Pluck-Seed-Pods

Using the fingers of the trunk tip to pluck seed pods from the ground or from a tree. All age/sec groups engage in this foraging technique.

References: Douglas-Hamilton 1972: ch 6. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Foraging & Comfort Technique

Pluck-Seed-Pods

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (1)

A young male reaches his trunk into the branches of a Faidherbia albida and removes seed-pods with his trunk and places them in his mouth. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Pluck-Seed-Pods

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (2)

Members of the C family, adult female gf0029 and calves, are plucking Faidherbia albida seed pods. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Pluck-Seed-Pods

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (3)

Adult male G7 Plucking-Seed-Pods from the ground in the Faidherbia albida woodland. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Pluck-Seed-Pods

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (4)

Large adult, musth male, Gogogo, gm0001, Plucking-Seed-Pods in the Faidherbia albida woodland. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Pluck-Seed-Pods

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (5)

Adult female gf0004 from the C family has a chopped trunk from a previous snaring incident. She has managed to retrain her brain/trunk to act as if it has fingers and is picking up the seed pods by pinching them with the two sides of her chopped trunk! Furthermore she uses her foot to help guide and lift each pod into her trunk. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Pluck-Seed-Pods

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (6)

Young male Pluck-Seed-Pods. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Pluck-Seed-Pods

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (7)

Marcela, gf0017, of the Mabenzi family Feeding on Faidherbia pods. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)