> They figured it was more probable that young male mammoths were much more likely to travel solo, away from the wisdom and protection of matriarchal herds, similar to the way elephant societies function today.

Anecdotally, when I went hiking in Yellowstone two years ago down a long nature trail through the woods, I was surprised to see a large male bison trodding alone in the opposite direction down the trail, towards me. I slowly backed up towards the tree line just to give him some space to pass, but I was rather surprised to see a herd animal by himself in such a vast park like Yellowstone with such a big population of bison.

I assume that this behavior in males is probably essential. It's risky for a herd animal to travel alone. However if a male is successful in migrating to another herd, and earning his way in, it improves the cross-pollination of dna. Also, males in the animal kingdom regularly push each other out to secure local dominance over local females. Many are therefore forced to leave as well.