Using the axis of the body to point in the direction an elephant wishes to travel. To be considered Body-Axis-Pointing this posture must be associated with other behaviors such as Intention-Movements (e.g. Foot-Swinging, Foot-Lifting, Waiting, Walk-Wait, Ear-Flap-Slide) or Let’s-Go-Rumbling. Body-Axis-Pointing is most often observed among adult and adolescent females. While males also engage in Body-Axis-Pointing it is less demonstrative than among females.
Members of the V family are Waiting to depart, but their matriarch (marked with an M), Valda, is undecided. The rest of the family have been standing Body-Axis-Pointing southeast, while she has been facing northwest. All are Listening and we can see there is Rumbling because ears are flapping. Then Valda turns Body-Axis-Pointing southeast, but still does not move. She pauses and they Wait again, alert. Valda is Listening again.
The others are getting frustrated. They stand, figiting and Wait and Wait - alert. Valda turns Body-Axis-Points northwest again. Then Vigilante begins to walk NW and the others follow her. She walks until she is parallel with Valda and stops. They Wait. And Wait and Wait. The camera zooms in so we can't see Valda.
Finally one of the younger one turns and all turn. The camera zooms out and Valda is Body-Axis-Pointing SE with the others and I think she initiated this turn. But again Valda stops and waits. There is some Walk-Wait movement by the others until finally Valda moves and all begin walking SE. All are moving in direction of the river, pausing now and then to grab a mouthful of grass. This is Decision-Making elephant style - voting with your body and feet. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)
