Females are very affectionate with young and will often adopt orphans and teenage nannies help care for calves. In cases of danger, herd forms a defensive circle with oldest or largest cows assuming front positions, and spreading huge ears in threat display Males live alone or in small groups, only joining cows temporarily during estrus. Male calves are forced out of cow-calf groups at puberty, from 11 to 13 years, and may join up with other young males or live singly. Elephants are not generally territorial, but have home ranges which they travel for food and water, but they do not try to defend it from others. A condition called musk occurs in some elephants, where the temporal gland located midway between the eye and ear secretes a strong-smelling substance that runs down the animal's face.
Males often become bad-tempered and unmanageable.
It has been assumed this musk is a sexual phase but this has not been proved. In the African species both sexes exhibit the glandular flow, especially when aroused, but not necessarily sexually. This condition is still not completely understood. Bathing is a daily treat when possible and mud baths are often taken to help relieve them from ticks and other insects. If no water is available, digging with forefeet in moist spots often produces pools which also benefits other animals.