High-Fiving

Two or more elephants coming together and, standing face to face, lifting and intertwining trunks above raised heads, and emitting powerful open-mouthed vocalizations. Participants may place their trunks in one another’s mouth and, in extreme cases, may press their open mouths together. High-Fiving is a component of Bonding-Ceremonies, such as Greeting-Ceremonies, Mating-Pandemoniums, Coalitions.

High-Fiving is also observed when a group has successfully routed an adversary or a predator (often people) or prior to a Group-Advance or Group-Charge where it appears to be a call to targeted action among family members.

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

This behavioral constellation includes the following behaviors: Head-Raising, Open-Mouth, Open-Mouth-to-Open-Mouth, Rapid-Ear-Flapping, Temporin, Trunk-to-Mouth, Trunk-Twining, Tusk-Clank, Rumble, Trumpet and occurs in the following context(s): Affiliative, Birth, Coalition Building

High-Fiving

Context: Coalition Building (1)

In the background we see Corajosa lift her trunk in a sweeping movement - Sweep-Trunk as she seems to direct the others to action with a Perpendicular-Walk first one way and then the other.

As the clip begins she and others coalesce and she reaches her trunk out to the other leading adult female - the exhibit Head-Raising, Ear-Folding, Rapid-Ear-Flapping, Reciprocal-Trunk-to-Mouth, Open-Mouth-to-Open-Mouth and Trunk-Twining as they High-Five. Their vocalisations in the distance are covered by our own voices and the audio is not included. Then they begin a Group-Advance toward us. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

High-Fiving

Context: Coalition Building (2)

In the background we see Corajosa lift her trunk in a sweeping movement Sweep-Trunk as she seems to direct the others to action.

As the clip begins she and others coalesce and she reaches her trunk out to the other leading adult female - the exhibit Head-Raising, Ear-Folding, Rapid-Ear-Flapping, Reciprocal-Trunk-to-Mouth, Open-Mouth-to-Open-Mouth and Trunk-Twining as they High-Five. Their vocalisations in the distance are covered by our own voices and the audio is not included. Then they begin a Group-Advance toward us. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

High-Fiving

Context: Coalition Building (3)

This clip does not show the behavior well but the context, consolidating the beginning of an offensive coalition against a predator, is important and so we are including it.

Provocadora, gf0012, has initiated this Group-Advance, which Mwana Nzo, gf0012, now leads - Advancing-Toward us still with a mouthful of food. Behind her Provocadora can be seen moving toward Valente, gf0013, who is likely her daughter. Provocadora displays Open-Mouth as she reaches Trunk-to-Mouth to Valente. We see Provocadora Head-Raising - in a High-Five and hear a couple of Social-Trumpets.

This is part of coalition building as they join forces in this Group-Advance instigated by Provocadora. This Group-Advance becomes a Group-Charge. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

High-Fiving

Context: Coalition Building (4)

An End-Zone-Dance is a form of Bonding-Ceremony that takes place after a defensive action. This End-Zone-Dance took places after multiple Group-Advances and multiple Group- and sustained Charges by members of the Mabenzi family. After Valente's almost two minute Charge, which was joined by the entire family, Valente and Mwana Nzo and others all gather in an End-Zone-Dance. The main players - Valente and Mwana-Nzo Rumble - with Open-Mouth, while they display Rapid-Ear-Flapping, Head-Raising, Tail-Raising, and Defecating. They reach their trunks to one another's mouth, Trunk-to-Mouth, and then display High-Fiving with Trunk-Twining, Open-Mouth-to-Open-Mouth Intermittently there are Social-Trumpets. Then then Mwana Nzo initiates another Group Advance. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)