Reach-Touch

Swinging of the trunk and body during intense social arousal to touch nearest neighbor relatives during Bonding, Coalition and Bunching behavior. Sometimes the reaching and touching may include Grasp-Trunk. The elephant(s) usually secrete Temporin and rumble softly to one another, while Head-Raising, Ear-Lifting and Rapid-Ear-Flapping. Engaged in primarily by adult and adolescent females.

References: Poole 1982; Moss 1988; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011 [Trunk-Grasping]. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Affiliative, Coalition Building