An aggressor lowers the head by bowing the neck downward and simultaneously tilting the head upward so that the tusks are approximately horizontal and Advances-Toward a rival or other threat. The Bow-Neck-Advance-Toward may be associated with Ear-Slapping and/or Ear-Folding. This posture is typically held at a fast walk and is used especially when the receiver 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.
This is part of a long sequence in which the Mabenzi family discovers our car tracks in the grass. Younger elephants find them and then go over to enlist help from the lead females, who are some 30 m away. Valente and Mwana Nzo come over to investigate bringing everyone with them. Mwana Nzo moves up smartly to check the track. She sniffs and then Stands-Tall looking at Kate’s/Greg’s car x 2 and then sniffs again and decides, correctly, that it is us.
As this clip begins, she turns on us Standing-Tall and then begins a what looks like the start of a Charge but, instead is a short Bow-Neck-Advance-Toward followed by Kick-Dust. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)
