A young African Elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) bull keeping a wary eye on proceedings. Young bulls do not compete with older bulls for females in oestrus until around 20 years old. Females mate for the first time at around 9 years old, giving birth to a calf after a gestation period of 20 - 24 months. The mammary glands are between the front legs and calves drink with their mouths and not their trunks.