Science

'Move away' and 'stop that!' Wild elephants use a rich gestural repertoire intentionally to 'mean business'

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 08/10/2026, 17:55:26 UTC.

Briefings

Research from the University of Portsmouth, University of Vienna, and University of St Andrews reveals wild African elephants employ a diverse gestural repertoire to communicate dominance during competition. The study indicates these signals are intentional and function as a 'mean business' mechanism to establish hierarchy. Key findings include specific gestures observed in the wild, though the exact number of distinct signals and their precise evolutionary origins remain to be fully understood.

Key points

• Wild African elephants utilize a wide range of gestures to compete with one another, according to an international study involving researchers from the University of Portsmouth, University of Vienna, and University of St Andrews.

Context and limitations

The study covers wild African savanna elephants but does not specify the number of distinct gestures observed or provide a timeline for their evolutionary emergence.

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