Elephants have a complex reproductive cycle. They have a large reproductive tract, a long pregnancy period, produce large children and require a long development period.
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How to breed elephants
How to breed elephants is by giving birth or called vivivar. Where prospective children will develop in the body of the female parent during the pregnancy process takes place. elephants have a very long pregnancy period of around 18 to 22 months.
Reproductive system in elephants
because elephants are included as mammals, these animals have a reproductive system that is almost the same as other mammals, but because of their large size, there is little difference and the gestation period in elephants is also longer than other mammals. The following is the reproductive system in elephants.
Male elephant reproduction system
Reproductive organs in male elephants are almost the same as other mammals. But unlike other mammals, elephant's testes are located in the body and with the kidneys. male reproductive tract has a length of about 2 meters. male elephants begin to produce sperm when they are between 10 and 15 years old.
Male elephants will wag their ears more often when they are ready to mate. This allows them to spread their scents more broadly than before and to attract females who can become potential partners. Older men aged 40-50 are the most likely to breed with females. Females are ready to breed when they are around 14 years old.
Female elephant reproductive system
The reproductive system of female elephants has been better understood in the past 30 years through a combination of research using necropsy, hormonal tests and ultrasonic investigations. A female elephant may make noises and show greater interest and enthusiasm for male elephants. The male elephant will test the readiness of the female elephant to breed by performing flemen behavior, which uses its trunk to carry urine samples to the veromonasal receptor in its mouth.
Sensory receptors send chemical signals to the elephant's brain telling him if the female is ready to breed. "Dating" can last from 1 hour to 4 days where a male elephant will live near a female elephant and protect it from other males. After 1 to 3 days, female elephants will no longer receive breeding or be able to get pregnant. Typically, wild female elephants will start reproducing at the age of 12 to 14 years, sometimes earlier at the zoo.