Trunk-to-Ear

Reaching of the trunk to touch or to sniff the ear oriface of another.

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

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Affiliative

Trunk-to-Ear

Context: Affiliative (1)

Two males stand side by side, one older than the other. The younger one is exploring the older males mouth and face, gently touching/sniffing Trunk-to-Mouth and Trunk-to-Face. He touches the males tusks and rests his trunk upon it. The older male reciprocates by reaching Trunk-to-Mouth to the younger male and puts his trunk in the other males mouth twice before touching his own face (Touch-Self). The younger male then resumes his exploration carefully and gently touching the larger male on his forehead, above his eye and in his ear - Trunk-to-Ear. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)