Grasping a branch with the trunk and pulling it downward over a tusk and, simultaneously lifting the head and tusk upward to break the branch. This behavior is not acquired until an elephant has sizeable enough tusks; likely begins in adolescence or early adulthood.
A young male grasps a branch with his trunk, draws it down toward his tusks and uses his right tusk to break the branch. He drops his trunk down and then places the trunkful of vegetation into his mouth. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)
