What Is a Group of Elephants Called?
- Johan Siggesson
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
If you have ever asked what a group of elephants is called, the answer is this: a group of elephants is called a herd.
It sounds simple, but the word herd only scratches the surface of how elephants actually live.
Other Animal Group Names You Might Be Curious About
If you are exploring collective nouns, you might also enjoy learning:
What is a group of giraffes called
What is a group of zebras called
You also find a full guide to animal group names in my larger collective nouns article.
Why Elephants Live in Herds
Elephants are deeply social animals. Unlike many species where group living is mainly about protection, elephant herds are built around family bonds.
A typical African elephant herd is led by a matriarch (female). She is usually the oldest and most experienced female. Around her are her daughters, sisters, and their calves. These herds can range from a few individuals to over a dozen, depending on the region and available resources.
The herd is not random. It is structured around memory and leadership. The matriarch remembers water sources during drought. She recognises threats. She guides movement across large landscapes.
When you watch a herd move together, it becomes clear that this is not just a loose gathering of animals. It is a coordinated family unit.
Are There Other Names for Groups of Elephants?
Yes, there are a few variations.
While herd is the most common and widely accepted term, you may also hear:
A parade of elephants
A memory of elephants
The word memory is more poetic than scientific, referencing the long held belief that elephants never forget. In formal zoological usage, herd is the correct term.
There is also a difference between family herds and bachelor groups. Adult males often leave their birth herd when they mature. They may live alone or form small, temporary associations with other males.
Do Elephants Always Stay in Herds?
Most female elephants remain in their birth herd for life. That is one of the reasons elephant society is so stable.
Males, however, are different. As they grow older, they become more independent. Some bulls roam alone for long periods. Others loosely associate with other males.
In places like Amboseli, I have watched older bulls move quietly at the edges of family groups, keeping distance but still aware. Their presence carries weight, even when they are not physically inside the herd.
Amboseli is also home to some of Africa’s last great tuskers, solitary bulls with remarkable ivory, and I share more about photographing them in my article on the great tuskers of Amboseli.
The structure is fluid, but the family core remains strong.
Photographing an Elephant Herd in the Wild
Spending time with elephant herds has shaped the way I approach elephant photography.
One moment I will never forget was in Kenya at sunrise. A small herd was crossing open ground. The matriarch walked in front, ears slightly spread. Calves were tucked safely between the adults. There was no panic. No rush. Just steady movement.
When I create elephant prints or black and white elephant photography, I often focus on this sense of protection and continuity. A single elephant portrait can be powerful. But a herd tells a deeper story about connection.
Elephant wall art that shows multiple generations in one frame carries emotional weight. You see scale, but you also see tenderness.
As someone who offers African wildlife prints for sale, I believe elephant images resonate so strongly because people sense that family bond. It is something universal.
The Meaning Behind the Word Herd
The word herd may sound ordinary, but when you understand elephant behaviour, it becomes something much richer.
A herd is not simply a group. It is shared memory. It is leadership passed down through experience. It is protection of the young. It is survival built on cooperation.
Watching a herd move through dust at sunset is one of the most powerful wildlife experiences I know. There is a calm authority in how they travel together.
