Elephant Youngster in Botswana
Photograph taken in the Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta, Botswana.
Visual communication in elephants refers to expressions, postures, displays or movement of ears, jaws, trunk and the like, and how elephants are able to use their sense of sight to determine what message the signaller is trying to portray.
Head and trunk postures can be used for different types of communication such as communication between individuals but also between rivals to display threats.
These visual signals can be of either high or low intensity; at low intensity the animal stands tall, but at high intensity i.e. during threat, the animal moves forward towards the enemy lifting its ears and extending its trunk forward. The "forward trunk swish" signal is used towards a smaller rival where the trunk is rolled up and is suddenly lashed forward.
To signal dominance, the elephant will appear taller, with its head high above its shoulders and ears spread wide. A subordinate elephant appears the opposite, with its ears kept back and its head lying low. the trunk is thus an important aspect in visual communication.
Elephant Youngster in Botswana
Photograph taken in the Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta, Botswana.
Visual communication in elephants refers to expressions, postures, displays or movement of ears, jaws, trunk and the like, and how elephants are able to use their sense of sight to determine what message the signaller is trying to portray.
Head and trunk postures can be used for different types of communication such as communication between individuals but also between rivals to display threats.
These visual signals can be of either high or low intensity; at low intensity the animal stands tall, but at high intensity i.e. during threat, the animal moves forward towards the enemy lifting its ears and extending its trunk forward. The "forward trunk swish" signal is used towards a smaller rival where the trunk is rolled up and is suddenly lashed forward.
To signal dominance, the elephant will appear taller, with its head high above its shoulders and ears spread wide. A subordinate elephant appears the opposite, with its ears kept back and its head lying low. the trunk is thus an important aspect in visual communication.