Back-Toward

Turning to present posterior and walking backward toward another or other, often higher-ranking, elephant(s). Back-Toward may be observed when individuals (usually adult/adolescent and juvenile females) attempt to join or move to a more central or advantageous position in a gathered group such as during a Bonding-Ceremony, when Bunching, when joining a Resting group, or when an adolescent female approaches a mother with a newborn. Males may engage in Back-Toward during Social Play with a larger partner.

Back-Toward may sometimes be a gesture of appeasement to avoid an aggressive response by a larger elephant, or, within families, as a signal of respect - such as when joining a Resting group, or, in the case of Bunching it may be a way to keep eyes, ears and tusks pointed toward the perceived threat. All age sex groups may Back-Toward the carcass or bones of a dead elephant.

References: Moss 1988; Moss 1992: 130; Poole 1996: 159; Kahl & Armstrong 2000; Langbauer 2000; O’Connell-Rodwell et al 2011; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Affiliative, Birth, Calf Reassurance & Protection, Coalition Building, Social Play, Submissive

Back-Toward

Context: Affiliative (1)

The clip is of the Mabenzi family feeding on seed pods in the Faidherbia woodland on a wet and misty morning. We can see an adolescent female move very purposefully backwards from one side of the group. She Backs-Toward the two lead females, Mwana Nzo, gf0016, and Valente, gf0013, who are feeding. As she walks backwards she is Tail-Swatting. It is not clear why she is changing positions nor why she chooses to do so backwards. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Back-Toward

Context: Affiliative (2)

Little E is 4 days old and is trying to Suckle from his mother. Adolescent female V-Notch approaches from the right giving a Little-Greeting Rumble and Backs-Toward Mama, then Lorato approaches and we hear another Little-Greeting-Rumble as both try to get close to Little E. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Back-Toward

Context: Affiliative (3)

V-Notch comes out of bushes and then sees the filmmakers - gives a little start and then, aiming for some shade under the tree she Backs-Toward Matriarch f0412 Ear-Brushing her as she moves into place. We hear Little E give a Husky-Cry in the background. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Back-Toward

Context: Affiliative (4)

Lorato comes out of the bushes and finds the filmmakers. She threatens them with a little Head-Jerk and a Head-Shake, and then Backs-Toward Mama Little E and Little E who are resting under the shade of a tree. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Back-Toward

Context: Affiliative (5)

The filmmakers did not catch the entire interaction. We see V-Notch politely Back-Toward her mother who is feeding on an acacia bush. V-Notch has a branch in her mouth which she likely got from her mother and we see her backing up for more. In later clips we see her feeding side by side with her mother who gently Pushes her away. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Back-Toward

Context: Affiliative (6)

Selengei's family is resting under the shade of a tree in the heat of the day. An adolescent female on the right is in partial sun and then appears to be pushed further out into the sun. She stands there for some time - very dozy - and then appears to make a calculated decision to politely Back-Toward matriarch Selengei to achieve more shade. She moves very slowly and gently into a position in full shade. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Back-Toward

Context: Coalition Building (1)

The behavior in this clip takes place after a long period when matriarch gf0070 had been reacting apprehensively to our presence and had led her family away from us. She 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 National Park, Mozambique)

Back-Toward

Context: Coalition Building (2)

The clip is of the C family who have just engaged in a Group-Advance on us and then, after much Contemplation by Corajosa, in particular, they decide to depart. Corojosa is in the lead followed by Bullet, gf0152 and 6 calves. They walk about 30 paces and then Freeze and Listen. They stand for some time and then the camera focuses in on Bullet. They take another 10 paces and Corajosa is revealed again. She Back-Toward Bullet. All Freeze again. Corojosa with mouth open. Finally gf0152 Initiate-Movement and they leave. (Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique)

Back-Toward

Context: Coalition Building (3)

Mama Little E is feeding and then hears something or becomes aware of something she appears to be concerned about. Head-Shaking she turns and walks away with Little E. Allomother, Lorato, is alerted and moves quickly toward Mama Little E and Little E using a Back-Toward approach. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Back-Toward

Context: Coalition Building (4)

Iphengenia, gf0034, has just Charged our vehicle. She stops and Stands-Tall and then Back-Towards the rest of the family, presumably to initiate Bunching. She stands between gf0048 and gf0049. Iphegenia and gf0049 stand Head-Swinging and Standing-Tall as they confront us. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Back-Toward

Context: Submissive (1)

Selengei's family is resting under a tree in the heat of the day. A young female moves position to obtain more shade. To move into position she turns her body and Back-Toward the resting group next to Selengei. There were rumbles associated with this. We thought she was initiating movement but seemed just to want to change locations. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Back-Toward

Context: Submissive (2)

After receiving a Head-Swipe and Retreating-From Mama Little E, allomother V-Notch Backs-Toward Mama Litte E in order to move back into position near to infant Little E. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Back-Toward

Context: Submissive (3)

Allomother, Lorato, wants to get closer to Little E, so she uses a clever maneuver to avoid upsetting anyone: She moves across in front of the resting group and Back-Toward others and into position. Little E comes over to Solicit-Suckle and she reaches back to touch him. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Back-Toward

Context: Submissive (4)

Allomother, Lorato, Backs-Toward the Little E his mother and another allomother. It is possible that she is forming a defensive circle around Little E as there are lions in the area. Then she adopts her idiosyncratic Circus-Pose. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Back-Toward

Context: Submissive (5)

After a Mating Natsya is surrounded by five males. The youngest male cautiously approaches to test her with Penis-Erection, but when the Guarding male takes a step toward him he Retreats-From with a full erection. Then he Backs-Toward another large adult male who is very tolerant of his close presence. They stand together, at times touching, for at least 10 minutes. At one point the older male reaches back to touch the younger male in an apparently friendly gesture. The two look very alike and we wonder whether they are related. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Back-Toward

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (1)

Little E gets too close to Grumpy Grandma, f0412, and she Kicks-Back and Little E Roars, Lorato reaches out to him. f0412 Kicks-Back again, he Roars again, and then she Tusks him and he Roars. But as part of the Tusking movement she curls her trunk and uses it in a directed way to push him straight toward his mother (Shepherding). His mother reaches out with her trunk and directs him to her breast (Guiding) and he immediately Suckles. She again does a Trunk-to-Infant-at-Breast. When f0412 Tusks Little E Lorato scoots around the front and then Backs-Toward Mama Little E such that Little E is in between them. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Back-Toward

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (2)

Little E is 3 days old and is in a patch of forest on the bank of a lugga. Mama Little E has been Waiting for him at the end of this riverine forest. She stands attantively, Ear-Stiff Listening, Waiting, occasionally reaching her Trunk-Toward her infant behind her. Then she Backs-Toward him to retrieve him. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)