Run-After

Moving at a fast amble, or ‘run’ after another elephant. Elephants may Run-After one another in Aggressive, Social Play and Courtship contexts. The appearance of head, ears and tails differ in the different contexts. In an Aggressive context all age/sex groups except infants may be observed to Run-After; in a Social Play context all age/sex groups, though typically younger individuals and more often male may be observed to Run-After; in a Courtship context an adult male may Run-After an estrous female.

References: Poole 1982; Lee 1986; Poole 1987a; Poole 1989a; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2004; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Aggressive, Calf Reassurance & Protection, Courtship, Social Play

Run-After

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (1)

Walli's newborn looks bewildered, as if trying to figure out who she should follow or where her mother has gone. She runs and pauses, looking alarmed, and then with a bit if reassurance from another calf, she seems to figure things out and Runs-After her mother. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)