Expert power in elephant societies

In early 2025, I got together with Michaela Emch to explore questions of power in animal societies. Our conversations resulted in this post. In an early version, we spent some time looking at elephants – and since they're a fabulous matriarchal species, we thought we might share something about them too...

African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are large herbivores that live in complex, matriarchal family groups. While adult elephants face few natural predators due to their size, young calves are highly vulnerable, with only about 50% surviving their first year. Given their long gestation period and slow reproductive rate, calf survival is a key focus of elephant social structures. Additionally, the seasonal variability of their environment, including periodic droughts and floods, necessitates coordinated group movements to locate essential resources such as food and water.

In elephant societies, older matriarchs serve as central decision-makers, guiding their herds through experience-based leadership rather than dominance. Research shows that older matriarchs possess superior cognitive abilities for assessing threats, identifying distant water sources, and determining optimal migration routes. Their leadership emerges through demonstrated competence rather than competition, as elephants tend to follow individuals with a history of effective decision-making.

Matriarchal leadership is based on accumulated ecological knowledge and advanced social cognition. Studies suggest that matriarchs displaying consistent, decisive behavior promote stronger group cohesion. Leadership traits are often transferred across generations, with matriarchs gradually passing knowledge to their daughters through prolonged association and observational learning.

During periods of drought and environmental stress, reliance on matriarchs increases significantly. Their long-term memory enables them to recall historical migration routes and locations of water sources, crucial for herd survival in unpredictable conditions. This ability to retain and apply ecological knowledge enhances group resilience and underscores the central role of matriarchs in elephant social structures.