Reach-Over

An elephant, typically male, and usually with an erection, reaching his trunk over or along the back of another elephant. Observed in Courtship and Social Play as a prelude to Mounting. Females have been observed to Reach-Over other females as a display of dominance during the attempted kidnapping of an infant, and during a Greeting to a family member with a newborn.

References: Kühme 1961; Eisenberg et al 1971; Jainudeen et al 1971; Moss 1983; Moss 1988; Poole 1996; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2004; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

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