Husky-Cry

A short, hoarse or husky sounding call produced by a newborn elephant when distressed. Husky-Cries range from barely audible, low-intensity sounds that are less than a second long, to surprisingly powerful abrupt and gravelly sounds that may last up to 1.5 seconds. We refer to the softer version as a Low-Intensity-Husky-Cry and the louder type as a High-Intensity-Husky-Cry. These are the first calls produced by newborn elephants and are commonly heard in a group with newly born calf. Family members rapidly come to the aid of the calling infant, touching it and rumbling softly to it with Coo-Rumbles. Infant produced these calls up to about 2 months in age.

References: Poole & Granli 2003; Stoeger-Horwath et al 2007 [Grunt]; Poole 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Birth, Calf Nourishment & Weaning, Calf Reassurance & Protection, Protest & Distress

Husky-Cry

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (1)

Little E is 3 days old and is with his mother and allomother Lorato. Little E starts to walk forward and his mother reaches to touch him Trunk-to-Mouth preventing him from going forward with gentle Guiding with her trunk. He emits a Husky-Cry as she touches him. She Coo-Rumbles to him and again touches him, this time Trunk-to-Genitals. He gives another Husky-Cry. He returns to his Sheltering under her belly. Lorato reaches out to touch him also. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Husky-Cry

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (2)

Little E is 4 days old and is standing between his mother and allomother Lorato. Little E starts to walk forward and his mother reaches to touch him Trunk-to-Mouth preventing him from going forward. He emits a Husky-Cry as she touches him. She and Lorato Coo-Rumble to him and both touch him, this time his mother Trunk-to-Genitals and Lorato Trunk-to-Mouth. He gives another Husky-Cry. He returns to his Sheltering under their bellies. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Husky-Cry

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (3)

Little E is 7 days old and steps forward from the place he is Sheltering under his mother. Mama Little E reaches her Trunk-to-Chest and he emits a Husky-Cry. She immediately reaches Trunk-to-Mouth - covering it as if to “hush him - there-there”- and he gives another Husky-Cry.

The wind is awful but we can just hear Coo-Rumbles (Prior to the audio correction made to enhance the Husky-Cries). He seems to respond with a softer Husky-Cry vocalization. Her intervention prevented him from wandering off and he returns to Sheltering under her belly. He is becoming more vocal and more responsive. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Husky-Cry

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (4)

Little E is 7 days old and is resting under a tree with his mother and allomother V-Notch. V-Notch seems to put something in trunk, swing it high and then blow it (grass/dust) out. Then she starts Trunk-Sucking but puts the tip way back in and we can hear her Pharyngeal-Pouch-Suck. It sounds as if she has squirted it in her mouth!

At the same time Little E decides to walk forward to go exploring and gives a low-intensity Husky-Cry as he walks forward. His mother distracts him by reaching Trunk-to-Genitals and Little E gives high-intensity Husky-Cry as she does and then another. She and V-Notch Coo-Rumble to him and V-Notch also touches him Trunk-to-Mouth. There distraction techniques work and Little E returns to Sheltering under their bellies. V-Notch begin Trunk-Sucking again. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Husky-Cry

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (5)

Little E is 10 days old. He sees matriarch, Grumpy Grandma, f0412, and walks eagerly over to her. She feels him behind her and kicks him away with a Kick-Back and begins Tail-Swatting, hitting Mama Little E as she comes to retrieve Little E. We hear someone give a very low Rumble and see Grumpy Grandma Ear-Flapping. Mama reaches Trunk-to-Genitals and then Trunk-to-Mouth to little E who gives two Husky-Cries in quick succession. Mama Little E responds with a Coo-Rumble to Little E and reaches Trunk-to-Mouth again Guiding him back to her. He gives a third Husky-Cry. His mother seems to use her trunk-tip over his mouth. f0412 continues to Tail-Swat. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Husky-Cry

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (6)

Little E is 5 days old. His mother is browsing and pauses to touch him Trunk-to-Mouth and then Trunk-to-Genitals. When she touches his genitals he gives a High-Intensity-Husky-Cry which is drown out by the wind. His mother immediately responds by putting her Trunk-to-Mouth again, this time covering his mouth almost as if to say "there, there, hush now" and then gently draws her trunk down his.

At the same time allomother Lorato responds to his call by a Trunk-to-Genitals touch. Little E gets a semi erection from all the touching and gets all "itchy" again, using his hind legs to try to scratch his penis. More touching of his genitals by his mother and Lorato takes place and his attention is drawn to Lorato who turns away drawing him with her. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Husky-Cry

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (7)

Little E is 14 days old and is Suckling from his mother. She reaches back to touch him now and then. After he is finished he steps forward and she touches him Trunk-to-Mouth. He gives a Husky-Cry. Then she touches him Trunk-to-Genitals and he gives another higher-intensity Husky-Cry. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Husky-Cry

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (8)

Little E is 7 days old and has been Sheltering under his mother in the shade of a tree. He decides to have a little wander and steps out into the sun. His mother touches him Trunk-to-Genitals and he gives two Husky-Cries. She gives a Coo-Rumble in response but this is drowned out by the wind. Notice that he moves his ears as he vocalizes - so even at a week old this association is beginning to come into play. He wanders away a little and then decides to come back and Shelter under her again. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Husky-Cry

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (9)

Little E is 7 days old. Little E Sheltering under his mother and or the third time he decides to venture out into the sun. The family is Resting in the shade and are not ready to go. As he walks out his mother stops him with her trunk - first Trunk-to-Chest and then Trunk-to-Genitals. He give high-intensity Husky-Cry and his mother and allomother, V-Notch, Coo-Rumble. He turns around and goes back to Shelter! (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Husky-Cry

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (10)

Angelina has newborn twins and several allomothers are helping her to look after them. In this clip a tuskless 3-4 year old is trying to Comfort-Suckle and Shepherd the female. She is Coo-Rumbling to the infant and Caressing her. The infant gives a soft Husky-Cry. Then the infant starts to move our direction the calf and Amora, another allomother, Shepherd the infant back to Angelina - when doing so they touch the infant on the mouth and genitals and she gives a louder Husky-Cry. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Husky-Cry

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (11)

Angelina has newborn twins only a couple of days old. Allomother Arora B Shepherds the male away from Angelina apparently so that she can "practice" Comfort-Suckling. She adopts a Suckle-Stance and then, when he doesn't try to Suckle she reaches to Grasp-Trunk and seems to try to direct him to Suckle. She Coo-Rumbles to him - as does Amora, who joins them, and he gives a Husky-Cry. She continues to Grasp-Trunk also moving her trounk as if to cover his mouth as he cries - we have seen this before. There is more Coo-Rumbling by both and another softer Husky-Cry. Arora B perhaps feels crowded by Amora and Shepherds him forward again, where she stops in a Suckle-Stance and again Grasps-Trunk as if to encourage him to Comfort-Suckle. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Husky-Cry

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (12)

Qoral's newborn is trying to Suckle and gives a soft Husky-Cry which is answered by Coo-Rumbles by mother and allomother. The infant gives another louder Husky-Cry and mother and allomother touch the infant Trunk-to-Mouth and Coo-Rumble again. The allomother lingers over the touch placing her trunk fingers over the calf's open mouth and pulling his face upwards, then gives another Coo-Rumble. (Amboseli, Kenya)