🐘 The Nature and Behavior of Happy Elephants Elephants are highly social and emotionally complex animals. They experience happiness when living in a safe, abundant environment and within a stable social structure among their own kind. Natural Characteristics of Happy Elephants Living in Herds – Female elephants and calves usually live together under the leadership of a matriarch. 1.Freedom of Movement – They are happiest when they can roam freely, forage for food, drink water, play in rivers, a