This sexual awakening will allow the elephant to breed until the age of fifty. The period of musth tends to last around three months, which does not take into account the onset and latter stages. The male elephant encounters the most dramatic change in this life cycle. During adolescence the male will begin to separate from the matriarchal herd and begin to join male herds, sometimes known as bachelor herds. This usually happens at maturity, usually at thirteen years of age.
Males tend to form herds that travel over greater distances than females.
Females stay with the herd until death. The male herds join the female elephants when they are in estrous. For the female elephants, the adolescent years bring about changes that nurture maternal instincts.