By Mark Kinver, Environment reporter, BBC News
An African elephants mother's ability to
feed and care for its calf has "long-lasting consequences" into
adulthood, a study has suggested.
Researchers identified a link between the
quality of maternal care in the first two years of a calf's life and reduced
growth and delayed maturity.
They added that projected climate change and
habitat loss could have a profound impact on the species.
Details of the findings appear in the journal
Biology Letters.
"Early maternal care in the first two
years of life actually affects an elephant's survival over 40 years - it has
long lasting consequences," explained co-author Phyllis Lee from the
University of Stirling.
"It is a problem we tend to overlook,
unless we are looking at humans: how animals respond over the very long-term to
apparently small events that happen in their lives."
Prof Lee and colleague in the international
team of researchers said inexperienced mums often provided "inappropriate
care".
"Often, they are not only inexperienced
but if an elephant gives birth aged 10-12, she's tiny so she does not have the
physical resources to devout to the calf.
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