Back-Away

Context: Avoidance (1)

We are with the Mabenzi family. A sub group of 7 elephants including young adult female gf0014 (Mwana Nzo's daughter) and gf0079, their calves and two juvenile/young males find our tire tracks. We had driven through the grass here at least 35 minutes earlier. At least 6 of these elephants repeatedly Sniff the tracks. Then gf0014 Backs-Away with a Chin-Up apprehensive posture. She walks away but the others continue to Sniff the tracks - so eventually after a minute she goes back to the tracks. Note that she keep looking at us - as if she 1) has smelled the tracks 2) knows they come from a car 3) knows which way the car went 4) sees us 5) knows that the smell comes from us. She goes back over to join the others, and Sniffs again and keep looking at us. As this clip starts she becomes alarmed again and again Backs-Away with Chin-Up, this time causing others to become alarmed, too. They all move away to get assistance from Mwana Nzo.(Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Back-Away

Context: Avoidance (2)

We are with the Mabenzi family. A sub group of 7 elephants including young adult female gf0014 and gf0079, their calves and two juvenile/young males find our tire tracks. We had driven through the grass here at least 35 minutes earlier. At least 6 of these elephants repeatedly Sniff the tracks and then eventually Back-Away and seek assistance from Mwana Nzo who comes to inspect the tracks, too. As this clips starts Mwana Nzo has inspected the tracks and has decided that they belong to us. Mwana Nzo Stands-Tall looking at Kate’s/Greg’s car x 2 and then sniffs again and decides, correctly, that it is us (note this clip is filmed from the other vehicle) - she turns on us Standing-Tall and then begins a what looks like a Charge, but is only a Bow-Neck-Advance-Toward. She reconsiders and begins to Back-Away and Head-Dip-Touch-Ground. She turns and leads a Full-Retreat and adopts the Rear-Guard.(Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Back-Away

Context: Submissive (1)

G7 joins the Mabenzi family. As he arrives he sees Gogogo in musth and he stops and Looks-At. As Gogogo Advance-Toward G7 Backs-Away. While G7 sniffs toward the musth male, Gogogo reaches his Trunk-to-Genitals to test an adolescent female who is standing next to Valente. Although there is no audio, we can see her open her mouth and flap her ears as she vocalises. Gogogo steps forward and G7 Orients-Away in submission. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Back-Away

Context: Submissive (2)

A 15 year old male has been hassling estrous female Ozora. As she approaches him she is followed by Guarding musth male Liaqat and others to whom the young male is subordinate. He Backs-Away as they approach him. But when Liaqat stops to threaten another male he uses the opportunity to hassle Ozora again and they have a short clash of tusks before Liaqat once again appears and the young male turns away. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Back-Away

Context: Submissive (3)

Titus is Waiting for some movement and a Mating opportunity. He is watching the Guarding musth male, Liaqat, who is out of view. As Liaqat starts to move after the estrous female, Ozora, Titus Backs-Away from him and then Orients-Toward Ozora. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Back-Away

Context: Submissive (4)

There was tension around an estrous female and two males began an Escalated-Contest which lasted close to 4 hours. During this period they engaged in 3 bouts of Dueling. After two of these both males engaged in Check-Tusk. This clip is the last Dueling bout.

As the clip begins they Advance-Toward one another Ear-Spreading and Ear-Folding. They reach toward one another in reciprocal Trunk-to-Mouth. The broken-tusked male Backs-Away and the male with the longer tusks presses forward in a Circus-Pose. He Pushes the broken-tusked male back as they clash and we hear Tusks-Clank. The broken-tusked male then Pushes back. They separate. The broken-tusked male Backs-Away and they both Check-Tusks, longer tusked male Check-Tusks x 2 and then Advances-Toward his competitor who continues to Back-Away. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Back-Away

Context: Submissive (5)

Following on 20 minutes after Coalition. Context Aggressive 1 and after a third bout of Dueling (Dueling. Context Aggressive 5) between Male 1 the longer tusked male and Male 2, the broken-tusked male (won by Male 1), Male 4 comes to Male 2's assistance again.

As this clip begins we see Male 2 Back-Away from Male 1 who Advances-Toward him. Male 2 Looks-Back as if Waiting for someone. Male 2 continues to Back-Away but suddenly Male 1 draws up short Head-High as if he has seen someone coming. Male 2 continues to Back-Away and male 1 Advances-Toward him for about 25 meters. We see Male 2 stop and Look-Back. Both Wait. Male 1 Backs-Away a few steps. Male 2 continues to Look-Back and then suddenly Male 4 (larger than both Male 1 or 2) enters the view with a Periscope-Trunk and Male 2 turns and the two form a Coalition and Group-Advance on Male 1. Male 2 adopts an aggressive posture and Purposeful-Walk as he moves toward Male 1 who Backs-Away. Male 1 continues to Back-Away until Male 2 is within 2 meters of him and Male 4 is about 15 meters away and coming fast. Then he turns and Runs-Away with Male 2 Running-After him. Male 4 stops and watches and then having apparently accomplished his goal he walks away. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Back-Away

Context: Submissive (6)

This is a short section of a close to three hour Escalated-Contest in which an older male intervenes at least 5 times to help the male with the broken tusks. In this last incidence of this behavior the older male enters from the right and immediately the broken tusked male Advances-Toward the longer-tusked male with a very aggressive posture - Open-Mouth, Trunk-Curled-Under as if to bounce or drag, Ears-Folded. He moves rapidly toward the longer-tusked male who Backs-Away 35 paces.

The broken-tusked male continues to Ear-Fold the entire way. The older male follows them in a lazy sort of way. The broken tusked male is really pushing for a fight and they make contact briefly. But the older male comes up close to them; it is hard to tell but it looks as if he gives the aggressor a slight threat and he appears to Retreat-From. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Back-Away

Context: Submissive (7)

This is a short section of a close to three hour Escalated-Contest between these two males. Up until this point the broken-tusked male (on the right) has had the help of an older male who has intervened each time he needed help. Now the older male has reconciled with the long-tusked competitor (on the left) and left and the broken-tusked male is on his own. Here he catches up with the longer tusked male. The longer-tusked male Advances-Toward him with Chin-Out and the broken-tusked male is forced to Back-Away. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Back-Away

Context: Submissive (8)

Two teenage males walk through a family group in a 'pushy' manner. The one in front is wearing a collar. He Advances-Toward an adult female and Ear-Folds forcing her to Back-Away. (Amboseli, Kenya)