There is no breeding season. Prior to mating there is trunk interplay and rubbing the trunk along the partner's body. Clans can range from 6 to 70 individuals. Males disperse and join male groups. They occasionally follow clans in hopes of getting matings.
Males fight for females and dominance is usually due to size, fighting ability, and temperament.
Fights may involve trunk wrestling or escalate to tusk charges, which can be fatal. The winner may mark the territory around a clan with a temporal gland sac. There are several interesting social behaviors that have been observed in African elephants. They have been seen to help young and wounded elephants over obstacles. Habitat Elephants were originally found in all habitats of Sub-Saharan Africa except deserts and desert steppes.