Ear-Flap-Slide

Flapping the ears moderately loudly and then swishing them against the neck and shoulders causing a rasping sound. For added effect, the elephant may tilt its head upwards and outward, sometimes to one side, while swishing the ears against the body. Used by elephants of all age sex groups when changing activity and, particularly audibly by adult females during Movement Space and Leadership and Avoidance contexts apparently as a signal to other family members of intention to move, depart or to change activity.

References: Poole 1982: 73; Moss 1988; Poole 1996: 143; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Avoidance, Coalition Building, Movement, Space & Leadership

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (1)

The clip shows part of the C family with Nomada, gf0003, and calves in view. Nomada gives an Ear-Flap-Slide and moves a bit forward to continue feeding. She is followed by others. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (2)

The clip is of the C family. After a period of apprehension when gf0080 had to retrieve her calf, part of the C group have coalesced and walked over to join Nomada, gf0003, who is the large adult tuskless female who is revealed on the left. As they coalesce around Nomada, she gives an Ear-Flap-Slide, which is immediately followed by one given by gf0080 as she walks past her. The elephants continue moving while feeding as they move away. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (4)

The clip shows part of the Mabenzi family and associating males. Adult male gm0015 has just shaken a Faidherbia tree knocking pods to the ground. The elephants have heard the sound and there is a mass movement of elephants toward it. A young adult male, gm0049, was grazing when he heard the pods fall. He signals his departure with an Ear-Flap-Slide as he begins to move toward the tree. In next frame we see the whole movement coming to the tree and to share in the spoils. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (5)

The clips shows the Mabenzi family and musth male Gogogo, gm0001. The elephants have spent a long time sniffing something on the ground and are now going back to moving while feeding as they make their way from the forest toward the flood plain. As Mwana Nzo begins moving she gives an Ear-Flap-Slide. A few moments later Gogogo also gives as Ear-Flap-Slide as he moves to keep up with the females. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (6)

Little E is perhaps 2 days old and gives what looks to be a kind of Ear-Flap-Slide movement. While he can already make this movement with his ear he will not yet be doing it for any communicative purpose. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (8)

Walli's female infant is about a week old and gives an Ear-Flap-Slide movement. While she can already make this movement with her ear she will not yet be doing it for any communicative purpose. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (9)

Little E is 6 weeks old. He gives an Ear-Flap-Slide as he walks along. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (10)

A young mother is alone with her infant who is sleeping. She wants to move and begins trying to wake her infant with a Trunk-Nudge. She indicates her plan to move with an Ear-Flap-Slide. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (11)

Adult female, f0254, steps out of the mud-wallow and stops to Wait for her older daughter who is still mud-splashing. Then she gives an Ear-Flap-Slide and proceeds. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (12)

The clip starts with a young male in the foreground and the adolescent daughter of adult female f0254 behind. The young male has just tested (Trunk-to-Genitals) the adolescent female. She signals that she is moving on with an Ear-Flap-Slide. He reaches his trunk to her face (Trunk-to-Face) and then he, too, signals that he is moving on with a Ear-Flap-Slide. As he does she allows her ear to "purposefully" Ear-Brush his body and reaches her Trunk-to-(his)Mouth. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (13)

Musth male, m0023, turns to Look-At the filmmakers and then Contemplates them for a while, Ear-Spreading, J-Sniffing. Then he Orients-Away, gives an Ear-Flap-Slide and walks off. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (14)

Matriarch, Big Mama, and members of her family are in a mud-wallow. Big Mama indicates her plan to change activity with an Ear-Flap-Slide as she gets out of the mud wallow. She gives another Ear-Flap-Slide as as she begins to walk away. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (15)

A large adult male is about to get out of a mud wallow. He seems to indicate a change of activity with an Ear-Flap-Slide and then gets out of the mud wallow. He gives another Ear-Flap-Slide as he clambers up the slope. Notice how he uses trunk to support himself. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (16)

A large adult male has just come out of a mud wallow. He walks toward the filmmakers and stops for a while to Contemplate and consider them. Then he gives an Ear-Flap-Slide indicating his movement toward them again. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (17)

George is walking down the hill with Exaggerated-Walk. He gives an Ear-Flap-Slide in a kind of "message to self". (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (18)

Big Mama and her family are Moving-While-Feeding. Her daughter reaches Trunk-to-Mouth in a Little-Greeting to Big Mama, and adopts Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting - we can also see her open her mouth and we hear Rumbling. Then Big Mama Orients-Away as she she does she gives an Ear-Flap-Slide and walks off. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (19)

gm0015 gives an Ear-Flap-Slide as he moves to a new location and continues feeding. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (20)

Rui, in musth, has been feeding in amongst a family group. He decides to move and gives an Ear-Flap-Slide as he does so. The females react to his movement with what appears to be a Female-Chorus (although there is no audio) and they Follow him. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Ear-Flap-Slide

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (21)

A male has been Mud-Splashing. As he leaves the mud wallow he gives a couple of Ear-Flap-Slides and walks on to catch up with the others. (Amboseli, Kenya)