Throw-Debris

Grasping and lifting or uprooting vegetation, a rock or other object with the distal portion of the trunk and using movement of the entire trunk to throw or fling (underhand) the object in the direction of an opponent or predator. This behavior may also be observed in Social Play. An elephant's aim can be very accurate even at some distance. All age/sex groups except infants may be observed to Throw-Debris.

References: Kühme 1961; Douglas-Hamilton 1972: ch 6; Poole 1982: 51; Poole 1987a, Poole 1987c; Moss 1988; Poole 1996: 139, 148, 154, 157, 171; Kahl & Armstrong 2000; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2004; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Aggressive, Attacking & Mobbing, Conflict & Confrontation, Lone & Object Play, Social Play

Throw-Debris

Context: Lone & Object Play (1)

A young male has been mud-wallowing. He stands in the mud wallow and picks up a rock and throws it out of the wallow. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Throw-Debris

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (1)

gm0009 responds to the vehicle by moving away and Standing-Tall - Ear-Spreading, Chin-Up and Look-At. With his lame hind leg he likely has reason to feel apprehensive. He Touches-Self. Toward the end of the clip he takes hold of a branch and looks to be about to Throw-Debris at us, but instead drops it. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Throw-Debris

Context: Social Play (1)

Juvenile elephants are engaged in exuberant play of Imaginary Enemies and general cavorting about in the long grass. They have been Pulsated-Trumpeting for a while. Notice the antiphonal nature of these calls one calling and then another, as they seem to rev one another up. The contagious nature of Pulsated-Trumpeting during this type of play is typical. In this clip the female closest to us finds a large stick which she picks up and throws twice high into the air, then she carries it about for a bit waving it in the air. (Amboseli, Kenya)