Scratch-with-Trunk

Using the curled distal portion of the trunk, or the trunk fingers, to scratch the body.

References: Poole & Granli 2021. (Full reference list)

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

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (1)

TEXT. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (2)

Adolescent right one tusk female in C family uses her trunk to scratch her belly to rid herself of a fly or something. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (3)

Big Mama uses her trunk to scratch her eye. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (4)

A young male uses his trunk to scratch his ear. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (5)

An adult female uses her trunk to scratch behind her ear. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (6)

An adult female uses her trunk to scratch under jaw. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (7)

Selengei clearly has something bothering her eye - she squints and then reaches to touch it or scratch it with her trunk. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (8)

An adult female uses her trunk to scratch behind her ear. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (9)

An adult female uses her trunk to scratch her lower ear. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (10)

Close-up of a male using his trunk to scratch an itch on his ear. (In slo-mo). (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (11)

Liaqat is Guarding Ozora. As he follows her he Scratches-with-Trunk to relieve an itch on his belly. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (12)

Liaqat is Guarding Ozora. He has a persistent itch and scratches it with his trunk. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (13)

A tuskless female uses her trunk to scratch her ear. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (14)

Pascal has just Mated with Amparo and is Resting. He scratches his ear and temporal gland with his trunk and then adopts a Casual-Stance. At the end he appears to hear something out of view that attracts his attention. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Scratch-with-Trunk

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (15)

A young male is standing next to an estrous female with the guarding male behind him. He uses his trunk to scratch his chest. Ignore the commentary which refers to other elephants. (Amboseli, Kenya)