Description
Askari is the Swahili word meaning soldier or guard.
Elephants exist in a matriarchal society. This means the oldest female elephant leads the group, maintains social structures and makes decisions important to overall herd survival. The matriarchs not only control the herd but impart knowledge on migration routes, watering holes and food sources. This knowledge is essential, especially in times where young elephants may be experiencing a drought for the very first time, never needing to find emergency water sources before. They rely on generational knowledge to lead them to old river beds to dig up water holes last used many years before in the last great drought. Females remain with this matriarchal group as they grow up, benefitting from knowledge handed done from matriarch to matriarch and the general safety of the herd.
Young males leave the herd in adolescence and often form small bachelor herds for safety but, they are without the knowledge imparted by the matriarch. Consequently they often join up with old bull elephants who fulfil this crucial role. In return for his mentorship, the old bull is rewarded with the protection of his small herd of young soldiers.
These young bulls are often referred to as his Askaris. Here we see Ezulwini, one of the big tuskers of southern Africa with his accompanying bodyguards, the Askaris.
