Ear-Lifting

Spreading and Lifting the ears so that the ear tops are lifted above the top of the head. An elephant normally holds its ears in a relaxed position such that they rest approximately 10-30cm from the side of the body and lie such that the tops of the ears are basically in line with the top of the head. In this relaxed position the ears do not appear stiff or tense, lifted, spread, or pressed against the body. The posture can be most clearly seen when adult, adolescent and juvenile female elephants engage in Little-Greetings-Rumbles or Coo-Rumbles, as they touch infants.

Calves and Infants, likewise, may be observed to Ear-Lift as they are touched and respond with an As-Touched-Rumbles. Adult, adolescent, and juvenile females also display Ear-Lifting during more intense social interactions (e.g. Matings, Births, Greetings, Greeting-Ceremonies, Coalition formation etc.). During these highly aroused contexts Ear-Lifting is combined with Rapid-Ear-Flapping.

 

References: Poole et al 1988; Poole 1996: 93; Poole 1999a; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

 

 

This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Affiliative, Birth, Calf Reassurance & Protection

Ear-Lifting

Context: Affiliative (1)

Matriarch Provocadora, gf0012, comes from the back to our side of the group. She turns to face us and Maya, gf0020, reaches out Trunk-to-Mouth and gives her a Little-Greeting (we can hear the rumble), Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting. gf0012 takes a couple more steps in our direction and stops and considers us. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Ear-Lifting

Context: Affiliative (2)

Matriarch Provocadora, gf0012, comes from the back to our side of the group. She turns to face us and Maya, gf0020, reaches out Trunk-to-Mouth and gives her a Little-Greeting (we can hear the rumble), Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting. gf0012 takes a couple more steps in our direction and stops and considers us. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Ear-Lifting

Context: Affiliative (3)

As the clip starts we see a 1 year old calf Suckling from a young female from Big Mama's family. A younger female approaches the nursing mother and calf. We can hear the approaching female emit a Little-Greeting-Rumble which is associated with Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting. The calf recognises the caller as she pauses in her Suckling to emit a Snort-Rumble in response as the arriving female touches her Trunk-to Mouth. The nursing mother also gives a Little-Greeting-Rumble in response and we can see her Head-Raising, Ear-Lifting and Ear-Flapping.

The female who arrived touches the infant again Trunk-to-Face and the adults rumble again and then stand side by side. A lovely example of a Little-Greeting. The adolescent female keeps her Ears-Lifted throughout the sequence. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Lifting

Context: Affiliative (4)

A female calf in Big Mama's family is separated from its mother. As she approaches her mother an adolescent female Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting touches her Trunk-to-Mouth. She cries out with a Baroo-Rumble and then as she is touched Trunk-to-Mouth by another adolescent female she emits another Baroo-Rumble. She goes to the second adolescent female and Comfort-Suckles. The young females likely give Coo-Rumbles but we cannot hear them due to the wind. The calf's mother is the female in the foreground eating a branch. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Lifting

Context: Affiliative (5)

A female calf in Big Mama's family is separated from its mother. As she approaches her mother (the one eating a branch in the foreground) an adolescent female Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting touches her Trunk-to-Mouth. She cries out with a Baroo-Rumble and then as she is touched Trunk-to-Mouth by another adolescent female she emits another Baroo-Rumble. She goes to the second adolescent female and Comfort-Suckles. The young females likely give Coo-Rumbles but we cannot hear them due to the wind. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Ear-Lifting

Context: Affiliative (6)

Big Mama and her family are Moving-While-Feeding. Her daughter reaches Trunk-to-Mouth in a Little-Greeting to Big Mama, and adopts Head-Raising and Ear-Lifting - we can also see her open her mouth and we hear Rumbling. Then Big Mama Orients-Away as she she does she gives an Ear-Flap-Slide and walks off. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)