What is the term for the leader of an elephant herd?

The term for the leader of an elephant herd is matriarch.

A matriarch is usually the oldest and most experienced adult female in a family group. She helps guide the herd toward food and water, chooses routes, responds to danger, and influences how the group reacts to unfamiliar situations. Her value comes not simply from age but from accumulated knowledge of the landscape and seasonal conditions.

Elephant family groups generally consist of related females and their young. In many populations, males leave the family group during adolescence and later live alone or in looser male associations. Adult bulls can be dominant among males, especially during musth, but they are not normally the leaders of female-led family herds.

“Patriarch” is therefore a misleading distractor: it suggests a male-led social system. Calf describes a young elephant, while “dominant bull” refers to male status rather than the leadership role of the family group. When a matriarch dies, another experienced female—often her eldest daughter—may take her place.