Displacement-Grooming

An attentive elephant self-grooming when grooming is inappropriate. May include throwing dust, vegetation, etc. onto self. Performed in conflict situations such as in Aggressive, Submissive, Conflict & Confrontation, Courtship, and Social Play contexts when an individual shows incompatible tendencies, such as fleeing versus attacking.

For example, by males during Sparring or Escalated-Contests, or by young males near an estrous female who are “pretending” to do something else so as not to provoke aggression by the Guarding male. Displayed by elephants, particularly adult females, during Conflict & Confrontation when Contemplating whether or not to attack. Also displayed by elephants of both sexes when Queuing-Up - waiting their turn at a waterhole or fallen tree or other scarce resource.

References: Tennent 1867: 133, 139, 141; Kühme 1963: 70, 78; Eisenberg & Lockhart 1972: 25; Douglas-Hamilton 1972: 140; McKay 1973: 63, 66; Adams & Berg 1980; Douglas-Hamilton & Douglas-Hamilton 1992; Spinage 1994: 151; Sukumar 1994: 98, 99. Kahl & Armstrong 2000; Poole & Granli 2003. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Aggressive, Ambivalent, Conflict & Confrontation, Courtship, Social Play, Vigilance

Displacement-Grooming

Context: Ambivalence (1)

Little E is only 4 days old. Allomother Lorato has defecated. Little E is interested. Mama Little E touches his genitals (Trunk-to-Genitals)and his anus, holds his tail and then Trunk-to-Genitals again three times. Little E then begins to Comfort-Suckle from allomother Lorato who adopts a Suckle-Stance. He stops and Mama Little E comes over and touch him under his mouth (Trunk-to-Mouth) and then along and up his trunk as she turns slightly away from allomother Lorato - Guiding him away from Lorato and toward her. He turns toward her. As this is taking place, Lorato engages in a series of Apprehensive behaviors - Touch-Face, Trunk-Sucking and then steps forward and begins Displacement-Grooming - Dusting but not really. Mama Little E walks on behind Lorato and Little E goes in front of her. As he passes by Lorato touches his genitals (Trunk-to-Genitals). (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Displacement-Grooming

Context: Ambivalence (2)

Little E is four days old. Lorato is with Little E and is looking a bit insecure finding herself "alone" with him. She scrapes her toes on the ground in a movement that is looks like she is going to dust but doesn't - Displacement-Grooming. She exhibits other signs that she is Apprehensive Ear-Spreading and Touch-Self. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Displacement-Grooming

Context: Ambivalence (3)

An adolescent female is in a family group with f0470. Both females stand facing car in slightly threatening posture. The adolescent female is Apprehensive about the proximity of the car - both curious and trying to be tough, she engages in Displacement-Grooming. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Displacement-Grooming

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (1)

Matriarch gf0073 and her family were in the forest as we drove up. This was the first time we had encountered this family and they were very agitated, Bunching and Standing-Tall. There was one Group-Charge and a serious Charge by gf0073 who almost hit the car. As this clip starts they have retreated to the forest and are Bunching and engaged in Displacement-Grooming using their trunks to throw vegetation and dirt over their heads. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Displacement-Grooming

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (2)

Matriarch gf0073 and her family were in the forest as we drove up. This was the first time we had encountered this family and they were very agitated, Bunching and Standing-Tall. There was one Group-Charge and a serious Charge by gf0073 who almost hit the car. As this clip starts they have retreated to the forest and are Bunching and engaged in Displacement-Grooming using their trunks to throw vegetation and dirt over their heads. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Displacement-Grooming

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (3)

Matriarch Provocadora and her family have heard our vehicle drive along the track. They move toward us with Periscope-Trunks. Provocadora stops her advance and begins Displacement-Grooming using her trunk to throw vegetation and dirt over her head and using a trunkful of vegetation to scratch her ear. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Displacement-Grooming

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (4)

Led by Corajosa, the entire C family had come toward us from the East from several hundred meters away in a Group-Advance. They ended the advance with a Group-Charge. After surrounding our vehicles they moved to the west of us and as the clip starts they continue their vigilance and confrontation by Bunching and Standing-Tall while they engage in Displacement-Grooming. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Displacement-Grooming

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (5)

Matriarch Provocadora and her family have heard our vehicle drive along the track. They move toward us with Periscope-Trunks. As this clip starts, Provocadora stops her advance and begins Displacement-Grooming, using her trunk to throw vegetation and dirt over her head, while still Standing-Tall. This clip is in slo-mo. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Displacement-Grooming

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (6)

Iphigenia Advances-Toward us and adopts one of her classic Standing-Tall postures. Then she turns and walks to the right, still with Chin-Up and engages in Displacement-Grooming. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Displacement-Grooming

Context: Aggressive (1)

Two males are engaged in a long Escalated-Contest. In this section the male with the longer tusks has the upper hand. He makes several Advances-Toward the male with the shorter tusks and adopts Periscope-Trunk three times. During this clip both males engage in Displacement-Behavior - the male on the left Displacement-Feeding and the male on the right Displacement-Grooming. (Amboseli, Kenya)