Tail-Swatting

Using the tail to forcefully swat or hit an elephant behind it to indicate that the elephant should back off, tap an elephant to ask for its attention, or to gently check what is behind it. In rare cases using the tail to forcefully swat or hit an inanimate object like a tree. In Movement Space & Leadership and Social Play contexts all age/sex groups except infants may be observed to Tail-Swat; in a Calf Reassurance & Protection context both adult and adolescent females Tail-Swat; in a Calf Nourishment & Weaning context adult females Tail-Swat, while estrous females Tail-Swat in a Courtship context.

References: Kahl & Armstrong 2000; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011; O’Connell-Rodwell et al 2011 [Tail to body]. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Advertisement & Attraction, Calf Nourishment & Weaning, Calf Reassurance & Protection, Courtship, Foraging & Comfort Technique, Movement, Space & Leadership, Novel & Idiosyncratic, Social Play, Submissive

Tail-Swatting

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (1)

Two males are walking along - one is bearing down on the other. The male in front Tail-Swats the male behind as he begins a Reach-Over. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Tail-Swatting

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (2)

The behaviour in this clip takes place after a long period when matriarch gf0070 has been reacting apprehensively to our presence and had led her family away from us. She has followed the others to a mud wallow. Adult male, Aloisio, gm0040 is there. She turns around and Back-Toward him and then Tail-Swats him repeatedly and deliberately. Why? He is also swatting though it looks to be more for a scratching purpose than at her. She then turns to face us again - Standing-Tall in an apprehensive way. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Tail-Swatting

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (3)

The Mabenzi family is walking along. A small male calf eating vegetation, drops it and then reaches Trunk-to-Mouth of juvenile male. At the same time a juvenile female in front is Tail-Swatting the juvenile male. The Juvenile male scoops up the tail of juvenile female with his tusk and holds it there in a kind of Grasp-Tail. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Tail-Swatting

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (5)

Grumpy Grandma, f0412, and family are with another family browsing. Lorato is moving in on another female of the same age who Kicks-Back to try to keep her away. Lorato pushes through and the female Orients-Away and uses Tail-Swatting to monitor where Lorato is and to warn her to keep away. Lorato continues and then goes to test the genitals (Trunk-to-Genitals) of adult female f0311 who also Kicks-Back and Tail-Swats at Lorato. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Tail-Swatting

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (6)

Little E is 10 days old. He sees matriarch, Grumpy Grandma, f0412, and walks eagerly over to her. She feels him behind her and kicks him away with a Kick-Back and begins Tail-Swatting, hitting Mama Little E as she comes to retrieve Little E. Mama emits a Coo-Rumble to Little E and use her Trunk-to-Genitals, Trunk-to-Mouth, Guiding him back to her. During her touching he emits a Husky-Cry. When she touches his mouth and he emits High-Intensity-Husky-Cry and she uses her trunk-tip over his mouth, he emits High-Intensity Husky-Cry for 3rd time. f0412 continues to Tail-Swat. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Tail-Swatting

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (7)

This gang of males has been playing but now the older male seems uninterested in more games. When a 4 year old male reaches Trunk-to-Genitals and tries to Reach-over him the older male begins Tail-Swatting and then moves away. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)