The calf becomes the center of attention, receiving care and protection from all members. Every elephant in the family unit will examine the new baby. The ones that show the most interest are the juvenile females. These females, who range in ages from two to twelve, are often called aunties , but the correct term is allo-mother. An elephant calf can stand and walk within a few hours of being born, but it may take up to three months before it has conquered the motor skills to navigate the landscape without assistance from its mother or aunties.
Baby elephants are usually dependent on mother s milk for at least three years.
The calf learns how and what to eat by watching the older elephants. Like other infants, a baby elephant begins life with poor eyesight, which improves daily. The elephant calf can use other senses to learn about its environment like, chemical and tactile information received through its trunk. It takes time, however, to acquire trunk coordination. At first the calf may only be able to wave it around in the air, suck on it or trip over it, however within a week the calf has usually gained enough control to try picking up and carrying small objects.