Photo by beverlyjoubert | Elephant life is all about motion. To find the vast amounts of food and water they need to survive, these giants must keep moving. That means a herd can’t afford to slow down, not even for its youngest—or most pregnant—members. New research shows that females who have recently given birth, along with their new arrivals, are able to keep pace with the rest of their herd from the get-go. The long elephant gestation period (nearly two years!) certainly helps here: It means calves are born ready to face such physical demands. But the close bonds among elephants also help; they ensure new mothers and their young get plenty of care and assistance from their kin to make the journey easier. #elephants #elephantherd #wildlife