Foot-Swinging

Raising and tentatively swinging a foreleg, intermittently. Swinging of a hind-foot may also be observed although this is less common than a forefoot. Individuals in all age sex groups may engage in Foot-Swinging in Submissive, Ambivalent and Conflict & Confrontation contexts when unsure of what action to take, as in Displacement-Behavior. Likewise, all age sex groups may engage in Foot-Swinging in Attentive and Vigilance contexts as seen during Freezing behavior, when elephants may be feeling for or picking up seismic vibrations. In a Movement Space and Leadership context Foot-Swinging is observed among adult females as a signal of intention - i.e. an Intention-Movement - for example, as a component of the Let’s-Go-Stance. In the latter swinging of the hind foot is not observed.

References: Douglas-Hamilton 1972: ch 6; Moss 1988; Poole 1999a; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Ambivalent, Attentive, Conflict & Confrontation, Movement, Space & Leadership, Vigilance

Foot-Swinging

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (1)

Provocadora, gf0012, of the Mabenzi family initiated this Group-Advance. They come to within about 20 meters of us and then stand Bunching and Head-Swinging. Marcela, gf0017, begins Foot-Swinging as they Contemplate what to do. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (2)

The shot starts with Isabella, gf0038, of the I family leading a Group-Advance toward us with rest of her family coming behind. She Reaches-High as she makes a Perpendicular-Walk not directly toward us. She stops her forward motion with a Foot-Swing and a Head-Shake and turns toward matriarch iJunia, gf0005, who has caught up, and reaches Trunk-to-Mouth to her as they Bunch together. Then together they begin a Group-Advance. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)