There was a degree of flexibility within these units, in that the females might associate at a given time or divide into smaller subunits. All the unit members occupying a common range were considered to compose a herd. Such herds tended to remain distinct from all other herds occurring in the same general area. The units and subunits of each herd remained in close proximity but moved away from each other when foraging. Each herd had an overall range that included a rainy season range and a dry season range.
Males stay with the herd when one or more females are in estrus.
Males that are not associated with the female herd usually remain solitary and disperse over relatively small, widely overlapping home ranges. Sometimes they gather in small but temporary bull herds. There is a great amount of toleration between them, except possibly when cows are in estrus. Young males appear to leave the herds and become solitary at about the time of puberty, whereas young females tend to remain in their natal herd. Newborn baby elephants have a coat of widely spaced brown hairs that produces a halo effect as it stands out from the body.