That question has mystified African wildlife watchers for centuries. These people were not wondering about elephant reproduction, mind you. In fact, at times, elephants almost seem clairvoyant when it comes to synchronizing their social activities.
Anecdotes abound about their psychic timing.
In one report, a researcher watched a young bull stride confidently down a trail, then suddenly whirl around and vanish into the bush. Minutes later, a large, rival bull charged over a distant hill. Another group of scientists reported trailing a small herd of female elephants for weeks, never seeing hide nor tusk of a male. All that changed as soon as one of the females entered estrus, and bulls came pouring in from all directions. In other accounts, whole families seemed to choreograph their movements with the precision of synchronized swimmers.