how important would you say a family is to elephants? and are elephant parades just family or could they be friends??!

Question: how important would you say a family is to elephants? and are elephant parades just family or could they be friends??!
- Keywords:
  elephant,
  family,
  friend
Asked by Ruby red to Ellen on 16 Mar 2017.
- Ellen Williams answered on 16 Mar 2017:
  
  Family is hugely important to elephants. In particular wild elephants. In the wild related females and their young usually stay together for life. They aren’t always related though – sometimes elephant groups separate and individuals will join other herds. So yep they can just be friends too 🙂

Question: how important would you say a family is to elephants? and are elephant parades just family or could they be friends??!