Fell-Tree

With the trunk down or extended up the length of a tree trunk, resting the head and trunk against the tree and employing the weight of the entire body to push it over. While females and younger males are capable of felling trees with smaller girths, only large adult males are able to fell larger trees.

References: Poole & Granli 2021. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Foraging & Comfort Technique

Fell-Tree

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (1)

A male in his late teens or early twenties raises his head and rests the underside of his trunk along a palm tree, pushes and knocks it over. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Fell-Tree

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (2)

A male in his late teens or early twenties places the space between his tusks against the trunk of an Acacia tree, give a couple of pushes and knocks it over. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Fell-Tree

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (3)

Big Mama and her daughter are standing in the shade of a tree; Big Mama feeding on a branch. Two young males are behind them trying to access branches in the same tree. One of them comes up behind her, raising his trunk up along the length of a large branch and fells it. She and her daughter move smartly forward to avoid being hit. Then they turn to join the males in feeding on the branch. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)