Check-Tusk

Using the tip of the trunk, or its fingers, to feel the individual’s own tusk. Typically employed by adult males after a clash of tusks during an Escalated-Contest or Sparring match and appears to check to ensure the tusk is not damaged.

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

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

Check-Tusk

Context: Aggressive (1)

Little E is 14 days old and is with his mother and allomother Lorato. Little E has just been frightened her hurt by this bullying young male and there as been a commotion. The male follows and Tusk Mama Little E twice and then he runs his trunk along his own tusk as if checking it. He contemplates, then scratch ear and then with ears aggressively forward Tusk mama up the bum a 3rd time. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Check-Tusk

Context: Aggressive (2)

There was tension around an estrous female and two males began an Escalated-Contest which lasted close to 4 hours. During this period they engaged in 3 bouts of Dueling. After two of these both males engaged in Check-Tusk.

This clip is the second bout of Dueling. The two males Advance-Toward one another Heads-High and Ear-Spreading and Ear-Folding. The male with the longer tusks forces the broken-tusked male to Back-Away. As they are about to clash they stand facing one another Chins-Out, Heads-High and then Tusks-Clank as the longer tusked males Lunges at the broken-tusked male forcing him back. They separate and both engage in Check-Tusk as they examine whether their tusks have been damaged. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Check-Tusk

Context: Aggressive (3)

There was tension around an estrous female and two males began an Escalated-Contest which lasted close to 4 hours. During this period they engaged in 3 bouts of Dueling. After two of these both males engaged in Check-Tusk. This clip is the last Dueling bout.

As the clip begins they Advance-Toward one another Ear-Spreading and Ear-Folding. They reach toward one another in reciprocal Trunk-to-Mouth. The broken-tusked male Backs-Away and the male with the longer tusks presses forward in a Circus-Pose. He Pushes the broken-tusked male back as they clash and we hear Tusks-Clank. The broken-tusked male then Pushes back. They separate. The broken-tusked male Backs-Away and they both Check-Tusks, longer tusked male Check-Tusks x 2 and then Advances-Toward his competitor who continues to Back-Away. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Check-Tusk

Context: Aggressive (4)

Esau not in musth (beautiful male with long tusks) is pursuing another male who is in musth. They have just had a brief fight which we were too far away to capture. in this clip Esau presses his advantage in a Prolonged-Pursuit. Notice that Esau checks the tips of his tusks to see that they are ok. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Check-Tusk

Context: Attentive (1)

A 2-3 year old male calf is Suckling. He seems to be having some 'teething' problems because he keeps on stopping to Check-Tusk as if it is painful. We hear him make a couple of very soft Begging-Rumbles. (Amboseli, Kenya)