Long (~4-6.5 second duration), typically powerful, throaty, Open-Mouthed, highly modulated rumbles that are associated with Head-Lifting, Listening, and rhythmic Ear-Flapping. With measured sound pressure levels. of up to 115 dB, elephants use these calls to keep in audible contact with one another over distances of 1-2 km. We refer to these vocalizations as Contact-Rumbles or Contact-Calls.
A young mother is walking alone with her day old infant. She stops as if resting and then we see her raise and turn her head and spread and stiffen her ears, Listening. Immediately after Listening she Ear-Flaps and gives a Contact-Rumble likely answering a call we didn't hear.
Then she Listens again. We hear a very faint distant rumble in response to her. She pauses Listening and then gives a second softer rumble. She is separated from her family and her infant is vulnerable to predators without them. We believe she is looking for her family. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)
