Advance-Toward

Purposeful, directed walking with hostile intent toward another elephant(s), or toward a perceived non-elephant threat, that typically results in sumissive or avoidance behavior or counter threat. The term includes an Advance-Toward of a single step to a persistent, prolonged and highly aggressive pursuit at a fast walk. The latter often follows an Escalated-Contest when one male has signalled defeat by fleeing.

Advance-Toward may be associated with other aggressive behaviors such as Head-High, Ear-Spreading, or Ear-Folding, Ear-Slap, Ear-Waving, Bow-Neck, Kick-Dust etc.

References: Douglas-Hamilton 1972; Mkay 1973: 63, 65; Poole 1982: 129; Poole 1987a; Moss 1988; Poole 1989a; Poole 1992; Ben-Shahar 1999: 299; Poole & Granli 2003. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Aggressive, Attacking & Mobbing

Advance-Toward

Context: Attacking & Mobbing (1)

Adult male, gm0040, Aloisio, Advances-Toward our vehicle. He is coming to investigate us in a mildly threatening manner. He reaches his Trunk-Toward us sniffing, and Stands-Tall while Ear-Spreading. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Advance-Toward

Context: Attacking & Mobbing (2)

Adult male, gm0040, Aloisio, has climbed up a bank to Attain-Higher-Ground from where he threatens us Standing-Tall , Ear-Spreading. He Advance-Toward us in a kind of lunging movement, and does a Head-Dip and then he stands Monitoring us. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Advance-Toward

Context: Attacking & Mobbing (3)

G7 Advance-Toward us and Stand-Tall, Ear-Spreading. As he approaches he gives a Head-Dip and Touch-Ground a few times. He towers over us and Sniff-Towards us Ear-Spreading. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Advance-Toward

Context: Attacking & Mobbing (4)

After much Contemplation adult female, Corajosa, Head-Shakes and Advances-Toward us. Then Stands-Tall facing us and considering us. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Advance-Toward

Context: Attacking & Mobbing (5)

Musth male, Rui, stands Listening and then Advances-Toward us while Ear-Spreading. He walks to a termite mound to Attain-Higher-Ground and Stands-Tall. Notice how he does a Head-Dip-Touch-Ground before going up the mound. On the mound he stands Foot-Lifting before he does another Head-Dip-Touch-Ground and goes back off the mound. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Advance-Toward

Context: Attacking & Mobbing (6)

Provocadora, gf0012, stands Contemplating us with a J-Trunk. Her calf adopts a Periscope-Trunk as she tries to Solicit-Suckling, but Provocadora has other things on her mind and begins a Purposeful-Walk Advance-Toward us as she initiates a Group-Advance. As she walks toward the vehicle the filmmakers start the car, she pauses, raises her head and continues to advance as she Ear-Slaps audibly. She pauses again and Look-Back and J-Trunk toward the others as if to see whether they are with her and she proceeds toward us with them backing her up in a Group-Advance. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)