Male wild African elephants are friendlier when young calves are around.

Many mammals exhibit stable individual differences in behavior, and elephants are a prime example of this. These highly intelligent animals lead rich social lives, as evidenced by numerous studies in the scientific literature.

One previous study reported that elephants can call each other by "name"—using a combination of sounds directed at specific animals, allowing for their identification. It is also known that wild Asian elephants can demonstrate individuality in solving complex puzzles.

Much of the documented evidence regarding the character and behavior of elephants in the wild pertains to females, who spend their entire lives in family groups. In a new article published in the journal PLOS One, biologists and conservation specialists from the USA focused on male elephants. Observations of 34 animals were conducted over five seasons, from 2007 to 2011, in Etosha National Park in Namibia.

As they mature, males leave their natal groups and join entirely "male" communities characterized by dynamic and complex social relationships and hierarchies of dominance.

American researchers identified five personality traits or behavioral characteristics in male elephants that were consistently observed and manifested differently from one animal to another. These traits included aggression, dominance, friendly social interaction (affiliation), anxiety (worry), and calmness.

The social context, meaning the presence of nearby companions, influenced how the elephants behaved. The presence of younger individuals and a dominant male had the strongest effect, while no impact was noted from the presence of males in musth.

In the company of younger elephants, other males displayed friendliness and dominance more frequently. Conversely, when a "influential" male was present, other elephants showed less friendly behavior. Leaders—the most significant males in the group—exhibited aggressive and friendly behavior with equal frequency.

Young males were more similar in personality traits than their older counterparts. According to the scientists, this supports the hypothesis that unique yet socially flexible behavioral traits in elephants develop with age.

In conclusion, the researchers highlighted the importance of new insights into the personality traits of elephants and the positive influence of younger males on the psychological state of older males. The specialists recommended considering this knowledge when forming groups of elephants in captivity.