura” meaning the one who is brown, “Nzou” meaning elegant, and “Johari” meaning beautiful.
India and Asia
In Hindi, a female elephant is called “maada” and a baby female is called “maadaki”. Other Asian languages like Tamil call female elephants “thaaay” and in Malayalam they are termed “ana”. Some popular Asian female elephant names are Ganga, Kamala, Laxmi and Rani, which symbolize concepts like the holy river, lotus flower, luck and queen in Indian culture.
Across regions and languages, we see some differences but also surprising consistency in how female elephants are named and categorized. These creative and meaningful names reflect the respect and admiration these intelligent animals elicit among the diverse peoples that live near them.
| Region | Common Term | Example Specific Names |
|---|---|---|
| English speaking | Cows, matriarchs | Maggie, Rosie |
| Africa (Swahili) | Tembe | Bura, Nzou |
| Asia (Indian languages) | Maada, thaaay, ana | Ganga, Kamala, Rani |
According to a 2021 report from the World Wildlife Organization, female elephants comprise around 47% of the total world elephant population numbering near 415,000. So whether called cows, tambes or maadas, female elephants are vitally important for the stability and growth of the species.
Social Role Tied Names Explained
Matriarchs – The Leading Ladies
The mature female elephants with the most experience leading the herd are called matriarchs. These wise females make decisions crucial to the entire family unit’s survival, such as finding food and water sources during droughts or migrations.
Studies show that the average age of an African elephant matriarch is around 60 years old (Elephants for Africa).
With their advanced years comes superior knowledge of the landscape, water holes, grazing areas, and dangers to avoid. The matriarch elephant’s memory is legendary. In one unique case, a matriarch led her herd to specific trees that bore fruit during a drought last witnessed 50 years past when she was a calf!
The other elephants followed her guidance, trusting in her recollection from a half-century before.
Nannies – The Caregivers
Female elephants without calves of their own often take on caregiving roles called “allomothers” or nannies. These allomother elephants watch over the calves of other mothers in the herd while they are feeding or resting.
One study found that younger female elephants seem especially eager to help care for the little ones (Current Biology).
These nannie elephants form bonds with the calves they help raise over the years. It’s speculated this “auntie” role lets young females hone parenting skills for when they have their own babies later on.
The communal caregiving also gives lactating mother elephants precious time to replenish reserves and recover between feedings their own offspring.
Conclusion
In this guide, we explored the varied terminology used for adult female elephants like cows, matriarchs and nannies. We found names can differ by region and language. Special names like matriarch and nanny describe important social roles.
The next time you visit a zoo or go on safari, you’ll be able to accurately name the female elephants you encounter. You’ll also better understand elephant social dynamics tied to certain terminologies.
Hopefully this guide gave you insight into the lives of these magnificent, naming deserving creatures.
