An individual grasping a clump of grass with the trunk and using a forefoot to kick at it to loosen it from the soil. Often employed when a clump of grass is strongly rooted, making it more efficient to stabilize it with the trunk and loosen it with a kick. A slightly different technique involves kicking at a clump of, or area of grass and grasping the loosened stems of clumps in the trunk with a gathering or scooping movement of the trunk. Once the elephant has gathered a suitable amount in its trunk he or she typically uses a Sweep-off-Dirt or Rub-off-Dirt technique before placing the trunkful in its mouth. This latter version is often used when feeding on Sporabolus spicatus as it begins to dry out. This technique is not performed by infants. It is learned as a calf and perfected as a juvenile.
Elephants are feeding on grass. Notice how one of the adult females grasps the grass and then kicks it with her foot to uproot the clump and then uses a Sweep-off-Dirt technique before ingesting it. This is a very commonly used technique in Amboseli, though more often in the dry season when feeding on Sporobolus spicatus. (Amboseli, Kenya)
