Foot-Swinging

Raising and tentatively swinging a foreleg, intermittently. Swinging of a hind-foot may also be observed although this is less common than a forefoot. Individuals in all age sex groups may engage in Foot-Swinging in Submissive, Ambivalent and Conflict & Confrontation contexts when unsure of what action to take, as in Displacement-Behavior. Likewise, all age sex groups may engage in Foot-Swinging in Attentive and Vigilance contexts as seen during Freezing behavior, when elephants may be feeling for or picking up seismic vibrations. In a Movement Space and Leadership context Foot-Swinging is observed among adult females as a signal of intention - i.e. an Intention-Movement - for example, as a component of the Let’s-Go-Stance. In the latter swinging of the hind foot is not observed.

References: Douglas-Hamilton 1972: ch 6; Moss 1988; Poole 1999a; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Ambivalent, Attentive, Conflict & Confrontation, Movement, Space & Leadership, Vigilance

Foot-Swinging

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (1)

Juvenile female about 6 years old is engaged in Foot-Swinging Displacement-Object-Play and Trunk-Sucking. She fiddles around with a stick. In the context she appears to be bored and Waiting for others to move along. They are slowly moving while feeding. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (2)

A 4-5 year old male calf is Foot-Swinging as he stands J-Sniffing, Ear-Stiffening as he Listens attentively. He seems to be aware of movement behind him and is perhaps apprehensive about what is taking place - all of a sudden all begin to move. It is also possible that his Foot-Swinging is an intention movement as he waits for others to move, but that sort of signaling of intention is not common in calves. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (3)

Latino wants to go down into the lugga to the water. She stands on the edge of the steep bank Foot-Swinging. Then rumbling begins that sounds like a Let's Go - another starts it, then Grumpy Grandma f0412 rumbles (can see her Ear-Flapping) and then Latino. Her Foot-Swinging could also be an intention movement since it is associated with Let's go rumbling. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Movement Space & Leadership (4)

A family group is moving while feeding. Some elephants seem to be anxious to move a bit faster. A young female at the front of the group stands and begins Foot-Swinging. In the next scene a large adult female stands Foot-Swinging as she waits to step forward to Foot-Slice a sapling. The same young female who was first Foot-Swinging stands Waiting for the larger female to finish and then when she can moves gives an Ear-Flap-Slide - another intention movement - as she begins to walk forward. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Vigilance (1)

Adult female gf0070 starts to walk toward us but then sees us and stops and starts first Foot-Swinging and then Foot-Lifting. The calves stand waiting. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Vigilance (2)

Two males, gm0015 and gm0016 are feeding and Mud-Splashing. gm0016 decides to gives us a harmless Charge, slowing to a walk as he comes closer. gm0015 Stands-Tall behind him behind him, Foot-Swinging..This was filmed in slo-mo. There is no audio. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Vigilance (3)

Matriarch, gf0223, with a long right tusk, has just Oriented-Toward and Looked-At the vehicle in a threatening posture several times. She walked purposefully as if considering a Perpendicular-Walk, but then appeared to change her mind and in this clip walks on pausing to engage in Foot-Swinging. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Vigilance (4)

Jalila of the JB family turns and stops to Look-At us. The slight Head-Dip and the Foot-Swinging shows that she is a little apprehensive.. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (1)

Provocadora, gf0012, of the Mabenzi family initiated this Group-Advance. They come to within about 20 meters of us and then stand Bunching and Head-Swinging. Marcela, gf0017, begins Foot-Swinging as they Contemplate what to do. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (2)

The shot starts with Isabella, gf0038, of the I family leading a Group-Advance toward us with rest of her family coming behind. She Reaches-High as she makes a Perpendicular-Walk not directly toward us. She stops her forward motion with a Foot-Swing and a Head-Shake and turns toward matriarch iJunia, gf0005, who has caught up, and reaches Trunk-to-Mouth to her as they Bunch together. Then together they begin a Group-Advance. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Attentive (1)

Rui, gm0008, is in musth and is Tracking. He does a couple of Trunk-Bounce-Drags and engages in Periscope-Trunk. He seems to catch a scent and stops dead in his tracks. He Foot-Swings and then abruptly changes course and continues Tracking. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Attentive (2)

A medium sized male is following an estrous female with a gang of other males. He pauses to Foot-Swing and seems to be considering something. The female stops to Urinate and he and other males got to sniff the urine and perform Flehmen. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Attentive (3)

A musth male, who is likely Emo, is Tracking someone. Some minutes later he meets and Runs-After Teejay, not in musth, and then later in the day he meets Pascal, also in musth, and there is an altercation - it may well be Pascal's trail he has found. He pauses Foot-Swinging as he appears to Listen and consider what to do. He continues. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Ambivalent (1)

A teenage male stands Foot-Swinging and Ear-Stiffening in an attentive posture. This behavior took place in the midst of a series of aggressive encounters between other elephants - both males and females. The young male appears to feel Apprehensive about being caught up in the middle of the aggression. The camera pans left and we see a female standing behind him also Foot-Swinging. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Foot-Swinging

Context: Ambivalent (2)

Pascal is Guarding Qadija who is in peak estrus and just walking past him where there are other males. He needs to keep a close eye on her. Yet there is a male behind him that is annoying him. He pauses, Looking-Back as if undecided what to do. He Foot-Swings, and then Ear-Waves, Musth-Rumbles as he spins around and Lunges toward the male and then quickly turns around again to follow Qadija. (Amboseli, Kenya)