With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:

1. The leader of an elephant group is a female.

2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.

3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.

4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct option is 1 and 2 only.

Let us analyze each statement step-by-step to understand why they are correct or incorrect:

Statement 1 is correct: Elephant herds are matriarchal. The leader of an elephant group is typically the oldest and largest female, known as the matriarch. She guides the herd in searching for food and water, and makes critical decisions for the group.

Statement 2 is correct: Elephants have the longest gestation period of any land mammal. The gestation period of an elephant is extremely long and can last up to 22 months (typically ranging between 18 and 22 months).

Statement 3 is incorrect: Elephants can continue calving (giving birth) well beyond the age of 40 years. Female elephants (cows) remain fertile and can reproduce into their 50s and sometimes even 60s, close to their average lifespan of about 60 to 70 years.

Statement 4 is incorrect: According to the elephant census reports, the state with the highest elephant population in India is Karnataka, followed by Assam and Kerala. Therefore, Kerala does not have the highest elephant population.

Since statements 1 and 2 are correct, and statements 3 and 4 are incorrect, the correct choice is 1 and 2 only.