Meet the Herd: Qinisa | San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Meet Qinisa, the daughter of the herd’s matriarch, Swazi. Most elephants live in matriarchal, often multigenerational family groups made up of related females and their young. A female’s position in the herd can define their relationships and access to resources. As the daughter of the matriarch, Quinisa, or Nisa for short, is a bit of a princess. She knows mom is in the top spot, and that means she has also has access to the best foraging opportunities throughout the day. The group responds to Swazi’s movements and defers to her wishes, so all Nisa has to do is follow along. Nisa also has a lot of friends, as the other elephants know they may also benefit if she favors them. Lower-ranking Kami thought she could improve her standing in the herd by building a better relationship with Swazi’