Suckle-Stance

Context: Calf Nourishment & Weaning (1)

Ruby and her 1.5 year male calf are walking. The calf Solicits-Suckling making an extra effort to stop Ruby by pushing his head against her side. He succeeds and Ruby stops and puts her left leg forward, adopting a Suckle-Stance and Suckle-Face and he Suckles. Note her Resting Trunk, Eye-Blinking and Ear-Lifting. They start to move and he runs around to the other side and Solicits-Suckling again and again she adopts a Suckle-Stance with her right leg forward. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Suckle-Stance

Context: Calf Nourishment & Weaning (2)

An adult female in Nalakite's family pushes a 4 year old out of the way and puts her right foreleg forward, adopting a Suckle-Stance so that her own 4 year old can suckle. Note that she moves her trunk up as if to check to see if he is suckling ok. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Suckle-Stance

Context: Calf Nourishment & Weaning (3)

Big Mama's family is Moving-While-Feeding. In view we see a one year old calf (who has just Suckled on other side for 33 seconds, and also tested an allomother for milk) runs to other side to Suckle from mother f0287 again. Note f0287's accommodating Suckle-Stance - she seems to be aware that her calf is coming and moves her leg forward before being asked to. Note also that a 6 year old female comes over and sniffs mother's breast. Why? (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Suckle-Stance

Context: Calf Nourishment & Weaning (4)

Little E is a day old and is with his family resting. He is Sheltering and attempting to suckle from allomother V-Notch who repeatedly reaches back Trunk-to-Breats (x9) as if showing the calf where to suckle. At one point she appears to touch her breast when calf is close to it and then adopts a Suckle-Stance. Her behavior is interrupted when younger allomother Lorato suddenly threatens the car and all turn to face car Ear-Spreading. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Suckle-Stance

Context: Calf Nourishment & Weaning (5)

Little E is only 4 days old. Allomother Lorato has defecated. Little E is interested. Mama Little E touches his genitals (Trunk-to-Genitals) and his anus, holds his tail and then Trunk-to-Genitals again three times. Little E then begins to try to Comfort-Suckle from allomother Lorato who adopts a Suckle-Stance. He stops and Mama Little E comes over and touch him under his mouth (Trunk-to-Mouth) and then along and up his trunk as she turns slightly away from allomother Lorato - Guiding him away from Lorato and toward her. He turns toward her.

As this is taking place, Lorato engages in a series of Displacement behaviors - Touch-Face, Trunk-Sucking and then steps forward and begins Displacement-Grooming - Dusting but not really. Mama Little E walks on behind Lorato and Little E goes in front of her. As he passes by Lorato touches his genitals (Trunk-to-Genitals). (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Suckle-Stance

Context: Calf Nourishment & Weaning (6)

Little E is 5 days old and is Suckling. His mother, Mama Little E has put her foreleg forward to adopting a Suckle-Stance. As he is Suckling she reaches her trunk and touches under his mouth (Trunk-to-Mouth) and gives a Coo-Rumble. Little E is getting the hang of Suckling but must lift a foreleg to reach her nipple. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Suckle-Stance

Context: Calf Nourishment & Weaning (7)

Mama Little E is browsing she moves toward another bush and then stops and puts her foreleg forward, adopting a Suckle-Stance so that 5 day old Little E can Suckle. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Suckle-Stance

Context: Calf Nourishment & Weaning (8)

Little E is 5 days old and has been Solicit-Suckling for at least 3 minutes but Mama Little E has made no attempt to help him. Then suddenly she marches off with Little E running after her. It is too windy to hear if he rumbles. Mama Little E comes to an abrupt halt, and puts a foreleg forward, adopting a Suckle-Stance. As she does so she reaches her trunk back and under his mouth (Trunk-to-Mouth) as if possibly Guiding him - and even holds his ear as if drawing him to her and showing him her breast and then Coo-Rumbles to him. She Coo-Rumbles again. She stands patiently while Little E Suckles again and again. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Suckle-Stance

Context: Calf Nourishment & Weaning (9)

Berta stands with her foreleg forward in a Suckle-Stance to allow her infant to Suckle. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)