African elephants born to younger, inexperienced mothers are face lasting consequences such as delayed physical and sexual development, according to researchers from the University of Stirling. "It is a problem we tend to overlook, unless we are looking at humans: how animals respond over the very long-term to apparently small events that happen in their lives," said researcher Phyllis Lee. Other social bonds in elephants' lives can help compensate for inexperienced mothers, researchers said.