Bathing elephants roll and wallow in the shallows, often submerge completely in deep water. At small water holes, the trunk is used to shower, then dust or mudcoat the body. After, they rub against trees, rocks, etc. Flapping ears on still, hot days helps cool blood flowing through network of veins on back surface. A matriarchal clan society, the basic units consisting of a mother with her dependent offspring and grown daughters with their offspring.
Males live separately, alone or in bachelor herds.
Being nonterritorial, mating success depends on size and weapons. Typically number 9 to 11 elephants. Larger herds tend to split in two but continue occupying the same home range and associating at least half the time. The matriarch sets the herd's direction and pace and the rest of the herd follows, spreading out and feeding when she feeds, leaving off and closing up when she walks on. Even while browsing, herd members seldom stray further than 50 yd from a neighbor.