Stand-Over-Bush

Standing over a bush in apparent Contemplation. The elephant may gather the branches of a bush into a clump with the trunk before swinging the forelegs out to the side to clamber over the bush. The elephant then stands still but attentive, as if in Contemplation. This is an idiosyncratic behavior observed among a few adolescents and calves in the Maasai Mara population. Most, though not all, of these individuals were female. In one instance we observed one individual to copy another. We do not know whether this behavior is more widespread.

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

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Novel & Idiosyncratic

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (1)

An adolescent female is standing resting or contemplating over a clump of Croton bushes in the idiosyncratic behavior observed among a few Mara elephants that we call Stand-Over-Bush. She seems to act as if her style is being cramped by the presence of a tree and so knocks it down and then proceeds to climb back on top of her bush. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (2)

Allomother Lorato has 3 day old Little E at her feet when she attempts to Stand-Over-Bush. She is the second adolescent female seen to engage in this behavior. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (3)

Little E is 3 days old and allomother Lorato is climbing on top of Croton bushes again. Strange behavior! I can see immediately by her posture that she has a special interest in the Croton bush - as if she is interacting with it, as if she might mount it, as if it is another individual. She gets half on top of it as Little E decides to Shelter under her. Little E goes under and out the other side and Lorato stops to tend to him Caressing him (x3) and Trunk-to-Genitals (x2). Little E give a small Husky-Cry. His mother is not totally happy and comes to rescue him. Lorato then goes back to her bush and climbs over it again and stands there for about a minute. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (4)

Little E is 4 days old. Lorato is off with Little E and she stops and to Caress him - quite persistently touching his genitals. He gets a partial erection. She also touches around his mouth but then appears to be pulling his ear. She pauses as if contemplating and with a bush in front of her she purposefully walks and stands over it. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (5)

Little E is 4 days old and his allomother Lorato is on another croton bush for the second time today. She gathers it between her legs and stands over it, then walks off it and with a Head-Waggle and a Kick-Dust kind of movement she turns around and gathers it up again and resumes her Stand-Over-Bush antics again. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (6)

Little E is 4 days old and is with his mother and allomother - Lorato. Lorato seems to be tempted to Stand-Over-Bush again but doesn't quite go through with it. Instead she puts it just between her front legs and messes around with it with her trunk. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (7)

Lorato is with her family group. She gathers up a Croton bush between her front legs and Stands-Over-Bush for a few moments. Whiles she is standing there she reaches her Trunk-to-Genitals of a year old calf. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (8)

This is Big Mama’s family. The clip starts with a male calf Foot-Swinging. He may be contemplating a small Croton bush in front of him because he then gathers it up and Stands-Over-Bush. At that moment an adolescent female is doing the same behind him - an example of Contagion. There is no audio. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (9)

Little E is 2 weeks old. He has been spending most of his time with his mother and allomother Lorato. Lorato is often observed engaged in novel and idiosyncratic behavior we call Stand-Over-Bush. We do not have a clear view of Little E but he does appear to be trying to gather a little Croton bush between his front legs, stepping over it with first one leg and then the other - as Lorato does it. Any chance that Little E is imitating what he has seen Lorato doing? (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (10)

Little E is two weeks old and is with allomother, Lorato. She engages in two of her idiosyncratic behaviors at once. First she climbs onto a Croton bush (Stand-Over-Bush) and then she adopts a Circus-Pose. Notice how she stretches out her front legs when she first climbs onto the bush. As she stands on her bush she pays attention to the location of Little E. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (11)

The scene opens with Lorato standing over a Croton bush. Mama Little E and Little E approach and walk past her. She leaves her bush and follows them. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (12)

The clip is very short so it is difficult to tell whether this is another example of Stand-Over-Bush behavior or whether this female was just coming out of the forest. This is a different individual. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (13)

The sequence begins with Lorato standing on a Croton bush (Stand-Over-Bush). She looks very dozy and adjusts her position a few times - at one point resting her foreleg and trunk on a log. Then she straddles the log, too, and eventually swivels off both log and bush. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Stand-Over-Bush

Context: Novel & Idiosyncratic (14)

Little E is 4 days old and is with Lorato has just been fondling Little E’s penis and he has an erection. She turns away and engages in Stand-Over-Bush again. Allomother V-notch arrives and reaches Trunk-to-Genitals and gives a Coo-Rumble. Mama Little E comes from behind and gives this female a Herding-Push and touches Little E. Lorato finally comes off her bush. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)