Contagion

Behavioral contagion refers to the propensity for certain behavior exhibited by one animal to be copied by another(s) who are - or, in some cases, are regularly - in the vicinity of the original actor. In relation to elephants and in The Elephant Ethogram we use the term specifically to refer to the adoption of isolated, unusual or idiosyncratic behaviors by elephants who are in the vicinity of the original actor - in other words the imitation of idiosyncratic behaviors such as Croaking, Stand-Over-Bush, Truck-Like-Call or to the imitation in close succession of isolated behaviors by other members of the group. We do not use the term to refer to normal group behavior initiated by one and followed by others (e.g. Group-March, Procession, Group-Advance, Group-Charge, Mating-Pandemonium, Female-Chorus, etc).

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

This behavioral constellation includes the following behaviors: Advance-Toward and occurs in the following context(s): Affiliative

Contagion

Context: Affiliative (1)

Gorongosa C family calves are feeding side by side. Watching the littlest calf biting off vegetation, the four year old calf in the middle Head-Waggles. This is followed by a Head-Waggle by the far calf and they begin to play. Although there is no audio on this clip which was originally filmed in slo-mo, the littlest calf would have been aware of the Head-Waggles, and she Head-Waggles, too. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Contagion

Context: Affiliative (2)

Two calves in the C family are investigating a tree stump. The older male calf investigates the stump first and then the younger female investigates it. It seems that the male rubs on the stump and then the female possibly rubs, too. The older calf starts to feed and then the younger calf begins, too. This is a good example of Contagion. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

Contagion

Context: Affiliative (3)

Little E on his first day of life with allomother Lorato. A nice example to show how infant elephants begin to learn what to eat by following what others appear to be doing. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Contagion

Context: Affiliative (4)

A family of elephants are around a mud wallow. A 4 year old female who has already mud splashed seems to be considering the scene and then Head-Shakes. In what appears to be an act of Contagion, the 18 month old behind her follows immediately with a second Head-Shake. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Contagion

Context: Affiliative (5)

This is Big Mama’s family. The clip starts with an adolescent female engaged in Stand-Over-Bush then the camera pans over to a male calf Foot-Swinging. He may be contemplating a small Croton bush in front of him because he then gathers it up and Stands-Over-Bush as if imitating the adolescent female behind him. The camera pans back to her still engaged in this activity. An example of Contagion. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Contagion

Context: Affiliative (6)

Big Mama and her two offspring are Mud-Wallowing. This selection comes from a long sequence during which first Big Mama, then her adolescent daughter and then her calf engage in the same specific behavior - Tusk-Ground - on after the other. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)