Eyes-Wide

Opening the eyes wide, sometime exposing the ‘white’ of the eye. An elephant normally casts is eyes downward. An alarmed, frightened or highly excited elephant may open its eyes wide. Eye-Widening may also be seen during intense Affiliative and excited Social Play contexts.

References: Poole 1996: 41, 54; 154, 155; Poole 2000a; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2004; Poole & Granli 2011 [Eye-Widening]. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Affiliative, Attentive, Birth, Social Play, Vigilance

Eyes-Wide

Context: Attentive (1)

Mama Little E (left), and allomother V-Notch are seen standing with Little E. An adolescent male approaches and is seen to Trunk-Toward their genitals. He steps back as if to go behind V-Notch to Mama Little E. We can see her Eyes-Wide as she monitors the movements of the male and then Orient-Toward him as she Waits for Little E and leads him away. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Eyes-Wide

Context: Attentive (2)

Mama Little E exhibits Eyes-Wide as she forages. She seems to be looking for something particular. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Eyes-Wide

Context: Social Play (1)

Males and females, adolescents and adults, are playing in the bushes along a lugga. As the clip starts an adolescent female comes up the bank into view. She moves past the car in a Floppy-Run, emitting Pulsated-Play-Trumpets, crashing through the bushes, kicking vegetation with her feet (Bush-Bashing). Her eyes are wide (Eyes-Wideg) and she is Tail-Raising. She adopts a floppy Bow-Neck-Charge as she makes a dash past the car and back into the bushes. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Eyes-Wide

Context: Social Play (2)

Two calves from Big Mama's family are at play. The clip includes a close-up of one of the calves with Eyes-Wide. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Eyes-Wide

Context: Vigilance (1)

A mother and calf walk past the filming vehicle. Both mother and calf are slightly concerned. The mother changes directly slightly, while the calf exhibits Eyes-Wide and Ears-Stiff. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Eyes-Wide

Context: Vigilance (2)

Based on the angle of this shot I assume that V-Notch sees the cameraman out of the car filming from the ground. She exhibits Ears-Stiff and Eyes-Wide as she walks past him. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)