Why are elephants pregnant for nearly 2 years?

Elephants are not only animals with a relatively high life expectancy but their pregnancy time is also recorded as very long (nearly 2 years). The stories behind this bizarre reproduction process were a big question of scientists' understanding.

Recently, by using advanced ultrasound methods, experts have found the answer after conducting tests on 17 African and Asian elephants at many zoos in the UK, Canada, USA, Australia. , Germany.

The results are published in the Proceedings of the Royal B Society, suggesting that the cause comes from elephants that have only one ovulation cycle for many years.

After 22 months, the baby elephant was born with a fairly developed brain. (Photo: BBC)

In addition, prolonged pregnancy is also caused by 'an unusual hormonal mechanism, never seen in any animal' . Ovulation is triggered by LH reproductive hormone (luteinizing hormone), while pregnancy is maintained by hormones released by the corpus luteum of the ovary.

The normal stage of the elephant lasts up to 680 days, whereby babies born have enough cognitive abilities necessary for survival, the brain develops to help them quickly become familiar with the social structures. The association is complex in herd as well as how to feed herself. Therefore, they are considered to be quite intelligent mammals, like dolphins or large monkeys.

'Long gestation period (22 months), each birth 4-5 years apart, takes 20 years to mature the elephant - these are the reasons that contribute to the decline in the number of elephants and great risk. Dr. Dennis Schmitt is the Director of the Center for Research and Conservation of Elephant Species. Therefore, 'the results achieved through this research will be very helpful in managing and breeding elephants'.