Insights
Psychologist Gay Bradshaw notes a significant shift in the relationship between elephants and
humans, observing that what was once a largely peaceful coexistence has now devolved into
hostility and violence. She emphasizes the intentionality behind this violence, noting that it stems
from both human aggression and the recent behavioral changes seen in elephants.
Historically, researchers have attributed elephant aggression to factors such as high
testosterone levels in young male elephants or competition over land and resources between
humans and elephants. However, Bradshaw and her colleagues propose a different perspective,
suggesting that elephant populations are currently suffering from chronic stress, which can be
understood as a form of species-wide trauma. They argue that years of poaching, culling, and
habitat destruction have significantly disrupted the complex social structures through which
young elephants are traditionally raised and older herds are governed. The result is what
Bradshaw describes as the collapse of elephant culture.
When left in their natural environment, elephants are highly social animals. Young elephants grow
up within a close-knit network of female caregivers that includes their mothers, grandmothers,
aunts, and other relatives. This strong social support system lasts for decades, with young
elephants rarely straying more than 15 feet from their mothers during their first eight years of
life. After this period, young females integrate into the matriarchal structure, while young males
temporarily join all-male groups before returning as adults.
Bradshaw and her colleagues argue that this intricate social fabric has been irreparably damaged
by habitat loss, poaching, government-led culling efforts, and the forced relocation of elephant
herds. As a result of these disruptions, young elephants are increasingly being raised by
inexperienced mothers, while orphaned elephants, who have often witnessed the violent deaths
of their parents at the hands of poachers, grow up without the traditional support systems that
are crucial to their development. Bradshaw explains that the loss of elder elephants, combined
with the trauma of witnessing the slaughter of their families, disrupts the normal brain
development of young elephants, leading to significant behavioral changes.
Without the extensive evidence compiled by elephant researchers, Bradshaw’s claims might
seem like an overly anthropocentric interpretation. However, the data reveal that elephants from
decimated herds, particularly orphans who have seen their elders killed, exhibit behaviors similar
to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in humans. These include heightened startle
responses, erratic and anti-social behavior, neglectful parenting, and increased aggression.
Bradshaw further highlights the similarities between elephants and humans in their responses to
violence and trauma. “Elephants are suffering and behaving in the same ways that we recognize
in ourselves as a result of violence,” she says, noting that aside from a few specific differences,
the brain development and organization of humans and elephants are remarkably similar,
especially during early life stages. This striking parallel suggests that elephants, like humans, can
experience deep psychological trauma and its resulting behavioral consequences.
