Table 1.

Developmental stages of elephant calves.

Age	Development
0–6 months	-Learn how to walk stable -Learn how to use the trunk for suckling
7–12 months	-Learn how to use the trunk for foraging -Main nutrition shift from milk to solid food
13–24 months	-First decrease in contact with mothers -Pick up on playing behavior
25–36 months	-Start to show more agonistic behavior, which is relevant for learning to compete in rivalries -Increase in gender-specific differences -Peak in playing behavior (way of learning social behavior)
37–48 months	-Classified as youngsters -Gender-specific differences in social behavior become more significant
49–60 months	-Social play (that is, among other functions, intended to prepare youngsters for breeding behavior), such as climbing and chasing others, increases significantly
60-plus months	-Classified as young adults -Males and females start to become fertile in situ, even though it still takes several years for them (especially the males) to mate successfully -Behavior shifts even stronger toward behavior related to breeding -Young bulls might already have left the natal family to socialize with bachelor groups