Slap

Flinging the trunk toward and audibly hitting another elephant.

References: Lee 1986; Kahl & Armstrong 2000; Poole & Granli 2003. (Full reference list)

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

Slap

Context: Aggressive (1)

A juvenile male (left) and an adolescent male (right) stand facing one another. The juvenile male is interested in what the older male is doing and Trunk-Toward him. It looks as if he may be Soliciting-Food. The older male threatens him first Ear-Folding and then stepping forward and Forward-Trunk-Swing, Slapping him hard with his trunk. The younger male Retreat-From-Back a little. But then he approaches again and Trunk-Toward and the older male Forward-Trunk-Swing at him before departing. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)