It is common for the young or sub adult male animals of many species to indulge in play fights. This behaviour can be observed with young tigers, deer, monkeys, elephants and several other species. The young males are actually using these play fight opportunities to prepare for the real fights that these creatures have to survive as adults. The adult males have to fight their rival males for the mating opportunities so that they can successfully complete the most important task assigned to them by nature, i.e. to pass on their genes to the next generation.
On a safari to Corbett Tiger Reserve, these sub-adult male elephants were seen indulging in a play fight on a riverbed.
Sub-adult male elephants indulging in play fight
