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: Affiliative (1)

We are with the Mabenzi family. Matriarch, Provocadora, gf0012, stands facing us and gf0020 reaches out Trunk-to-Mouth and gives her a Little-Greeting, Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting. gf0012 takes a couple more steps in our direction and stops and Contemplates us. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Head-Raising

Context: Affiliative (2)

(Shot with other camera than 1) We are with the Mabenzi family. Matriarch, Provocadora, gf0012, stands facing us and gf0020 reaches out Trunk-to-Mouth and gives her a Little-Greeting, Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting. gf0012 takes a couple more steps in our direction and stops and Contemplates us. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Head-Raising

Context: Affiliative (3)

Big Mama and her family are Moving-While-Feeding. Her daughter reaches Trunk-to-Mouth in a Little-Greeting to Big Mama, and adopts Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting - we can also see her open her mouth and we hear Rumbling. Then Big Mama Orients-Away as she she does she gives an Ear-Flap-Slide and walks off. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Head-Raising

Context: Affiliative (4)

As the clip starts we see a 1 year old calf Suckling from a young female from Big Mama's family. A younger female approaches the nursing mother and calf. We can hear the approaching female emit a Little-Greeting-Rumble which is associated with Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting. The calf recognises the caller as she pauses in her Suckling to emit a Snort-Rumble in response as the arriving female touches her Trunk-to Mouth.

The nursing mother also gives a Little-Greeting-Rumble in response and we can see her Head-Raising, Ear-Lifting and Ear-Flapping. The female who arrived touches the infant again Trunk-to-Face and the adults rumble again and then stand side by side. A lovely example of a Little-Greeting. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Head-Raising

Context: Affiliative (5)

Big Mama's family. A calf looks to be frightened by something and spreads his ears (Ear-Spreading). A young female out of view reaches out to reassure the calf, Trunk-to-Mouth, whereupon the calf appears to vocalize - Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting and then high tails it into the group. There is no audio for this clip. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Head-Raising

Context: Affiliative (6)

A female calf in Big Mama's family is separated from its mother. As she approaches her mother an adolescent female Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting touches her Trunk-to-Mouth. She cries out with a Baroo-Rumble and then as she is touched Trunk-to-Mouth by another adolescent female she emits another Baroo-Rumble. She goes to the second adolescent female and Comfort-Suckles.

The young females likely give Coo-Rumbles but we cannot hear them due to the wind. The calf's mother is the female in the foreground eating a branch. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Head-Raising

Context: Affiliative (7)

(Shot with other camera than 6) A female calf in Big Mama's family is separated from its mother. As she approaches her mother an adolescent female Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting touches her Trunk-to-Mouth. She cries out with a Baroo-Rumble and then as she is touched Trunk-to-Mouth by another adolescent female she emits another Baroo-Rumble. She goes to the second adolescent female and Comfort-Suckles.

The young females likely give Coo-Rumbles but we cannot hear them due to the wind. The calf's mother is the female in the foreground eating a branch. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)