Play-Trumpet

A short (less than a second), high-pitched, high intensity Trumpet emitted by elephants engaged in spirited lone or Social Play and emitting. Some Play-Trumpets have a flatter reverberating quality, almost like a loud nose-blow and spectrographically these show more noise. Elephants of both sexes and all ages may engage in Play-Trumpeting, though it is more frequently heard among younger elephants.

References: Poole 1996; Poole & Granli 2004; Poole 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Social Play

Play-Trumpet

Context: Social Play (1)

After Drinking at the swamp, juvenile elephants are playing in the Sporobolis consimilus grass. There are many Play-Trumpets although it is difficult to determine which elephants are trumpeting. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Play-Trumpet

Context: Social Play (2)

Families of elephants are leaving a pool where they have been playing and Swimming. A juvenile female Clambers up the bank and Play-Trumpets at us. You can see her trunk vibrate as the air passes through. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Play-Trumpet

Context: Social Play (3)

Families of elephants are leaving a pool where they have been playing and Swimming. A young male walks toward the bank and Play-Trumpets. He Clambers up the bank and comes over to us and Stands-Tall. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Play-Trumpet

Context: Social Play (4)

Elephants are Walking across Lenkolong Swamp. The excitement of splashing through the water makes them feel silly and we can hear Play-Trumpets. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Play-Trumpet

Context: Social Play (5)

As elephants leave the pool after exuberant playing and Bathing they can be heard to give what sound like Play-Trumpets. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Play-Trumpet

Context: Social Play (6)

An aggregation of about 100 elephants have been playing and bathing in a deep pool for an hour or more. They have been engaged in very exuberant play.Some one gets spooked - or finds an excuse to pretend to - and there is a mass exodus from the pool - all while Play-Trumpeting and splashing. Once out they look around as if bemused and go back in again. (Amboseli, Kenya)