Female African elephants become reproductive at about 12 years of age, usually giving birth to a single calf after an average of 659 days of gestation. Newborns average 3 feet tall and about 250 pounds and are usually weaned between 2 to 4 years of age. A female calf will usually stay with the herd she was born into her entire life. A typical female will give birth every 3 to 6 years, allowing for about 7 offspring in her 50-year life span. Male African elephants leave the herd at puberty and maintain loose relationships with other males as they mature. A wild male becomes reproductive in his 30s when he attains the size and weight to compete against other adult males for fertile females.