Rushing or ‘Running’ toward another elephant predator or other adversary. Also occurs during play. Charges come in many forms. The elephant typically adopts Ear-Folding, Ear-Spreading and Tail-Raising and the Charge may be preceded by a Perpendicular-Walk. The head may be held either high or low; if low the elephant may exhibit a Bow-Neck. The trunk may be stretched out or coiled under, and the elephant may engage in Trunk-Bouncing or Trunk-Dragging or both. The elephant may Trumpet-Blast or remain silent.
Matriarch gf0073 and her family are in the forest as we drive up. This is the first time we have seen this family and they are very agitated, Bunching and Standing-Tall. Earlier gf0073 has done a Perpendicular-Walk and gave us a very serious Charge and then they all retreated to the forest.
As the clip begins we were departing and gf0073 again Charges from the forest at high speed. The video is very shaky but we can see her Trunk-Bounce, Stand-Tall, and then as she begins to Charge again she Trunk-Bounces again with the underside of her trunk. She gives several Trumpet-Blasts. At the end of the video we can see that the rest of the family is joining her. She chased us a good 600 m with the others following behind. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)
