Bow-Neck-Charge

An aggressor lowers the head by bowing the neck downward and simultaneously tilting the head upward so that the tusks are approximately horizontal and Charges. The Bow-Neck-Charge may be associated with Ear-Slapping and/or Ear-Folding. This posture is typically held at a fast walk or, in this case, during a Charge, especially when the receiver of the charge is of smaller stature than the aggressor. In a sense the aggressor brings head/tusks down to the victim's level. It is one of the more common forms of high-level aggression between females of different families or toward young, pesky non-family males and may be seen as a component of a Coalition. It may also be directed at non-elephant threats. It is adopted primarily by adult females in Aggressive or Mobbing & Attacking contexts and by elephants of all age/sex groups in Social Play contexts. It is reminiscent of the ‘Forward Threat Display’ of geese.

References: Kahl & Armstrong, 2000; Poole & Granli 2011 [Bow-Neck]. (Full reference list)

This behavioral constellation includes the following behaviors: Bow-Neck, Ear-Folding, Ear-Slap, Trumpet-Blast, Trunk-Bounce, Trunk-Bounce-Drag and occurs in the following context(s): Aggressive, Attacking & Mobbing, Social Play

Bow-Neck-Charge

Context: Attacking & Mobbing (2)

The AA are walking along the edge of Enkongo Narok Swamp to where they plan to make a crossing. As they stop at the bank one of the allomothers who has been helping Angelina look after her infant twins spots a fish eagle on the ground. Perhaps to defend the twins she chases it away with a Bow-Neck-Charge. (Amboseli, Kenya)