Chapter 3: A Day with Nandu
नंदू हाथी (हाथियों के झुंड की संरचना, आहार एवं व्यवहार)
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- Elephant Herd Leader: An elephant herd consists only of females and baby elephants; the oldest female elephant is the leader of the entire herd.
- Herd Size: An elephant herd contains 10 to 12 female elephants and their young calves.
- Male Elephants Leave: Male elephants stay in the herd only until they are 14 or 15 years old; thereafter, they leave and wander alone.
- Daily Food Consumption: An adult elephant can eat more than 100 kilograms (1 quintal) of leaves and twigs in a single day.
- Sleep Duration: Elephants sleep very little — only 2 to 4 hours in a 24-hour day.
- Calf Weight: A 3-month-old baby elephant weighs around 200 kilograms (about 2 quintals).
- Body Temperature Regulation: Elephants love to play in mud and water; mud keeps their thick skin cool. Their large ears act like fans that flap to cool down their body.
- Trap: CBSE states adult elephants eat 200 kg and sleep 8-10 hours. Correct: They eat 100 kg (1 quintal) and sleep only 2 to 4 hours.
- Trap: CBSE states the oldest male elephant is the leader. Correct: The oldest FEMALE elephant leads the herd.
- Trap: CBSE states male elephants remain in the herd for life. Correct: Males leave the herd at age 14–15.
NCERT Core Facts: Elephant Biology, Herd Dynamics & Behavior
Class 4 Chapter 3 "A Day with Nandu" is one of the most repeatedly tested chapters in CTET Paper 1 history.
1. Key NCERT Facts About Elephants (Must Memorize)
- Diet & Intake: An adult elephant can consume over 100 kg (1 quintal) of green leaves, tender twigs, and bark in 24 hours.
- Sleeping Patterns: Elephants do not sleep long hours; they rest for only 2 to 4 hours a day.
- Calf Weight: A baby elephant aged 3 months weighs approximately 200 kg (2 quintals).
- Skin Cooling: Elephants possess sparse body hair. They roll in mud and shallow water because wet mud cools their skin against hot tropical sun.
- Ear Flapping: Their gigantic ears contain dense capillaries; when flapped, they function like handheld fans to cool circulating blood.
2. Elephant Herd Structure
| Characteristic | Official NCERT Fact |
|---|---|
| Herd Members | Only female elephants and baby calves. No adult males live in the herd. |
| Herd Size | 10 to 12 adult females plus their offspring. |
| Herd Leadership | The oldest female elephant (Nani-Hathi) decides routes, grazing spots, and leads the group. |
| Male Departure Age | Young male elephants remain with the herd only until 14–15 years of age, after which they become solitary wanderers. |
3. High-Yield CTET Multi-Statement Analysis
In CTET 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, CBSE presented 4 statements and asked candidate to identify the TRUE combination:
- 1.Statement A: An adult elephant eats more than 200 kg of leaves a day. [FALSE: It is 100 kg]
- 2.Statement B: A 3-month-old calf weighs around 200 kg. [TRUE]
- 3.Statement C: Elephants sleep for 8 to 10 hours a day. [FALSE: Only 2 to 4 hours]
- 4.Statement D: An elephant herd is led by the oldest female elephant. [TRUE]
Correct combination: Statements B and D only.
Test Your Mastery: A Day with Nandu
Authentic CBSE exam questions tested directly from this NCERT chapter.
Consider the following statements about elephants: A. An adult elephant can eat more than 200 kg of green leaves and twigs in a day. B. Elephants sleep for 2 to 4 hours in a day. C. A three-month-old elephant calf usually weighs about 200 kg. D. An elephant herd comprises both adult males and females led by the strongest male. Which of the above statements are CORRECT?
हाथियों के विषय में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए: A. एक बड़ा हाथी एक दिन में 200 kg से अधिक पत्तियाँ और झाड़ियाँ खा लेता है। B. हाथी दिन में 2 से 4 घंटे ही सोते हैं। C. तीन महीने के हाथी के बच्चे का भार लगभग 200 kg होता है। D. हाथियों के झुंड में नर और मादा दोनों होते हैं और सबसे मजबूत नर मुखिया होता है। उपरोक्त में से कौन से कथन सही हैं?
Who is the leader of an elephant herd according to NCERT Class 4 EVS?
NCERT कक्षा 4 EVS के अनुसार हाथियों के झुंड का मुखिया कौन होता है?
At what age do male elephants leave their herd?
नर हाथी किस आयु में अपने झुंड को छोड़ देते हैं?
How much food does an adult elephant eat per day according to NCERT?
An adult elephant can eat more than 100 kg (1 quintal) of leaves and twigs in one day.
Who leads an elephant herd in the wild?
The oldest female elephant in the herd.
At what age do young male elephants leave their herd?
At 14 to 15 years of age, male elephants leave the herd and live alone.