Touch-Self

Self-directed touching of the face (mouth, ear, trunk, tusk or temporal gland) or chest, with the fingers or tip of the trunk. Very often in the context of an interaction with another elephant, but may be seen in any context where an elephant appears uneasy or stressed. Likely analogous to the way we might scratch our head or rub our face when feeling socially or otherwise uncomfortable or unsure.

References: Kühme 1961; Poole 1999a; Poole & Granli 2003; Kahl & Armstrong 2000 [Touch-Face]. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Affiliative, Ambivalent, Conflict & Confrontation, Social Play, Vigilance

Touch-Self

Context: Vigilance (1)

The entire family has just threatened us with a Group-Advance. Now Corojosa is acting Vigilant and Standing-Guard. After much contemplation, Corajosa Head-Shakes and Advances-Toward us and then Stands-Tall facing and considering us. She Touch-Self both before and after the advance as she considered what to do. Eventually she decides to leave initiating a group departure. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Touch-Self

Context: Vigilance (2)

Adult male gm0016 is feeling apprehensive about us and is moving away with Ears-Stiff, Tail-Raised and a J-Trunk. He uses his trunk to Touch-Self. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Touch-Self

Context: Vigilance (3)

Young male gm0009 has a broken right hind leg. He is apprehensive about our presence and moves away. He pauses to confront us with Ears-Spread and Ears-Stiff and begins Head-Swinging. As he begins to move away again he Touch-Self. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Touch-Self

Context: Vigilance (4)

Aloisio had been confronting us with Ears-Spread for some time. Then he moved to higher ground (Attain-Higher-Ground) so that he could look down on us. As he stands on the bank contemplating us he Touch-Self x 2. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Touch-Self

Context: Vigilance (5)

We arrive at an open pan to find Aloisio with large adult female and matriarch, gf0070, and part of her family. The group is acting vigilant. A young female, perhaps gf0070's daughter, moves toward her with Chin-Up and Ears-Stiff and Touch-Self. In the foreground Aloisio, too, Touch-Self. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Touch-Self

Context: Vigilance (6)

A little family group is apprehensive about the presence of the vehicle. They exhibit Periscope-Trunk and then the larger elephant Touch-Self. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Touch-Self

Context: Ambivalent (1)

Little E is only 2 days old and he and Mama Little E (l) and allomothers, Lorato (center) and V-Notch (r), are together. There has been some tension between Mama Little E and the two allomothers, who are both trying to get as close to Little E as possible.

Mama Little E has recently Head-Swiped V-Notch and Lorato has just moved from another position and Back-Towards Mama Little E in order to get close to the infant. She Touch-Self x 2 likely due to her conflicting feelings. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Touch-Self

Context: Ambivalent (2)

Mama Little E, Little E (15 days old) and Lorato are out of sight in some bushes with a couple of young, troublesome males. A loud calf scream is heard and it is likely that Little E got frightened or hurt by one of the young males. Mama Little E and perhaps Lorato respond with a Coo rumble.

Mama Little E Back-Towards the males trying to rescue Little E. She looks alarmed and she Trumpets loudly. Allomother, Lorato, steps forward using a Guiding gesture with her trunk. She is with Little E. Lorato adopts a Suckle-Stance and then moves her Trunk-to-Infant-at-Breast as if to show him where to "Suckle" (she has no breasts). Mama Little E comes rushing forward. The male follows and Tusks Mama Little E and then put his Trunk-to-Genitals of, first, Mama Little E and then Lorato. Lorato Touch-Self looking apprehensive.

The adolescent male move to follow Mama Little E again and Lorato bravely uses her body to try to block him - Body-Block. The male continues past and Tusk Mama Little E again and then he runs trunk along his own tusk to Check-Tusk. He appears to contemplate, then scratch ear and then Tusk Mama Little E up the bum a 3rd time. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Touch-Self

Context: Ambivalent (3)

Little E is only 4 days old. Allomother Lorato has defecated. Little E is interested. Mama Little E touches his genitals (Trunk-to-Genitals) and his anus, holds his tail and then Trunk-to-Genitals again three times. Little E then begins to Comfort-Suckle from allomother Lorato who adopts a Suckle-Stance. He stops and Mama Little E comes over and touches him under his mouth (Trunk-to-Mouth) and then along and up his trunk as she turns slightly away from allomother Lorato - appearing to use this motion to Guide him away from Lorato and toward her. He turns toward her.

As this is taking place, Lorato engages in a series of Ambivalent behaviors - Touch-Face, Trunk-Sucking and then steps forward and begins Displacement-Grooming - Dusting. Mama Little E walks on behind Lorato and Little E goes in front of her. As he passes by Lorato touches his genitals (Trunk-to-Genitals). (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Touch-Self

Context: Affiliative (1)

A young male greets a larger young male and then Touch-Self. The older male walks on through a group of elephants immediately after the greeting and Touches-Self twice. It is not clear whether these incidents are related as the male touched him on the other side of his face. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Touch-Self

Context: Affiliative (2)

Adolescent female Ileana of the I family comes over to the C family and seems to want to see Celina’s new baby. Ileana reaches Trunk-to-Mouth to Celina. Her doing so seems to concern adult female gf0004 of the C family who reaches back over in a slightly hostile manner, perhaps? After touching Celina's mouth, Ileana reaches back to touch her infant Trunk-to-Mouth. And again touches the infant Trunk-to-Face to which the infant reciprocates by reaching her trunk toward Ileana. Ileana seems to Contemplate and then reaches her Trunk-to-Mouth to Celina and then Contemplates again and Touch-Self. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Touch-Self

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (1)

A large adult female f0043, and member of Big Mama's family Touch-Self; this occurs immediately after she threatens something out of view and Stands-Tall. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Touch-Self

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (2)

The I family is Bunching. Isabella, gf0038, is on the left. She shows J-Trunk and Head-Swinging and then Touch-Self x 2. There is apprehension in the group. We then see iJunia gf0005 Initiate-Movement at the back of the group with a mild Ear-Slap and all including gf0038 turn to follow her - it is as if they have been Waiting. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Touch-Self

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (3)

The I family is Bunching and watching us. iJunia, gf0005, and Isabella, gf0038, are Head-Swinging; iJunia shows J-Trunk and Isabella Trunk-Flick-Down. Both Touch-Self. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Touch-Self

Context: Social Play (1)

Medium size male gm0016 and a smaller male are Sparring. Both take a break to Touch-Self. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)