Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | The effect of calf presence on female Asian elephant social organisation and behaviour in the Kabini Elephant Population, southern India |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Principal Investigator : | Prof. T.N.C. Vidya, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre For Advanced Scientific Research, Karnataka |
Timeline Start Year : | 2023 |
Timeline End Year : | 2026 |
Contact info : | tncvidya@jncasr.ac.in |
Details
Executive Summary : | Female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are socially organized into clans, with fission-fusion dynamics occurring within these groups. Group sizes and compositions can change over time, but average group sizes in the Kabini Asian elephant population remain similar despite habitat changes. Preliminary analysis indicates that group sizes are larger in the presence of young calves, which may be advantageous for protection due to high tiger density in the area. However, this may come at the cost of increased feeding competition. Some females also help take care of others' calves, known as allomothering, which is expected to be costly. To examine how the presence of calves affects female social organization, specific female associations, and behavior in terms of allomothering, fieldwork will be conducted in Nagarahole and Bandipur National Parks, southern India. Data will be collected on group sizes, compositions, the identity of allomothers, and behavior of allomothers and mothers. Dung samples will be collected from mothers, calves, and allomothers to estimate genetic relatedness and determine if allomothering is towards kin. 250 samples will be genotyped at 13 microsatellite loci. This project will provide a better understanding of how fission-fusion dynamics might be affected by the presence of young ones, whether certain individuals are allomothers based on past associations or genetic relatedness, and whether there are feeding costs to allomothering. This will help gain a better fundamental understanding of the sociality of this endangered species. |
Total Budget (INR): | 56,77,340 |
Organizations involved