Filter-Water

Swishing the tip, or fingers, of the trunk back and forth on the surface of the water to disperse floating debris. Then, placing a partially submerged trunk tip parallel to the surface of the water, slowly and gently sucking in ‘filtered’ water. The filtering process may be repeated for each trunkful. Filter-Water is employed by adults and adolescents, but we are unsure at what age this technique is acquired by younger elephants.

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

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

Filter-Water

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (1)

Young males are drinking. The male on the left of the pair takes a trunkful of water and pours it into his mouth. Then he takes a second trunkful - carefully syphoning it from the upper layer of the water. But he seems to get some debris in it and discards the trunkful squirting it out. In the second part of the clip he swishes the water back and forth cleaning the surface before sucking. Both are commonly seen techniques. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Filter-Water

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (2)

A family group Filters-Water and tests and rejects it and moves on to a better place. The adult female Filters-Water the first time and appears to find it acceptable and continues to Drink with her family. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Filter-Water

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (3)

Some males come to drink at a muddy stream. They do not seem to like the smell/taste of the water, testing and pouring some of it back our. One male half-heartedly "filters' the water by twitching the tip of his trunk back and forth on the surface. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)