A Rumbling, greeting exchange between members of an elephant family in which one (usually older and female) approaches another (usually younger, in parallel and from behind). Typically, the approaching elephant emits a soft, tonal Rumble of medium duration (2.5-4 seconds) to which the elephant being approached, responds by Head-Raising, Ear-Lifting and sometimes Backing-Towards the approaching elephant and emitting a responding, more noisy Rumble of medium duration and moderate intensity (although these are highly variable). Often both individuals Head-Raise and Ear-Lift and the two may Social-Rub against one another, touch one another or greet Trunk-to-Mouth. Both are likely to secrete Temporin. This interchange is a relatively frequent event in an elephant family and we refer to it as Little-Greeting-Rumbles. Examination of spectrograms indicate that in almost every case both the approaching and approached elephant call (although the softer call of the former may be drowned out by the more powerful call of the latter) and that their Rumbles overlap. In some cases nearby elephants may also join in. Elephants may also call in this manner when one approaches another face to face, although this pattern is less common.
We are with the Mabenzi family. Matriarch, Provocadora, gf0012, stands facing us and gf0020 reaches out Trunk-to-Mouth and gives her a Little-Greeting, Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting. gf0012 takes a couple more steps in our direction and stops and Contemplates us, Displacement-Feed for 7 seconds and then Stands-Tall and stares at us. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)
