Without wishing to divert from the Elephant topic, and despite major differences in social organisation, there are some parallels with Gorillas
here. Young subadult males (less than 12 or preferably older still))shouldn't be used as group leaders- they cannot dominate or control adult females properly and in their efforts often become bullies and unreliable with small offspring too. They do grow out of this phase as they become fully mature.With elephants teenage bulls too pester the females, with mounting attempts and trying to dominate them so it isn't surprising if in captivity females which can't escape their attentions (in the wild they would be driven away) become hostile toward them. A mature bull is more 'stately' and surer of his position and the cows will respect him for that.
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