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