What Is a Baby Elephant Called?

A baby elephant is called a calf. A female elephant is a cow, a male is a bull, and a group of elephants is a herd. Let’s learn more about elephants and their babies. 

A baby elephant isn't the only baby animal that is called as a calf. Other animals call their offspring calves as well.  Some of these are:

• Antelope
• Buffalo
• Camels
• Cattle
• Dolphins
• Giraffes
• Hippos
• Moose
• Rhino
• Seals
• Whales
• Yaks

All About Elephant Babies

An elephant baby has a very long gestational period, as the mother will not give birth to the baby for 24 months after becoming pregnant.

The entire elephant herd focuses on raising the baby, which is dependent on its elders for basic survival. In fact, not only does the mother elephant provide care, but each baby elephant is usually assigned to other females in the group who aren't able to have calves of their own. 

All About Elephants

Elephants are among the smartest animals on the planet, along with crows, pigs, great apes, and dolphins.  They do have a very good memory and use tools that are available in the wild.

Their social groupings and empathy also show a high level of intelligence.  They have been observed grieving and have a complex death ritual.  They actually bury their dead with dirt and branches.  When they come across the bones of an elephant, they pause for a while and are silent.

Elephants are the biggest mammals that live on land in the world.  There are two kinds; the Asian and the African.  They use their ears and trunk to stay cool.

Their trunk, which is a long nose, is very versatile. It can:

• Pick up water and food
• Forage for food
• Spray water on their body to keep them cool.  They follow the spray of water with a spray of dust.  These act as a sunscreen.
• Smell
• Sense the temperature, size, and weight of an object
• Act like a snorkel when elephants swim

They have no natural predators, but are threatened by poaching and changes to their habitat.