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  3. Double-Suckling

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Double-Suckling

An adult female permitting two calves to Suckle from her simultaneously.

Media caption

The clip opens with a view of the Mabenzi family. The behavior in question is difficult to see because, Maya gf0020 is in the light in the foreground. A circle focuses attention on a 4-5 year old male calf approaching Marcela, gf0017, who has been Suckling a 6 month old calf for a long time. The male approaches and Supplants the 6 month old at the breast who ducks underneath gf0017 to Suckle on the other side. Marcela reaches her Trunk-to-Mouth of the older calf and then Double-Suckle the two calves for approx. 20 seconds. Then gf0017 Trunk-to-Mouth older calf as she put leg back and uses her hip in a Body-Nudge to Reject-Suck. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Other examples of the behavior