Head-Raising

Raising the head during an excited, affiliative interaction such as a Little-Greeting, Greeting, Caressing, Coalition formation. It is typically associated with affiliative vocalizations, including, but not limited to the Little-Greeting-Rumble, Greeting-Rumble, Coo-Rumble, As-Touched-Rumble, Female-Chorus, Mating-Pandemonium, Coalition-Rumbling. This posture is different from Head-High in that the elephant's neck appears to be extended upwards and outwards so that the head appears more separate from the rest of the body. In the Head-High posture the elephant's neck is extended upward but not outward. Head-Raising is observed in all age/sex groups except adult males.

References: Poole 1996: 93; Payne, 2003; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Advertisement & Attraction, Affiliative, Coalition Building, Conflict & Confrontation, Courtship

Head-Raising

Context: Coalition Building (1)

An End-Zone-Dance is a form of Bonding-Ceremony that takes place after a defensive action. This End-Zone-Dance took place after multiple Group-Advances and multiple Group- and sustained Charges by members of the Mabenzi family.

After Valente's almost two minute Charge which was joined by the entire family, Valente and Mwana Nzo High-Five and others all gather in an End-Zone-Dance - The main players - Valente and Mwana-Nzo Rumble with Open-Mouth, while they display Rapid-Ear-Flapping, Head-Raising, Tail-Raising, and Defecating. They reach their trunks to one another's mouth, Trunk-to-Mouth, and then display Trunk-Twining, Open-Mouth-to-Open-Mouth Intermittently there are Social-Trumpets. Then Mwana Nzo initiates another Group Advance. Note the circles only briefly mark the Head-Raising by both females. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Head-Raising

Context: Coalition Building (1)

Iphegenia, gf0046, approaches Iria gf0045 who Ear-Folds and Head-Raises in what looks like a Little Greeting, but is more likely to be related to us - a reinforcement of bonds and assurance of support. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)