In a form of Retreat-From, an elephant may walk away in reverse, or Back-Away, from a threatening elephant or situation. In a sexual context an estrous female may Back-Away to avoid male advances. The individual may adopt a submissive posture such as Head-Low and/or act with Wariness.
We are with the Mabenzi family. A sub group of 7 elephants including young adult female gf0014 (Mwana Nzo's daughter) and gf0079, their calves and two juvenile/young males find our tire tracks. We had driven through the grass here at least 35 minutes earlier. At least 6 of these elephants repeatedly Sniff the tracks. Then gf0014 Backs-Away with a Chin-Up apprehensive posture. She walks away but the others continue to Sniff the tracks - so eventually after a minute she goes back to the tracks. Note that she keep looking at us - as if she 1) has smelled the tracks 2) knows they come from a car 3) knows which way the car went 4) sees us 5) knows that the smell comes from us. She goes back over to join the others, and Sniffs again and keep looking at us. As this clip starts she becomes alarmed again and again Backs-Away with Chin-Up, this time causing others to become alarmed, too. They all move away to get assistance from Mwana Nzo.(Gorongosa, Mozambique)
