Standing-Tall

An elephant Standing or moving with head held well above shoulders, and, with Chin-Up and Eyes-Open looking down at her adversary over the tusks with ears maximally forward (Ear-Spreading). Standing-Tall the elephant appears to increase in size and sometimes will deliberately stand upon an object such as a log or anthill (Attain-Higher-Ground) in order to increase its height.

Elephants normally stand or move about with their eyes cast down - a direct gaze with Eyes-Open is a component of many displays. This posture is often used toward non-elephant threats, such as predators and people, as in ‘I’ve got you in my sights, so watch it.’

All age/sex groups will engage in Standing-Tall.

References: Douglas-Hamilton 1972: ch 6; Poole 1982, 1987a, 1987b, 1987c, 1999a; Kahl & Armstrong 2000; Langbauer 2000; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2004; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavioral constellation includes the following behaviors: Chin-Up, Ear-Spreading, Look-At and occurs in the following context(s): Aggressive, Conflict & Confrontation, Social Play

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (1)

gm0016 suddenly gets spooked by the presence of the vehicle and moves away while Standing-Tall - Ear-Spreading, Chin-Up - and pauses to Look-At the vehicle. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (2)

gm0009 responds to the vehicle by moving away and Standing-Tall - Ear-Spreading, Chin-Up and Look-At. With is lame hind leg he likely has reason to be apprehensive and he Touches-Self. Toward the end of the clip he looks to be about to Throw-Debris. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (3)

The C family is feeding. Something happens that we can't see and a calf get alarmed and starts to move toward its mother. As the clip begins the camera pans out and we see gf0080 Standing-Tall facing the camera. She looks to be on her way to retrieve her infant. She Look-At the camera with Ears-Spread and Chin-Up. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (4)

Aloisio walks to the top of the hill and then threatens us by Standing-Tall (Look-At, Ear-Spreading, Chin-Up). He Advances-Toward us in a kind of lunging movement, then he stands Contemplating us and then begins Displacement-Feeding. He has Ear-Secretion. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (5)

We drive in toward a family that turns out to be gf0073 et al. The camera goes in and out of focus while we see a wall of elephants Group-Charging with gf0073 in the lead. She Charges toward us and then Stands-Tall and then Head-Dips and Sashays as others arrive Trumpeting (no audio, unfortunately). gf0074 also Head-Dips-Touch-Ground and gf0075 does a violent Head-Dip in threat. They Freeze Standing-Tall. Then gf0073 takes two steps back, Head-Swings twice (gf0075 also) and does a slight Head-Dip with a back step. This seems to be a signal to gf0074 to turn. She and calves then retreat. But gf0073 Stands-Tall with a Sashay and gf0075 steps forward with another double Head-Dip so violent that her ears flap hard against her body in an obvious threat display. She has moved almost abreast of gf0073 and then Head-Shakes. She begins a series of 6 Head-Swings as she takes steps backwards. She is full view now. We can't see gf0073, who is out of shot on the right. All the others are behind gf0075 in the forest facing away. The clip ends here. The behaviors making up Standing-Tall (Ear-Spreading, Chin-Up and Look-At) are marked on the clip for female gf0075. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (6)

G7 threatens the car by Standing-Tall (Ear-Spreading, Look-At and Chin-Up). Note the Head-Dip-Touch-Ground. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (7)

Mwana Nzo has just moved up smartly to sniff the scent of our tire tracks. She sniffs and then Stands-Tall (Ear-Spreading, Chin-Up, Look-At) looking at Kate’s/Greg’s car x 2 and then sniffs again and decides, correctly, that the tire tracks belong to us. As the clip begins she turns on us Standing-Tall and then begins a what looks like a Charge but is only a few steps in a Bow-Neck-Advance movement and then Kick-Dust. She reconsiders and begins Backing-Away and Touches-Ground. She turns and leads a Full-Retreat and adopts the Rear-Guard, Standing-Tall and turning to Look-Back. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (8)

G7 threatens the car by Standing-Tall (Ear-Spreading, Look-At and Chin-Up). (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (9)

Mwana Nzo has just been alerted to a problem and comes from the center of the group Standing-Tall. She walks forward to inspect and the family Bunches around her. She Stands-Tall (Ear-Spreading, Chin-Up, Look-At). (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (10)

G7 threatens the car by Standing-Tall (Ear-Spreading, Look-At and Chin-Up). (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (11)

The Mabenzi family are moving along the forest edge. Mabenzi matriarch, Provocadora, gf0012, comes to the fore of the group to and considers us. She is greeted by a younger member of the family and then continues to Contemplate us. She Stands-Tall - Chin-Up and Look-At. She does not spread her ears - and rarely does - perhaps because one is crumpled. She does a bit of Displacement-Feeding and then raises her head again and stands with a J-Trunk. She moves her trunk into a Periscope-Trunk posture but then continues to Displacement-Grooming. The behavior in this clip precedes a Perpendicular-Walk through which she initiates a Group-Advance. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (12)

A family group is walking down hill and then two females turn to face the vehicle and briefly adopt a Standing-Tall posture before proceeding. Note that one females (left) Head-Dip-Touch-Ground before Standing-Tall. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (13)

A day old male infant sees the vehicle and walks toward it Standing-Tall and Ear-Spreading. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (14)

Iphengenia, gf0046, has just Charged out vehicle. She stops and Stands-Tall and then Back-Towards the rest of the family, presumably to initiate Bunching. She stands between gf0048 and gf0049. Iphegenia and gf0049 stand Head-Swinging and Standing-Tall as they confront us. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (15)

Musth male, Rui, stands Listening and then Advances-Toward us while Ear-Spreading. He walks to a termite mound to Attain-Higher-Ground and Stands-Tall. Notice how he Head-Dip-Touch-Ground before going up the mound. On the mound he stands Foot-Lifting before he Head-Dip-Touch-Ground and goes back off the mound. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (16)

As gf0049 of the I family walks along she turns toward us and Stands-Tall. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (17)

This clip is taken from a longer sequence of behavior of the I family. As the clip starts matriarch iJunia, gf0005, has slowed her Charge to a Bow-Neck-Advance-Toward. She takes the lead with Isabella, gf0038, by her side and a tiny baby in tow. Someone gives a Trumpet-Blast and iJunia Head-Dips. They stop near us and Isabella reaches Trunk-to-Mouth to iJunia. They Bunch facing us Standing-Tall and Head-Swinging and iJunia Head-Dip-Touch-Ground. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (18)

Emilie, gf0161, is frightened by something and Stands-Tall. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (19)

Matriarch, gf0223, with a long right tusk, Orients-Toward and Looks-At the vehicle Chin-Up, Ears-Spread - Standing-Tall in a threatening posture. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (20)

Iphigenia Advances-Toward us and adopts one of her classic Standing-Tall postures. Then she turns and walks to the right, still with Chin-Up and engages in Displacement-Grooming throwing Dust on herself. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Standing-Tall

Context: Conflict & Confrontation (21)

A medium sized male is watching Esau approach and when he turns away he notices that one of us is outside the vehicle. He Looks-At him, Standing-Tall, and then turns and Runs-Away Looking-Back. Elephants in Amboseli are very tolerant of vehicles but not people on foot. (Amboseli, Kenya)