Drinking

An individual sucking water into its trunk and pouring it into its mouth. In some cases, with unskilled calves, or individuals with injured trunks, kneeling down to suck water directly into the mouth.

References: Poole 1982: 28. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Maintenance

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (1)

A family group Drinking at Paradise Pond. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (2)

Two elephants Drinking and Mud-Splashing in slo-mo. Notice that the elephant Drinking places her trunk fingers widely spread on the surface of the muddy water so as to avoid sucking in too much mud. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (3)

Merilyn Drinking at the Rocky Crossing, originally filmed in slo-mo so no audio. Notice that since the water is clear she puts her trunk tip well into the water. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (4)

Matriarch Grumpy Grandma drinking. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (5)

Elephants drinking at the river. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (6)

Elephants drinking at the river. Notice how the adult female draws water into her trunk and then expels it (presumably due to some sort of contamination), before drawing a fresh trunkful. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (7)

Elephants drinking at the river. Notice how the adult female draws water into her trunk and then sprays some of it out rather than swallowing it. This behaviour is often seen sometimes as if in play, but in this case perhaps due to some sort of contamination in the water. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (8)

A mother and calf drink at small pools between the rocks in the river. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (9)

A group drinks at the river. In the foreground there is competition for a favored spot. An adult female Drinks while a young male is Queuing-Up for his turn (note his Foot-Lifting and Waioting). Her five year old female calf is more impatient and tries to barge in. The adult female gently Pushes her away. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (10)

At the start, 6 week old Little E gets down on his knees to drink with his mouth. When he stands up we hear a Snort or a Sneeze type sound. Did water go down the wrong way? The rest of his family are Drinking. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (11)

A mother waits for her days old infant who has just discovered water for the first time. He bends down to put his mouth in the water and blows bubbles with his trunk and mouth. His mother steps into view and touches him and then stands Waiting. She swings her foot, indicating she is ready to leave, but he appears mesmerized by his experience of water. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (12)

A family Drinks at Kitirua Waterhole. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (13)

A family arrives at a water hole apparently hoping to Drink. They test the muddy water, swishing their trunk tips around and attempting to 'filter' it, but appear not to like it and move on. Only a calf takes a trunkful. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Drinking

Context: Maintenance (14)

The NDs are trying to Drink at a rather difficult place with a steep bank. There is water all around, but they were very keen to Drink here, so the water must be less salty or something. There has just been an altercation as an elephant Pushed Ndabele over causing a lot of commotion.

As the clip starts Ndabele comes to the fore and bends down to Drink. Then as she moves away, the female who we think Pushed her comes forward and bends down to Drink while the others walk away, Ndabele Head-Shakes and follows the others. (Amboseli, Kenya)