Foot-Lifting

Raising and holding a foreleg off the ground. Raising and holding a hind-foot may also be observed although this is less common than a forefoot. Individuals in all age sex groups may Foot-Lift in Submissive, Ambivalent and Conflict & Confrontation contexts when unsure of what action to take, as in Displacement-Behavior. Likewise, all age sex groups may Foot-Lift In Attentive and Vigilance contexts as seen during Freezing behavior, when elephants may be feeling for or picking up seismic vibrations.

In a Movement Space and Leadership context Foot-Lifting is observed among adult females as a signal of intention - i.e. an Intention-Movement - for example, as a component of the Let’s-Go-Stance.

References: Douglas-Hamilton 1972: ch 6; Moss 1988; Poole 1999a; O’Connell-Rodwell et al 2006. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Ambivalent, Attentive, Movement, Space & Leadership, Submissive, Vigilance

Foot-Lifting

Context: Ambivalent (1)

A young male (center right) is minding his own business at a water-hole. An adult female approaches and stands next to him (center left); he Orient-Away slightly. She comes over and stand near to him waiting, and exhibiting Foot-Lifting. As he Orient-Toward her a little she turns on him, Ramming, Pushing him with her Trunk and Tusking him with an audible sound and then reaching her trunk out at him as he Retreat-From and Look-Back. She Ear-Folds and Ear-Slaps loudly - dust flying and departs. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Foot-Lifting

Context: Ambivalent (2)

A female Turns-Toward and Tusks another female who Runs-Away and then Looks-Back. She stands some distance away Foot-Lifting and appears to try to remove a thorn from her foot (perhaps). She continues to Foot-Lift and then Head-Shakes. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Foot-Lifting

Context: Ambivalent (2)

Fayza of the FD family has a newborn male calf. She and her family approach our vehicle as they go to water. The infant is alarmed by our presence - perhaps one of the first vehicles he has seen and engages in Ear-Spreading and Foot-Lifting. The Foot-Lifting is repeated in a rather dramatic way many times with both front and hind feet and sometimes with two feet at a time. (Amboseli, Kenya)