The elephant is another animal that lives in groups. An elephant group usually has from twenty to forty members. The elephants in the group help each other when in trouble.
The leader of the group is usually a wise and strong female(雌性). She travels at the head of the group and the other females and their young follow her. The bull elephants(公象) follow last. When danger comes, the bulls make a circle around the weaker animals and protect them. The members of the group are friendly to each other. The group will not leave the sick elephants to die. If an elephant is sick, the whole group stops travelling until it gets well. When an elephant is hurt, two others walk on both sides of it and support it with their bodies. A member of the group may be in a trap(陷阱). Then the others try to free it.
Elephants give the young special care. They help young animals swim when crossing a river because the young can't swim well. They work together to save a calf that has walked into a dangerous place.
A female elephant that is going to give birth to her young leaves the group for a short time. However, she takes another female along to act as "aunt". The aunt helps the mother with her new-born calf. In this way, the whole group protects its newest member.
