Follow the Leader!

This month, Americans will choose leaders in government, including the president. In the U.S., elected leaders make decisions that affect the country’s people. There are leaders outside government too—from your school’s principal to the coach of your sports team.  

But leaders don’t just exist in human society. All kinds of animals live in groups, from bees to elephants. Group life helps animals defend against predators, hunt, and share food. Sometimes, groups of animals make decisions together (see Group Decisions, below). Other times, animal groups have leaders that call the shots, such as where to travel to find food.

Scientists have been studying animal leadership for decades. Their research sheds light on how human societies evolved and how groups of people make decisions today. “It’s interesting to see the different ways that animals solve the same problem,” says Robin Morrison, a researcher at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda. “How can they survive in a group?”

Americans will choose government leaders this month. That includes the president. These elected leaders make decisions. Those choices affect the country’s people. There are leaders outside government too. Your school’s principal is a leader. The coach of a sports team is also a leader.  

But leaders don’t just exist in our society. All kinds of animals live in groups, from bees to elephants. Group life can help these creatures. It allows them to better defend against predators. They can hunt together and share food. Sometimes, group members weigh in on decisions (see Group Decisions, below). Other times, leaders call the shots, such as where travel to find food.

Scientists have been studying animal leadership for a long time. Their research sheds light on how human societies evolved. That helps scientists learn more about how groups of people make decisions today. “It’s interesting to see the different ways that animals solve the same problem,” says Robin Morrison. She’s a scientist. She works at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda. 

To study leadership in the animal kingdom, researchers observe animals in the wild. They trek out to the animals’ natural habitat and watch how the group members behave. Sometimes, they even fit the animals with devices to track their movements. Scientists have found that leaders have skills and traits that help their groups survive. 

In many creatures, experience is what matters in a leader. African elephants live in groups ranging from just a few to more than 20 animals. These groups are led by the oldest female, known as the matriarch. Elephants can live up to 80 years. In times of drought, matriarchs use their memories to find water. “They have a huge wealth of experience,” says researcher Phyllis Lee, who has studied elephants in Kenya.

Scientists study animal leadership by watching groups in the wild. The scientists trek into the animals’ natural habitat. They watch how a group’s members behave. Sometimes, they even fit the animals with devices. They track where the animals go. Scientists have found that leaders have special skills. These traits help their groups survive. 

For many creatures’ leaders, knowledge matters most. African elephants live in groups. Their groups’ sizes range from just a few to more than 20 animals. These groups are led by the oldest female. She’s known as the matriarch. Elephants can live up to 80 years. “They have a huge wealth of experience,” says Phyllis Lee. She studies elephants in Kenya. For example, matriarchs use their memories to find water in times of drought.

In other animals, strength is an important leadership trait. Western lowland gorillas live in Central and West Africa in groups made up of several females, a dominant male, and their offspring. The males, called silverbacks, are six times stronger than an adult human. Their strength allows them to perform their main job as leaders: to fight off other males trying to take over the group.

Scientists have also found that teamwork can be an important trait in wild leaders. That’s true for African lions, which live in groups called prides. Prides include about 10 related females, their cubs, and a few males. In lion prides, adult females work together to hunt, guard their territory, and protect the young. “The females take responsibility for the pride and do that together,” says Craig Packer, a lion expert at the University of Minnesota. 

Strength is an important leadership quality for other animals. Western lowland gorillas live in Central and West Africa. Their groups contain several females and their children. There is also a dominant male called a silverback. A silverback is six times stronger than an adult human. Its strength allows it to do its main job as a leader. That’s to fight off other males that try to take over the group.

Scientists have also found another useful trait in many wild leaders. That’s teamwork. African lions live in groups called prides. Prides have about 10 related females, their cubs, and a few males. The female lions work together to hunt. They also guard the pride’s territory and protect the young. “The females take responsibility for the pride and do that together,” says Craig Packer. He’s a lion expert at the University of Minnesota. 

Another common trait among successful animal leaders is attention to the needs of others. Lee has observed this trait in elephant matriarchs, who spend time playing with the young. Female gorillas value this trait in their leaders too. They may leave a silverback that doesn’t care for the babies. 

The silverback even  protects his group from day-to-day dangers, like crossing a road. “I’ve seen the silverback poke his head out and then sit and wait for the whole group to cross the road before following along afterwards,” says Morrison.

Successful animal leaders usually pay attention to others’ needs. Lee has seen this trait in elephant matriarchs. They spend time playing with the young. Female gorillas value this trait too. They may leave a silverback that doesn’t care for the babies.

The silverback even protects his group from everyday dangers, like crossing a road. “I’ve seen the silverback poke his head out,” says Morrison, “and then sit and wait for the whole group to cross the road before following along afterwards.”