Turning to present posterior and walking backward toward another or other, often higher-ranking, elephant(s). Back-Toward may be observed when individuals (usually adult/adolescent and juvenile females) attempt to join or move to a more central or advantageous position in a gathered group such as during a Bonding-Ceremony, when Bunching, when joining a Resting group, or when an adolescent female approaches a mother with a newborn. Males may engage in Back-Toward during Social Play with a larger partner.
The clip is of the Mabenzi family feeding on seed pods in the Faidherbia woodland on a wet and misty morning. We can see an adolescent female move very purposefully backwards from one side of the group. She Backs-Toward the two lead females, Mwana Nzo, gf0016, and Valente, gf0013, who are feeding. As she walks backwards she is Tail-Swatting. It is not clear why she is changing positions nor why she chooses to do so backwards. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)
