Using the trunk to point toward or sniff toward an individual, object or scent of interest. The trunk is held relatively straight and pointed in the direction of the object of interest. While the assumption has been that this behavior indicates that the individual is sniffing, we changed the term from Sniff-Toward to Trunk-Toward, because we believe that the behavior may, sometimes, serve a visual signalling function, as in drawing the attention of others to an individual or object of interest. All age/sex groups engage in Trunk-Toward.
Media caption
A family group is walking past the filmmakers vehicle. A calf and a juvenile are curious and reach their Trunks-Toward something of interest, which may be the vehicles' occupants. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)
