Shepherding

Adult, adolescent or juvenile females gathering, guarding, herding, escorting, retrieving, leading, or driving, as a shepherd, another or other elephants. Shepherding covers a variety of actions that assists, protects, lifts, guides, or leads another elephant, primarily a calf. These actions may be accomplished with the body, head, feet, trunk, tusks or tail.

For example, a female may use a Tail-Swat to check for the presence/proximity of a calf behind it, or her trunk to gather, assist, guide or retrieve a calf back to safety. Attempting to lift a newborn or sleeping infant or calf to its feet by using the tusks, trunk or legs also falls under Shepherding. It may also include Waiting for or watching over or stepping in time with an infant.

There is considerable overlap between the terms Shepherding, Guiding and Helping, with Shepherding being the more general term. Specific behaviors in which elephants appear to be purposefully using their bodies or trunks to guide another elephant toward a specific action, as in Trunk-to-Breast, Trunk-Sweep, we have included under Guiding, whereas specific incidents in which an elephant purposefully assists an elephant who is in some way incapacitated or requires specific assistance are described under Helping.

Shepherding is primarily a female activity.

References: Douglas-Hamilton 1972: ch 6; Lee 1987; Moss 1992: 131; Poole 1996: 137; Kahl & Armstrong 2000; Poole & Granli 2003; Bates et al 2008; Poole & Granli 2011; Goldenberg & Wittemyer 2018. (Full reference list)

This behavioral constellation includes the following behaviors: As-Touched-Rumble, Coo-Rumble, Foot-Nudge, Husky-Cry, Lifting, Look-Back, Pulling, Pushing, Retrieve, Tail-Swatting, Trunk-to-Body, Trunk-to-Face, Trunk-to-Genitals, Trunk-to-Mouth, Waiting, Walk-Wait and occurs in the following context(s): Birth, Calf Reassurance & Protection, Movement, Space & Leadership

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (1)

A young mother is standing by her sleeping newborn. She is eager to go but the infant is resting. She tries over several minutes to gently wake him touching him with her trunk, resting her trunk on him, nudging him with her foot and touching his face. Finally she begins Intention-Movements and walking and Waiting. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (2)

Selengei's family is resting in the shade of a tree. The family starts making intention movements as if they are going to depart. An adolescent female appears concerned about the calf asleep on the ground and touches him with her trunk (Trunk-to-Face) as if to wake him (Shepherding). Then another adolescent touches him (Trunk-to-Body). The first adolescent takes a step forward and waits (Walk-Wait). He struggles to his feet while the older adolescent touches him again. He emits a soft Husky-Cry type call that is barely audible. He appears annoyed at being disturbed and pushes his the adolescent female aggressively. She touches him with her trunk (Trunk-to-Face) and then he appears to collect himself and touches her more gently, both of these touches appear to be Conciliatory gestures. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (3)

Adult female f0254 gently uses her foot to Shepherd her infant to the side (Foot-Nudge) so that she can move to the next bush to feed. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (4)

A mother and her calves were feeding in the croton bushes. The mother and two adolescent females started to leave. Then the two young females suddenly ran to retrieve a calf who had been left behind. In the clip they are seen Shepherding him back to his mother. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (5)

Little E is 3 days old and has been with allomother Lorato. Then he wanders over to his mother, Mama Little E, who touches him Trunk-to-Mouth and appears to use her trunk to lead him to follow her (a form of Guiding) and Rumbles ("come with me?" Due to wind this rumble is hard to hear). Once she has his attention she Shepherds him away from the arrival of a vehicle (which can be heard at the end of the clip and seen in the next section of footage). (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (6)

Little E is 3 days old. His mother watches Little E as he tries to Comfort-Suckle from Lorato. Then when he moves toward her she takes a few step and turns away and waits for him attentively (Walk-Wait). As he reaches her side and she has his attention she begins to move Shepherding him away. She appears to be trying to get him to focus on her rather than on allomother, Lorato. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (7)

Little E is 3 days old. He is walking across the open between his mother, Mama Little E (in the lead) and allomother, Lorato (bringing up the rear). Note how Mama Little E stops twice to Wait for him and then appears to use the sweeping motion of her trunk as a Guide to Shepherd him along with her. As she Waits, Lorato also pauses, Foot-Swinging, and then when they begin to walk uses a Trunk-Nudge to gently Shepherd him forward. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (8)

Little E is 3 days old. His mother, Mama Little E and allomothers, Lorato and V-Notch are Waiting and Walk-Waiting for him and Shepherding him across the open plain to the lugga. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (9)

Little E is 16 days old. Mama Little E and Little E are coming from drinking in the rocky river. Mama Little E stands Waiting for him and Looking-Back at him and then she Head-Shakes and turns to help him. She uses a Trunk-Nudge to gently maneuver him out of the stream. Then she turns and Walk-Wait for Little E who is having trouble negotiating the rocks and uses her tail Tail-Swatting to check to make sure he is coming along behind her. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (10)

Little E is 16 days old. Mama Little E has carefully crossed the rocky stream and is on the other side feeding on a bush. Two allomothers, Lorato and V-Notch. are Shepherding Little E. He is busy exploring and drinking and blowing bubbles in the water. They are so patient and attentive to him - using Trunk-to-Body, Genitals and Mouth and Foot-to-Body to slowly lead him across and help him to balance. Note how Lorato touches his penis and she seems to use a Trunk-to-Mouth to try to get his attention and Guide him to her breast. He tries to Comfort-Suckle from her and she seems to use a Trunk-to-Infant-at-Breast movement to help Guide him. When he makes it across he goes over to his mother and Suckles and she reach back to touch him. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (11)

Little E is 6 days old. His mother is leading him and allomother Lorato is coming behind, Shepherding him over branches and logs - her trunk there to support him in case, Walk-Waiting. His mother stops to Wait for him and allomother V-Notch touches him Trunk-to-Mouth. Someone Rumbles - believe it is a 7 year female giving a Little-Greeting as they approach - as her ears are raised. All stop. There are lions about. Bob says they are smelling the lions. Cant's see that yet but they have paused. Mama Little he touches him Trunk-to-Genitals. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (12)

Little E is 7 days old and is sleeping the adults around him are ready to depart and try to wake with with a series of Foot-Nudges and Trunk-Nudges. Eventually he responds and gets up. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (13)

Mother and calf are Drinking. When it is time to depart the mother begins very gentle Pushing with trunk and head to Shepherd the calf to move along. She moves very carefully among the rocks and seems to use her trunk to check whether the way is good. (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (14)

A mother with a newborn (circled) is helped by two allomothers who Shepherd the infant out of the water where they have been Swimming. A juvenile tuskless female (circled) is particularly attentive, Waiting for the infant, touching it Trunk-to-Mouth when it is behind her, Waiting for it and as the infant moves ahead following its mother and stumbles, she touches the infant Trunk-to-Genitals - and Grasps-Tail appearing to help balance the wobbly calf. In the end the allomother, too, falls over. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (15)

Angelina has given birth to twins, a male and a female who are a couple of days old. In this clip a short sequence showing the attentiveness of four allomothers who surround the infants all the time, touching, helping, escorting and talking to them. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (16)

Angelina has given birth to twins, a male and a female, who are a couple of days old. In this clip she is in a group of perhaps 45 elephants who are crossing Enkongo Narok Swamp at various point. She clearly understands that this is dangerous for her infants as she walks rapidly between four different entry points before selecting one to cross. First she walks south and then catches something on the wind that she doesn't like as several elephants can be seen with Periscope-Trunks. She turns and walks north. She tries a second place but there are too many other elephants. She tries a third point but again draws or Pulls her twins away.

During this whole time she is followed by 6 other elephants in addition to the twins, including 4 juvenile females who are acting as allomothers. The fourth place she finally selects has no other elephants crossing. Still it was a poor choice and one twin almost drowns in the crossing which was heart-stopping to watch. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (17)

Angelina has given birth to twins, a male and a female, who are a couple of days old. In this clip the female twin is in the care of Arora B (cousin), Amora (sister) and a third 2 year old female without tusks (daughter of mother's niece). The twin decides to come investigate the vehicles at the road and the allomothers follow trying to dissuade her touching her Trunk-to-Mouth and seemingly trying to steer her away. So persists and stands next to our car. The allomothers continue to touch her and the littlest Coo-Rumbles (circled). The infant turns around and they escort her back toucher her and steering her Trunk-to-Genitals. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (18)

Angelina has given birth to twins, a male and a female, who are a couple of days old. In this clip the female twin is escorted by a couple of allomothers as she walks over to Abra. (Amboseli, Kenya)

Shepherding

Context: Calf Reassurance & Protection (19)

Noyeau has a new infant. She has a number of allomothers - an 8 year old female, a 2.4 year old with small tusks belonging to Nayanka, and a less than 2 year old who is perhaps Nashipai's but is Suckling from Nabila and Noyeau. In this clip the 2.4 year old Shepherds the infant back to his mother each time he moves away - touching his Trunk-to-Mouth and trunk-to-Genitals. (Amboseli, Kenya)