Communication in a Small Herd of Semi-Domestic Elephants another Interpretation of their Social Organization, Social Contract and World View

Abstract

The communication between 6 individually identified free ranging young elephants were observed for over 200 hours (1278 elephant hours) in a nature reserve in Zimbabwe. 97 different behaviours, some explicit (whose meaning is clear) and some implicit (whose meaning is hidden), were recorded. Visual signals were the most common. The meaning of the 22 most common behaviours was assessed from recipient responses. Two surprising results were that (i) many behaviours were ignored by the recipients, and (ii) reciprocity was common. Correlations between the rank orders in the 4 different behavioural categories (aggression, affiliation, avoidance and interest) did not indicate an overall “dominance order”. Rather it indicated that behaviour encouraging group cohesion (showing interest and affiliation) was much more common than any related to competition in the group (that is aggression, avoiding and withdrawing). It is argued that the large number of implicit behaviours which indicate slight arousal also indicate “uncertainty”. Many behaviours ‘meanings were context dependent (i.e. the same behaviour used in a variety of contexts with its particular meaning only assessable from the context). To interpret the meaning of messages in this way, elephants must be aware of others intentions and desires, as well as others’ knowledge and roles in the society. The implication of these results for a different understanding of elephant’s social organization and mental aptitudes are discussed. 2140 interactions were recorded in 213 hours of observation (1278 elephant hours) in a group of 6 individually identifiable free ranging orphan elephants between 10 and 19 years old on a nature reserve in Zimbabwe. 97 defined behaviours were recorded, performed by the initiator or as responses. Visual signals, often associated with other sensory modalities (smell, taste, touch), were the most common. Vocalizations, audible to the human ear ac- counted for 0.5%, although infra-sound and seismic vibrations were not measured. The explicit and implicit meanings of the 22 most common behaviours were assessed from (i) recipient’s responses, (ii) ethological theory & (iii) folk knowledge. Many behaviours were frequently ignored by the recipient, (14 of the 22 most common behaviours) and the recipient responded reciprocally more often than expected (p<0.05). In addition, ‘interest’ in the performer, and ‘affiliation’ were more common than behaviours associated with conflict or any “dominance order” (p<0.01). Behaviours typically produced in approach/avoidance and frustration situations were common and carried a message that the communicant was “uncertain” what to do. The rank orders in the 4 categories of batched behaviours related to their normative meanings were correlated. This indicated that individual had different roles in the society, but no evidence of any overall” dominance order”. The meanings of many messages were context dependent, conveying information concerning the general level of excitement/arousal with the particular emotional state read from the context. The implication of these findings for further understanding elephants’ social contract, theory of mind, epistemology and evolutionary behaviour are discussed.