http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/science/22obelephant.html?ref=science
Kendall Roberson
Scientists have gained the knowledge that elephants benefit by being led by older matriarchs. A matriarch is the head woman or female in the group. The matriarch is better at locating and scaring off predatory male lions. Elephants with older matriarchs are able to organize and march toward a roar to challenge an assumed predator, more quickly as a united, or "whole" front better than each elephant for itself. Groups with matriarchs of 60 years or over are able to conclude if a lion's roar is a female or a male roar (male lions are far more dangerous), and can react quicker and more productive than groups with younger matriarchs. The matriarchs of the groups live to be around 60 years old and they remain group leaders until they die. Also, the matriarchs have no hearing loss at the age of 60.
I believe that the idea of having an older matriarch is a good thing. Having a matriarch brings a different perspective to the group because a woman can hear and determine different things than a male can. I like the idea of how matriarchs are still group leaders until they die because it keeps consistency in the group. Matriarchs should continue to be the leaders of the groups because they are productive, organized, and it has made the group more defensive to lion predators. Elephants benefit more from matriarchs compared to male leaders due to the organization, hearing experience, and group unity.
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