Silly-Trunk

Flopping the trunk about. This behavior is commonly observed among newborns, though not among older individuals. It does seem as if the infant does not know what to make of its long nose and Silly-Trunk is part of the infants learning how to use and control it.

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

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Lone & Object Play, Maintenance

Silly-Trunk

Context: Lone & Object Play (1)

Walli's infant is only weeks old and seems to either have an itch in her trunk or is discovering just how much can be done with a long flexible nose. The infant and the bird calling in the background are synchronized making the scene even more entertaining. Infant elephants are often seen engaging in "Silly-Trunk". (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Silly-Trunk

Context: Lone & Object Play (2)

A 1 year old tailess male walks along with his family Head-Waggling and playing Silly-Trunk. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Silly-Trunk

Context: Lone & Object Play (3)

Pat Derby's 1 year old male is very sleepy and does not seem to know what to do with his trunk. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)