Nasal-Trumpet

A nasal sounding trumpet of less than a second in duration that is noisier and significantly lower in frequency than all other trumpets. Nasal-Trumpets are most often associated with very exuberant play and sound like a large man blowing his nose. They may also be given by highly aroused individuals during social bonding events, such as Greetings. It seems that Nasal-Trumpeting participants may force air more slowly through the upper part of the nasal passages causing it to reverberate down the length of the trunk at a lower frequency. Calves, juveniles, adolescents and adults are all capable of producing these trumpets.

References: Poole & Granli 2004; Poole 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Affiliative, Movement, Space & Leadership, Social Play

Nasal-Trumpet

Context: Social Play (1)

A family of elephants is at play in the lugga mostly out of view, while two young males are engaged in a Sparring match. We can hear the sounds of elephants at play - Play-Trumpets, Pulsated-Trumpets and Nasal-Trumpets. An adolescent female appears in the middle of the Sparring match and gives a couple of Nasal-Trumpets and then disappears down the bank again. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Nasal-Trumpet

Context: Social Play (2)

Families of elephants are at KH4 water hole and many are playing. Calves Spar. An adult female Head-Waggles as she waits for another to approach her. A juvenile female Head-Waggles back but walks past her and then approaches us Head-Waggling and gives a Nasal-Trumpet. She stops to consider us. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Nasal-Trumpet

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (1)

Big Mama, calves and a young male are Mud-Wallowing and beginning to give signals that they are preparing to depart. The young male gives a Nasal-Trumpet as he Head-Shakes and hauls himself up the small bank. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Nasal-Trumpet

Context: Affiliative (1)

Adult female with fresh Temporin lets out a Nasal-Trumpet as she Orients-Away from something on her right - she Ear-Folds slightly and Rapid-Ear-Flaps. There are soft Rumbles in the background. She Listens. We are not sure, but believe that this trumpet was given in a social context such as the arrival of members of her family. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Nasal-Trumpet

Context: Maintenance (1)

Members of the AAs are feeding. There is a lot of commotion in the background as males jostle over access to estrous female Airstream. We are not sure who gave this Nasal-Trumpet nor why, but it could be that an elephant produced it while clearing dust from its nose. (Amboseli, Kenya)