WHY DO ELEPHANTS HAVE SUCH LONG GESTATION PERIODS?

Long gestation periods are a feature of many larger mammal species. For example, the gestation period of the blue whale is 12 months or more. This extended gestation period allows the newly born animal to be able to function almost independently – apart from requiring its mother’s milk – from the very start. However, the length of the gestation period may also be related to the animal’s large size. Think of other animal species where the young are born blind and unable to move without the aid of their parents, making them vulnerable to predators.