Scrub-off-Thorns
Using the sole of the foot to carefully step on a branch with long, firm thorns, and then to scrub the foot back and forth over the branch to break and disarm the thorns. This is a technique that must be learned and perfected and is perhaps limited to individuals with more calloused foot pads. It is observed among adults, though less often in adolescent elephants.
References: Poole & Granli 2021. (Full reference list)
This behavior occurs in the following context(s): Foraging & Comfort Technique