Resting

A cessation of activity and attentiveness to relax, sleep, or recover strength. Elephants may Rest, doze or sleep either standing or lying down. A Standing elephant is alert, while an elephant that is Resting stands with the eyes closed, the head may droop and the ears flop forward. The rhythm of a Resting elephant’s breathing changes, becoming more audible. The elephant may snore. Young elephants typically lie down to Rest or sleep, day or night, in the safe surroundings of their elders. Adults are more likely to stand to Rest during the day, but may lie down to sleep for a few hours at night.

References: Douglas-Hamilton 1972: ch 6 (illustrations); Poole 1982: p27. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Maintenance

Resting

Context: Maintenance (1)

Four males stand Resting in the shade of a tree. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Resting

Context: Maintenance (2)

Little E, his mother and allomother Lorato Resting on a hot dry season afternoon. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Resting

Context: Maintenance (3)

An adult female dozes while other elephants around her rest, play and feed. Amboseli, Kenya)

Resting

Context: Maintenance (4)

Pascal has just Mated with Amparo and, as is typical, is taking a nap. You can hear Joyce say, 'Pascal looking pretty dozy after that mating' and then 'his female is walking away'. Pascal wakes up and follows Amparo. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Resting

Context: Maintenance (5)

A family of elephants is Resting on the plains. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Resting

Context: Maintenance (6)

Three females from the AA family Resting. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Resting

Context: Maintenance (7)

A family is Resting by the water's edge. We hear distant Trumpets, which may wake them up. They begin to move including calves who have been Resting lying down. (Amboseli, Kenya)