Trunk-Sucking

Sucking on own trunk. Appears to be done when unsure, apparently for comfort. Infants and calves are typically observed exhibiting this display, but older elephants may also be observed to Trunk-Suck.

References: Kahl & Armstrong 2000; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Ambivalent, Attentive, Foraging & Comfort Technique, Lone & Object Play, Social Play, Vigilance

Trunk-Sucking

Context: Attentive (1)

Big Mama's teenage son is walking along following his mother. His eyes are almost closed and his head is carried low. He appears to be "to be lost in thought" or in "his own world" - Contemplative. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Trunk-Sucking

Context: Attentive (2)

The calf known as "Tailless" is walking alongside his mother while Trunk-Sucking and Head-Waggling. The combination of what might be called "comfort" and "soliciting play" behaviors and the fact that he is not engaged in play with another suggests to us that we are seeing an expression of his inner thoughts - as if he is contemplating something he experienced - or would like to experience with another. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Trunk-Sucking

Context: Attentive (3)

In the Mara a small number of elephants have discovered pleasure in standing over Croton bushes. Lorato is one of the elephants who engages in this idiosyncratic behavior and regularly gathers up the branches of small bushes between her legs and stands over them going into a kind of dreamy state. In this clip Lorato walks along Trunk-Sucking after having just ended a bout of Stand-Over-Bush. She looks as if she is still in a state of contemplation. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Trunk-Sucking

Context: Attentive (4)

Allomother, adolescent female Lorato opens and closes her eyes as if in Contemplation. She has just been very focused on the genitals of four day old Little E. When a 1.5 year male walks past her and gets down on knees to bite a plant, Lorato considers Mounting him. She Reaches-Over his back while Trunk-Sucking and lifts her foot as if to Mount. It would appear that she has conflicting feelings and then thinks better of her plan. Attentive or Ambivalent? Hmmm. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Trunk-Sucking

Context: Attentive (5)

A juvenile female about 6 year old stands engaged in a series of behaviors - Foot-Swinging,Displacement-Object-Play and Trunk-Sucking. She appears - to us - to be contemplating something as she waits for her family to depart. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)