Study: How Male Elephants Woo Females

A study by U.S. and New Zealand scientists has determined how male elephants woo females: very specific pheromones.

The researchers at the Oregon Health and Science University and the University of Auckland said a specific molecular mixture in male-emitted pheromones dictates other elephant’s interest during musth — an annual period of sexual activity and increased aggression.

Not only does the exact chemical blend of a pheromone emitted by older male elephants in musth influence female elephants’ interest in mating, but also determines how other nearby elephants behave.

The researchers say the release of a specific proportion of two mirror images of the pheromone frontalin depends on whether the male elephant is mature enough and has reached a particular stage of musth.

This study reveals the precision and specificity of inter-animal signaling possible, said co-author L.E.L. Rasmussen, a research professor of environmental and biomolecular systems at OHSU.

The detailed findings of the study are published in the Dec. 22 edition of the journal Nature.