Sparring

Context: Social Play (1)

Two juvenile males sparring, engaging in Pushing and Lunging. One bigger than the other. A young female decides that they are being too rough - or perhaps the older male is not part of the family - or perhaps she wants to play - in any case she intervenes. She Orient-Toward them and Head-Shake and then Look-At the older one while Trunk-Sucking. Then she Advance-Toward them and the older male Backs-Away. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (2)

Two adult males, gm0016 and gm0049, Sparring. In slo-mo. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (3)

Adult males gm0016 and gm0049 engage in a bout of Sparring. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (4)

Adult males G7 and gm0016 engage in a long Sparring match. See the clip for component behaviors. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (5)

Two juveniles engage in Sparring, the smaller one is male, the sex of the larger one can’t be determined, likely male. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (6)

Adult males G7 and gm0045 engage in a rough Sparring match using some techniques that are seen in an Escalated-Contest. See behaviors labeled in clip. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (7)

Adult males G7 and gm0045 engage in a rough Sparring match using some techniques that are seen in an Escalated-Contest. See behaviors labeled in clip. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (8)

Young male gm0049 approaches gf0061 who is drinking. He walks very purposefully toward her and test her Trunk-to-Genitals. She is waiting and turns away. She Tail-Swat and Head-Shake and wait. He pause and then he Ear-Folds slightly and reach toward her Trunk-to-Mouth x 2; She seems to Trunk-to-Mouth x 1. There is slight Ear-Folding. He reaches Trunk-to Mouth x 2 again.

After standing side by side for some moments she Orient-Toward him in an expectant manner - head slightly outstretched - Chin-Out. He raise his head and Ear-Fold and then begin to Spar - trunks down first and then he puts his trunk over her head and she puts hers in his Mouth-Trunk-to-Mouth. We believe his is in hers over her head. She walks past him Attin-Higher-Ground on the bank. He Ear-Folds and flap ears. She pauses and he pauses and wait. He steps up onto bank behind her and she turns to Orient-Toward him. He puts his trunk above her and rests it on her head. She does the same to him. She has her tusks over his head - his are under her jaw - she is in dominant position, but more vulnerable.

They step back from each other and then into one another again. They gently push back and forth on each other and then he puts his tusks on her head. Meanwhile young male (her son?) comes in and reaches Trunk-to-Mouth to him. He pushes her a bit but they continue and she places her trunk on his head and he on hers - she is in the higher position. They draw back and stand face to face. They stand for a bit then he initiates and Pushes her a bit. She Orient-Away and walk away. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (9)

Sparring typically occurs between males, but here two females Spar - an adolescent on the right and a 4-5 year old calf. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (10)

This is part of a long and cute sequence with a lot of behavior - this is one section showing sparring between two 1 year old males. The Sparring involves Pushing back and forth. Both males get Erections. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (11)

Two 1 year old males from Pat Derby's family are Sparring. Elements include - Trunk-to-Mouth, Grasp-Trunk, Bite-Trunk, Pushing, Reach-Over and an attempted Mounting. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (12)

Two 20-30 year old males Spar. The younger, smaller male is at a disadvantage. He engages in a couple of ambivalent behaviors such as Check-Tusk and Touch-Self. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (13)

Three little males from Big Mama’s family engage in a Sparring match. The older male Pushes. The medium sized male Reaches-Over the youngest male and attempts a Mounting, back to front. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (14)

Two young males engage in Sparring, Pushing and Locking-Tusks. Notice the Trunk-to-Genitals after the rough play. This is often seen - perhaps a kind of conciliatory gesture or reassurance that no harm meant. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (15)

Two medium sized males engage in a bout of Sparring. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (16)

Two male calves at play practicing Sparring techniques - Pushing, Ramming and Sashaying. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (17)

Two calves are Sparring - one about 2 years old and the other about 4 years old. The larger calf appears to lower him or herself onto its knees. This behavior is not uncommon to see when elephants of very different size Spar. It is always the larger elephant who kneels down and we conclude that the motivation to appear smaller and less threatening to their playmate. We count this as a form of Helping behavior. While distant we also see both individuals use a combination of Periscope-Trunk and Circus-Pose as they prepare for their next move. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (18)

There are 3 adolescent/juvenile males. The male on the left with the broken leg, is gm0009. He is the oldest and was a bystander while the other two were Sparring. The smallest male, facing us, appears to become angry and overly aggressive, attacking the male with his back to us, Ramming into him and forcing him back. Then gm0009 seems to intervene and the two pause as if thinking better of the game. The male with his back to us Touch-Self. In what appears to be an act of Conciliation gm0009 touches the smallest male, who seems to Rump-Present and gm0009 leans into him and touch him Trunk-to-Genitals. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (19)

Two males are Sparring - gm0009 with a broken leg is on the right and a slightly smaller male on the left. They engage in a number of tactics Pushing, Lunging, Interlocking-Tusks. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (20)

Two males are Sparring - gm0009 with a broken leg is on the right and a slightly smaller male on the left. Gm0009 is forced back but then Pushes back against the other male. It gets rough with a couple of Lunges and then gm0009 turns and Rump-Present and Tail-Swats allowing the smaller male to touch him Trunk-to-Genitals. The Trunk-to-Genitals seems to be a Conciliatory gesture.

After this the younger male backs up and Kneels-Down and Tusks-Ground. The two face one another while he is on his knees. This behavior is not uncommon when there are differing sizes or abilities between two Sparring partners as if the more competent wants to make himself less threatening to the broken-legged male. This is a kind of Helping behavior. Thereafter they continue the game. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (21)

Two juvenile females are engaged in a Sparring match. They gently Push one another. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (22)

Two male calves around 18 months old engage in a Sparring match during which we can see elements of adult behaviors such as Ear-Spreading, Ear-Folding, Head-Dip, Look-At, Chin-Out, Trunk-Twining, Grasp-Trunk, Run-After, etc. We have marked some of these. Suddenly one calf runs to his family and the game temporarily comes to a halt. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (23)

Two families have just met and there has been a bit of aggression between the two. A young female and a young male begin Sparring, though it isn't very friendly or playful. The male is Ear-Folding at her while she reaches Trunk-to-Mouth and Trunk-to-Face. He begins lashing out at her with his tusks, Tusk-Clanking. She seems to try to protect herself by holding her trunk out horizontally toward him. Eventually she Orients-Away and Walks-Away. He follows and engages in Flehmen. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (24)

Two young males Spar gently with one another Pushing their heads against one another. As it gets rougher the male on the left seems to almost punch the other with his trunk to defend himself. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (25)

Two juvenile males engage in a bout of rather rough Sparring. In the video I can be heard to say that one, the larger, was female, due to ''her'' square head and long thin tusks, but I later saw that ''she'' was a he. He was quite aggressive Ear-Folding, audibly Slapping the other with a punching movement, Lunging at him and engaging in behaviors similar to Dueling. At the end a third male joins the two and they walk off together and the Sparring continues further away. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Sparring

Context: Social Play (26)

Two juvenile males continue to Spar. The male on the left initiates a new round by Advancing-Toward the male on the right with his Chin-Out. They make contact with Tusks-Clanking and he Pushes the other male back. They disengage and then the male on the left approaches the other with a Head-Waggle and Orients-Away. The male on the right come up behind him and Pushes and then Social-Rubs against him and more Pushing ensues. (Amboseli, Kenya)