Queue-Up

Around a scarce resource or object of interest, such as a drinking place, mud-wallow, fallen tree, or an object of play, lower-ranking individuals may be seen Standing on the side-lines Waiting or ‘pretending’ to be otherwise occupied (Displacement-Behaviour) as they await their turn. All age/sex groups may engage in Queue-Up but this behavior is most often observed among young males.

References: Douglas-Hamilton 1972: ch 6; Lee 1986; Moss 1988; Poole 1996, 1998b; Poole & Granli 2003; Poole & Granli 2004; Poole & Granli 2011. (Full reference list)

This behavioral constellation includes the following behaviors: Displacement-Feeding, Displacement-Grooming, Standing, Waiting and occurs in the following context(s): Submissive

Queue-Up

Context: Submissive (1)

A young female (r) is clearly ambivalent about browsing on the same tree as an older female. She stands expectantly waiting for a chance to feed. When the older females takes a step back with a large branch in her trunk she tentatively approaches the tree and reaches for a branch. One step forward by the older female and she hesitates. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Queue-Up

Context: Submissive (2)

A young female Waits patiently for another older female to finish at a mud-wallow before going in. Notice how she does not turn to walk toward the Mud-Wallow until she has seen that the older female showing signs that she us beginning to depart. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Queue-Up

Context: Submissive (3)

We have shortened this interaction considerably making what took about 4 minutes to 2 minutes. A female in estrous Urinates and the males following her Queue-Up by rank for their turn to test her urine, Sniff-Urine. Five males Wait their turn to test her urine. The highest ranking first, as soon as he leaves the second and third ranking males immediately Walk-Toward the urine soaked soil. The third ranking male quickly sniffs before the second ranking male Supplants him. The fourth ranking male is Waiting in the wings on the right for the second ranking male to depart. As he moves in to sniff a fifth male arrives from the left and Queues-Up for his turn. (Amboseli, Kenya)