Watch The Sighting Here:
Regular contributor Deon Kelbrick submitted this video to Latest Sightings. He recorded the amusing, yet interesting, encounter on a game drive for Nkhoro Bush Lodge, in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, South Africa.
Roadblock
As Deon’s video rolls, we find that a young female African elephant blocks the road ahead. So far, so good. Elephants block roads all the time in the African veld.
However, in this case, she appears to have chosen this spot for a bit of yoga..? A mini-meltdown..? And why is she waving that branch in the air? Why are there leaves and branches strewn on the ground?
Honestly, it’s hard to tell.
On Her Belly
Then, the young cow goes down onto her hind knees. As she does, she flings the branch into the air
Next, she settles down onto her belly. As she rests there for a moment, it’s almost as if she is wondering how and why she got into this position.
Is she trying to get to an itch she can’t scratch? Is she about to go to sleep? As she lies there, other elephants appear from the right. Perhaps they, too, are wondering what has got into this young female.
Act 2
In the second part of the video, we find that the elephant has approached Deon’s vehicle. Standing just a few metres from him, the cow flares her ears.
Elephants spread their ears in this manner when alarmed to make themselves look bigger. They also do so when they are curious, which seems to be the case in this instance.
Subsequently, unable to decide what to make of Deon’s vehicle, amusingly tries to provoke a reaction. Stepping back, she curls her trunk, scoops up some sand, and flings it right at the vehicle.
In response, we hear Deon chuckling at the mischievous behaviour. After getting essentially no reaction beyond laughter, the elephant backs up.
At first, she holds her head high, but then seems to decide that the vehicle poses no threat. Retreating further, she turns her attention to the ground, but as she does, she reverses into a small shrub.
Keeping an eye on Deon and his vehicle, she hooks it with her leg before using it to tickle her belly. Subsequently, she returns to the middle of the road, her trunk sniffing at the fallen vegetation as the video ends.
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So, What’s Going On Here?
The most likely explanation for the peculiar behaviour is that the young elephant is in some way unsettled. When elephants are anxious, have internal conflict, or an excess of nervous energy, they resort to displacement behaviour.
These behaviours help them redirect energy and relieve tension when they feel stressed or otherwise uncomfortable.
These behaviours include twisting their trunks, swinging their feet, self-grooming, pretending to feed, swaying their body or head, and throwing dust or vegetation. Several of these behaviours occur in the video.
Displacement behaviour doesn’t necessarily mean the elephant is distressed. It may be that it is just taking time to resolve some dilemma, such as what to make of Deon’s vehicle or conflict within the herd.
As such, when someone observes this behaviour, they should interpret it alongside the elephant’s body language and consider the broader context of the situation.