Retreat-From

Walking away from a threatening elephant. The individual may adopt a Head-Low posture and Look-Back warily. The behavior may be observed in a number of different contexts.

References: Kühme 1961; Poole 1987a; Poole 1999a; Kahl & Armstrong 2000; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011 [Retreat]. (Full reference list)

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Avoidance, Submissive

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (1)

G7 makes a long and purposeful Advance-Toward gm0016 who Orients-Away and Looks-Back while Retreating-From. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (2)

G7 begins a long and purposeful Advance-Toward gm0016 who Orients-Toward and then Orients-Away, and Retreats-From. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (3)

G7 joins the Mabenzi family. As he arrives he sees Gogogo in musth and he stops and Looks-At. As Gogogo Advance-Toward G7 he Backs-Away in a form of Retreat-From. While G7 sniffs toward the musth male, Gogogo reaches his Trunk-to-Genitals to test an adolescent female who is standing next to Valente. Although there is no audio, we can see her open her mouth and flap her ears as she vocalises. Gogogo steps forward and G7 Orients-Away in submission. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (4)

Gogogo in musth has just pushed over a tree and everyone has come rushing in to share in the spoils. Gogogo is tolerant of females and calves but less so of other males. As Gogogo comes through the tree from the other side males Retreat-From in different directions. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (5)

A group of elephants is mud-splashing at a water-hole. The group includes cows and calves and a young male (left). A musth male (right) can be seen to Advance-Toward the mud wallow. Some of the elephants at the mud-wallow stop what they are doing to monitor his approach. The young male in the foreground can be seen Listening. As the musth male arrives the young male Orient-Away and Retreat-From. Other elephants in the group also give way. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (6)

An aggregation of elephants is dusting. We see f0470 raise her head and ears and Look-Back as f0412 Advances-Toward her. f0470 Retreat-From. f0412 Supplants her and takes her place. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (7)

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 his 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)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (8)

Two young males are Sparring. While Sparring is typically playful this bout becomes rough. The male on the right Orients-Away and Retreat-From the male on the left, who adopts a threatening posture with his ears held stiffly forward as he Advances-Toward the retreating male. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (9)

A female is seen to stand Ear-Spreading facing another elephant who is behind a bush. As the elephant, a young male, Advances-Toward the female she Orients-Away and Retreats-From. The young male emphasizes the seriousness of his threat by Ear-Folding and walking purposefully and noisily through a bush demonstrating a variant of Bush-Bashing. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (10)

A family group of elephants led by matriarch, Gina, is at salt lick. There is some competition for the best spots. In a young male is standing eating minerals in the left foreground with a young female standing to his right. Another adult female approaches from behind him and the female on his right turn to acknowledge/greet her with a Head-Shake. The approaching female reach out to the male touching his genitals (Trunk-to-Genitals). The young male appears to think he may be threatened and he Retreats-From. When he turns to see who it was and realizes it was not Gina, he Advances-Toward her and she Retreat-From. He goes back to eating minerals. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (11)

As a medium-sized male (right) Advances-Toward a younger male (left) who Retreats-From and Looks-Back at the larger male as he moves through the group. An adult female (center) also Retreats-From. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (12)

An adult female (left) Advances-Toward a younger adolescent female (right) who Retreats-From. As she moves away from Mama Little E she J-Sniffs toward the approaching female and Looks-Back. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (13)

On the right a young male Ear-Folds and Advances-Toward another young male who turns on him and he Retreats-From. Meanwhile on the left an adult female Turns-Toward and Tusks a second adult female who Runs-Away and then Looks-Back. She stands Foot-Lifting/Swinging and appears to try to remove a thorn from her foot (perhaps) and then Head-Shakes. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (14)

Early in the morning we met Emo in musth seeing off Teejay. Then some kilometers away we found Pascal. Over an hour or more Pascal was Listening and Musth-Rumbling. He seemed to hear Emo and came out meet him. In this clip he Advances-Toward Emo who Retreats-From - Looking-back. Pascal follows him over a kilometer or so. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (15)

An adult female from the MB family (who we think is Miranda) walks toward a young male and displaces him three times in a row, he Retreats-From. He is clearly rather wary of her. Her behavior is rather subtle and the only possible aggression is the purposeful way she walks toward him. Perhaps he is not a family male. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (16)

A medium sized male is with the AA family testing females. Suddenly he looks concerned. A musth male comes into view Advancing-Toward Ear-Folding and he Retreats-From. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (17)

After a Mating Natsya is surrounded by five males. The youngest male cautiously approaches to test her with Penis-Erection, but when the Guarding male takes a step toward him he Retreats-From with a full erection. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Retreat-From

Context: Submissive (18)

Tee-Jay and Gordon, both in musth, have been engaged in an Escalated-Contest. But when Paolo, also in musth, appears they turn to look at him in anticipation. When Paolo is about 50 m away both males turn to face him, Waiting for him with some visible apprehension. Gordon is Foot-Lifting and holds his trunk under. Paolo walks toward them with Head-High, Chin-In in a very dominant posture while Tee-Jay's bravado has changed and he Waits for Paolo with Trunk-Toward and his chin further out than earlier. Paolo continues to Advance-Toward them and at about 3 m Tee-Jay Backs-Away. Both males reach Periscope-Trunks toward Paolo and Retreat-From. Paolo's arrival breaks up the fight, whether purposefully or not. (Amboseli, Kenya)