Ramming

Rushing at another with head lowered and trunk curved under (to expose tusks) and goring or poking it with the tusks. This is a serious attack with intent to harm. Elephants may receive serious wounds and or die from such attacks. While Ramming in an Aggressive context most often involves adult males, females also engage in Ramming. A female was seen with a broken off female tusk sticking out of the side of her body. In a Social Play context Ramming is most likely to be instigated by immature and young adult males. Adult males and females may Ram vehicles.

References: Douglas-Hamilton 1972: 130; Kahl & Armstrong 2000; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2004; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Aggressive, Social Play

Ramming

Context: Aggressive (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 Orients-Away slightly. She comes over and stands near to him waiting, and exhibiting Foot-Lifting. As he Orients-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 Retreats-From and Looks-Back. She Ear-Folds and Ear-Slaps loudly - dust flying. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ramming

Context: Aggressive (2)

Adult female Walli has two calves, a male aged 5 and an infant female. Unusually, Walli has not weaned her older male calf and he is very jealous of his younger sister. Also, unusually, Walli does not intervene to control her son's aggressive behavior.

The clip starts with the male on one side and the infant on the other. Both are Suckling or attempting to Suckle. The infant Roars (can't see the cause) and about the same time Walli uses her hind leg to try to block the older calf from Suckling in a Reject-Suckle. The male then moves quickly around the back of his mother to try the other breast and the infant female, noting his movement, runs forward out of the way. The male Suckles briefly but seeing his sister hovering ahead of his mother, he Runs-After, Ramming her, knocking her over and Tusking her while she Roars. He tries to hold her with his trunk while continuing to Tusk her in an extremely aggressive manner. His mother and an allomother arrive but, again unusually, do not really intervene to help the infant. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)