Lifting

Using the feet, tusks or trunk to attempt to lift or carry an infant, to get it to its feet, up a bank, out of a well, or similar predicament, or to assist a helpless, injured, dying or dead elephant. For dead elephants see Lift-Body. In the context of calves or infants this is exclusively an adult female behavior, although adolescent and juvenile females certainly assist calves and may attempt to lift them. Adult males and females may attempt to lift injured, dying or dead elephants.

References: Douglas-Hamilton 1972: ch 6; Moss 1992: 123, 124, 129; Poole 1996: 95, 98 137, 159; Payne, 2003; McComb et al 2006; Bates et al 2008; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011 [see also Body-Lifting]. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Affiliative, Birth, Calf Reassurance & Protection

Lifting

Context: Affiliative (1)

The NDs are trying to Drink at a rather difficult place with a steep bank. As the clip starts Ndabele has just been Pushed over by a female from another family, it seems. We missed that part but we see Ndabele on the ground and her mother, Nashota, using her trunk and tusks to Lift her up, Helping her to her feet. Ndabele gives a powerful Baroo-Rumble with an Open-Mouth. We can see that her mother is also Rumbling. She touches Ndabele Trunk-to-Mouth and Ndabele gives another Open-Mouth Baroo-Rumble.

Other family members comes rushing over to see what is wrong and there is Rumbling by Nashota and others. Then for a third time Ndabele gives a long Open-Mouth Baroo-Rumble. Someone Trumpets. A long low frequency throbbing Rumble follows. Perhaps directed at the female who Pushed her? (Amboseli, Kenya)