Can other animals understand death? - Barbara J. King

TL;DR

Research suggests that some animals, including mammals and birds, might experience grief, but more studies are needed for a better understanding.

Transcript

In 2018, an orca called Tahlequah gave birth. But her daughter died within an hour. Tahlequah, however, didn’t leave her body. And over the next 17 days and 1,600 kilometers, she kept it afloat atop her own, diving to retrieve the body whenever it slipped away, even after it began deteriorating. By altering her feeding and travel patterns, Tahle... Read More

Key Insights

• 🐳 Non-human animals, including orcas, elephants, giraffes, and primates, have exhibited behaviors that suggest they may experience grief and mourn the loss of their companions or offspring.
• 🐦 Some animals, such as birds, mammals, and elephants, have been observed visiting the bodies of deceased individuals and displaying what appears to be mourning behavior.
• 🐵 Research has shown that baboons who have experienced the loss of a close relative have higher levels of stress hormones initially, which then decrease over time as they engage in increased grooming behavior and social interactions.
• 🐘 Elephants, in particular, have shown prolonged mourning behaviors, including rocking back and forth over the deceased, carrying remains, and visiting the bodies of deceased elephants from different families.
• 🦒 Giraffes have also displayed behaviors that indicate grief, such as closely attending to and nuzzling the body of a deceased calf, even after it has been partially consumed by hyenas.
• 🐒 Primate mothers have been observed exhibiting conflicting behaviors towards their dead offspring, engaging in both cannibalistic and nurturing behaviors.
• 🔬 More research is needed to fully understand the emotional landscapes of non-human animals and their capacity for grief.
• ❓ The implications of whether or not animals experience grief have real-life consequences, such as determining whether animals should be kept in captivity or separated from their offspring.

Questions & Answers

Q: Do non-human animals grieve?

The behavior of several animals, including orcas, gorillas, elephants, and giraffes, suggests that they may experience grief. Tahlequah, Koko, and elephants were observed showing distress and unusual behaviors after the death of their companions, while giraffes exhibited behaviors like refusing to eat and staying close to the dead calf. However, more research is needed to fully understand the emotional experiences of animals and determine if it is grief or other adaptive behaviors.

Q: Are humans the only species that experience emotions like grief?

While many scientists have been cautious about attributing human emotions to animals, growing evidence challenges the idea that humans alone experience grief. Observations of orcas, gorillas, elephants, and giraffes suggest that they display behaviors associated with grief, such as extended mourning, distress calls, and unusual behaviors. These findings indicate that emotions like grief may be more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously thought.

Q: How do animals respond to the death of their companions?

Animals, such as orcas, gorillas, elephants, and giraffes, have been observed responding to the death of their companions in various ways. They may keep the body close, try to revive the deceased, or exhibit distress calls. Some animals even carry or nuzzle the remains. These behaviors suggest a possible emotional response to death, but the exact nature of these responses and their underlying emotions require further investigation.

Q: How does grief in animals impact their social behavior?

Studies on baboons have shown that the death of a close relative can lead to increased stress hormone levels and changes in social behavior. Baboons who lost a relative in a predator attack had higher glucocorticoid levels, but within two months, their hormone levels returned to baseline. They also increased grooming behavior and expanded their social networks. These findings suggest that grief in animals can have a transient impact on their social interactions and stress responses.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Tahlequah, an orca, displayed unusual behavior after her calf died, keeping its body afloat and diving to retrieve it.

• Koko, a gorilla trained in sign language, showed distress after her kitten companion died and displayed signs of grief.

• Elephants and giraffes have also been observed exhibiting behaviors associated with grief, such as remaining with the dead and carrying remains.

Q: Do non-human animals grieve?

The behavior of several animals, including orcas, gorillas, elephants, and giraffes, suggests that they may experience grief. Tahlequah, Koko, and elephants were observed showing distress and unusual behaviors after the death of their companions, while giraffes exhibited behaviors like refusing to eat and staying close to the dead calf. However, more research is needed to fully understand the emotional experiences of animals and determine if it is grief or other adaptive behaviors.