An individual taking short, shallow steps and purposefully dragging or scuffing the soles of the feet on the ground to create sound. Foot-Scuffing is often used by musth males at close range. Together with visual, vocal and chemical signals, the approaching scuffing steps adds to the male’s ominous display. In a Social Play context, Foot-Scuffing may be employed by Charging youngsters. In an Attacking & Mobbing context Foot-Scuffing may be employed by Charging adults, again for the audible effect.
Pascal is in full musth and has spend the last 15 minutes engaging in various musth displays. Now he walks toward us in a Casual-Stance. Note his stiff-legged Foot-Scuffing, purposefully making sounds as a threat. Notice, too, his Kick-Dust movement as the end of his scuffing. He pauses at the water's edge and engages in Trunk-Curl. (Amboseli, Kenya)
