Elephants exposed to poaching, capture, or violence often show long-term behavioral changes. These include heightened aggression, anxiety, or altered social interactions. The effects can persist for decades. Trauma shapes decision-making and social stability. Memory doesn’t always serve comfort.
It matters because conservation must consider psychological damage. Survival isn’t only physical.
It also explains unpredictable behavior in traumatized elephants. Context matters deeply.
Herds affected by mass culling show disrupted social structures long after events end. Calves inherit stress behaviors from adults.
Scientific American (scientificamerican.com)