Guarding

Context: Courtship (1)

A female in estrous is in Consort with a male in musth. The clip begins as the female begins to walk. She takes 6 steps before the Guarding musth male begins Move-Toward her; he is Maintaining-Proximity. She takes 16 steps in total before stopping in the shade of a tree, where she Waits for him.

Her family members move to join her. The musth male takes 20 steps and stops within 3 meters of her. They both stand alert and Waiting for someone to make the next move. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Guarding

Context: Courtship (2)

The clip starts with the estrous female as the closest elephant in view, she is Walking. The musth males is Moving-Toward her to Maintain-Proximity. She slows down at a tree making sure he is with her. She continues walking and he follows her. She stops and he stops. He begins Rubbing on the tree and she Listens to him. She takes 4 steps and he begins to Move-Toward her again. As she goes out of frame the musth male continues to Maintain-Proximity.

The camera eventually pans out to reveal the estrous female and the musth male. He is about 9 meters behind her. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Guarding

Context: Courtship (3)

An estrous female and a musth male stand in parallel. They are in Consort. The estrous female is idly feeding, the musth male is alert, monitoring her movements. Her tail is slightly raised. She takes 5 steps and pauses, Foot-Forward, monitoring his location. He Orients-Toward her, Monitoring her movement. She takes another 6 steps and he begins to Move-Toward her, Maintaining-Proximity, Guarding her. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Guarding

Context: Courtship (4)

Estrous female Ozora is with two musth males as well as three additional non-musth males. Bjørn in musth leads the group, staying well ahead to avoid being attacked by Liaqat, who is Guarding Ozora. Notice how Bjørn uses a very subtle Look-Back and J-Trunk to monitor the location of both Ozora and Liaqat. Liaquat follows Ozora with a swagger maintaining proximity at around 6-10 meters behind her to prevent the other males from gaining access to her.

Our studies showed that Guarding musth males will be more aggressive toward other musth males than toward non-musth males and will keep them at a greater distance. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Guarding

Context: Courtship (5)

Typical Guarding or Consort formation when the group is moving from one place to another - one or more males ahead of the estrous female, the Guarding musth male immediately behind her, and other males flanking her as well as behind the musth male. In other words, she is surrounded by males, with the Guarding musth male in the best position to protect her from being mated by another. Any additional lower ranking musth male present is kept farthest away from her and often in front. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Guarding

Context: Courtship (6)

Nine year old Nastya is in estrus and is being Guarded by Pascal in musth. She gets separated from him and is being pursued by another large male and a young male who tries to Mount her. Pascal intervenes Advancing-Toward the males from the right, Musth-Rumbling and Urine-Dribbling at rate 9. Nastya makes an arc and circles back to Pascal, Soliciting-Guarding from him. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Guarding

Context: Courtship (7)

Nine year old Nastya is in estrus and is being Guarded by a male in musth. There are 16 other males hanging around hoping for a chance to Mate with her. This clip is an example of a typical scene around an estrous female. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Guarding

Context: Courtship (8)

The audio and filming is not perfect but the behavior is worth capturing as it is a typical example of the scene around an estrous female with two musth males. The 2nd musth male kept at the greatest distance from the estrous female by the Guarding male who permits younger males to be closer to her.

A young female Airstream from the AAs is in estrus and is being Guarded by 40 year old Emo. At least eight males are following her, including another large male in musth with a broken tusk. He approaches her from the right side, but Emo threatens him Ear-Folding and Ear-Waving at him. The other male Orients-Away and and Retreats-From as he Looks-Back. As Airstream walks closes this 2nd musth male pauses Looking-Back. Airstream Waits for Emo who catches up to her and then other musth male Retreats-From out of view. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Guarding

Context: Courtship (9)

A young female, Airstream, from the AA family is in estrus and is being Guarded by 40 year old Emo. At least eight males are following her, including another large male in musth. In this clip a large male approaches her by is seen off by Emo who Advances-Toward him and Ear-Waves. The male avoids Emo but then Redirects-Aggression toward another male who Retreats-From giving a V8-Rumble in protest. Emo continues to follow closely behind Airstream. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Guarding

Context: Courtship (10)

A young female, Airstream, from the AA family is in estrus and is being Guarded by 40 year old Emo. At least eight males are following her, including another large male in musth. In this clip Airstream is out of view on the right. The Guarding musth male has abandoned her for a moment to threaten the other large males who are following them. In that second a small male makes his move and begins Chasing Airstream. Emo spins around and Runs-After them and the AAs begins Rumbling and Trumpeting in excitement. Someone Roars. The Chase slows as the Emo approaches and stops him from Mounting. (Amboseli, Kenya)