Tail-Swatting

Using the tail to forcefully swat or hit an elephant behind it to indicate that the elephant should back off, tap an elephant to ask for its attention, or to gently check what is behind it. In rare cases using the tail to forcefully swat or hit an inanimate object like a tree. In Movement Space & Leadership and Social Play contexts all age/sex groups except infants may be observed to Tail-Swat; in a Calf Reassurance & Protection context both adult and adolescent females Tail-Swat; in a Calf Nourishment & Weaning context adult females Tail-Swat, while estrous females Tail-Swat in a Courtship context.

References: Kahl & Armstrong 2000; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011; O’Connell-Rodwell et al 2011 [Tail to body]. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Advertisement & Attraction, Calf Nourishment & Weaning, Calf Reassurance & Protection, Courtship, Foraging & Comfort Technique, Movement, Space & Leadership, Novel & Idiosyncratic, Social Play, Submissive

Tail-Swatting

Context: Social Play (1)

In slo-mo: Ttwo adult males are engaged in a bout of Sparring. gm0016 Advances-Toward gm0049 who Retreats-From, and uses Tail-Swatting to check how close gm0016 is. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Tail-Swatting

Context: Social Play (2)

Two adolescent males at play, one Runs-After the other who Runs-Away. The pursuer Grasps-Tail of the other and Tusks him as they run. The fleeing male Tail-Swats him. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Tail-Swatting

Context: Social Play (3)

The male in the water is larger and has been engaged in boisterous play for a while. A new smaller male arrives at the bank of the water hole. The male in the water comes over to meet him and invite him to play, but the younger male is skeptical and stands facing him tentatively. The larger male reaches up and touches him Trunk-to-Face exploring his Temporal-Gland area. The younger male sniffs toward him. The larger male hauls himself out of the water doing a mild Head-Toss and then reaches Trunk-to-Face again. The younger male reciprocates with a Trunk-to-Mouth. But when the bigger male comes up on the bank the younger male Orients-Away. The older male reaches Trunk-to-Genitals a couple of times while the younger males Tail-Swats him audibly. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Tail-Swatting

Context: Social Play (4)

Two males are Standing by our car studying us and interacting in a playful way with one another and Leaning against one another. In this clip the male in front Tail-Swats the male behind, who gently Tusks him. (Amboseli, Kenya)