Grasp-Seedling-Slice-with-Foot

An individual using the trunk to grasp a stubborn seedling or sapling and dislodge it with a kick of a forefoot. This technique is not performed by infants. It is learned as a calf and perfected as a juvenile.

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

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

Grasp-Seedling-Slice-with-Foot

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (5)

Pat Derby's expert Slicing technique. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Grasp-Seedling-Slice-with-Foot

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (4)

Pat Derby's 1 year male tries all different methods to dislodge a branch of a sapling, but is not very successful. Meanwhile another calf behind is messing about with sticks and stumps. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Grasp-Seedling-Slice-with-Foot

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (3)

Knubben demonstrates how to grasp a seedling and slice it with her foot. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Grasp-Seedling-Slice-with-Foot

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (2)

Knubben demonstrates how to grasp a seedling and slice it with her foot. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Grasp-Seedling-Slice-with-Foot

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (1)

f0256 grasps a branch and uses tusk to break it off. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Grasp-Seedling-Slice-with-Foot

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (6)

A good demonstration of Pat Derby’s Slicing technique. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Grasp-Seedling-Slice-with-Foot

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (7)

A young female uses a slightly different technique with a sapling - using the weight of her leg to slice the tree with her foot. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Grasp-Seedling-Slice-with-Foot

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (8)

A young male grasps a seedling with his trunk and breaks the stem with his forefoot. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Grasp-Seedling-Slice-with-Foot

Context: Foraging & Comfort Technique (9)

Allomother Lorato is browsing using a technique we call Grasp-Seedling-Slice-with-Foot. Two day old Little E is in the way as she carefully continues to feed. A good demonstration of how elephants may learn these techniques. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)