A short (lasting less than half a second in duration) crying call given by an infant or calf under the age of five years in some form of mild distress (e.g. when denied access to the breast or when protesting unwanted contact by an older elephant). Cries are often followed by a Rumble without an inhalation, creating a Cry-Rumble, and rarely a Cry may be both preceded and followed by a Rumble producing a Rumble-Cry-Rumble. When a calf's Begging-Rumbles or Grumbling-Rumbles fail to induce its mother to stop and adopt a Suckle-Stance the calf may escalate it's begging to a higher-pitched Cry, Cry-Rumble, Roar, or Roar-Rumble.
The elephants in focus are behind elephants in the foreground and difficult to see. Ruby's 6 year old male has been trying to Suckle for a while and has been Roaring, Crying and complaining with loud Grumble-Rumbles. His Cry in this clip is bimodal. He leans into her on her left side and she Kicks-Back at him. He goes around the other side to try and she keeps him at bay by using a Body-Nudge and by using her tail to swat him (Tail-Swatting). He leans back and gives a Grumble-Rumble. We hear the filmmakers astonishment at this "big baby" trying to suckle with such determination. Ruby also has another younger calf. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)
