Why do elephants gather in herds in Udawalawe?

Elephants collect in very organised, matriarchal herds around Udawalawe mainly for safety, companionship, and shared child-rearing.

Because there is plenty of trustworthy food, like tall grasses and a steady water source (the reservoir), smaller groups can gather and mingle without pushing each other away too hard. You will often notice multi-generational herds led by a senior dominant female; they bathe together, then tumble around, splash mud in a playful way, and they even form tight defensive circles around the most vulnerable calves at the first sign of a perceived risk.