If there were ever any doubt that animals form strong bonds with each other and mourn the loss of one of their own, look no further than these stories. From cows to dogs to lizards, all animals have a complex emotional life:
Elephant Mom Carries Her Dead Newborn for a Mile and Tries to Revive Them in a Stream
This broke my heart. The calf has died but mother doesn’t give up. Carries the dead baby for two KMs and tries to revive it by placing in water. And the mother’s cries ranting the air😭😭
Via @NANDANPRATIM pic.twitter.com/ufgPsYsRgE— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) June 15, 2023
Dolphin Mom Videoed Ferrying Her Dead Calf Through Her Ocean Home Near China, Refusing To Let Go —She Could Carry Her Calf’s Body for Days, According to Local Researcher Li Min
Heartbreaking video: Mother dolphin refuses to let dead calf go pic.twitter.com/KygEUIB3Hs
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) September 15, 2021
GRIEVING GALAH (AKA ‘ROSE-BREASTED COCKATOO’)—A SPECIES THAT MATES FOR LIFE—MOURNS FOR LIFELESS MATE
Australian Galah, also known as the pink and grey cockatoo, mates for life. Partner grieving at the death of its mate…
The farewell at the end(0.45sec) will break ones heart. pic.twitter.com/vSFGb99KE8— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) July 4, 2021
Grieving Mother Monkey Carries, Grooms Her Stillborn Baby for 10 Days
A University College London study shows that some primates may express grief over the death of their infant by carrying the body of their baby. Researchers found that 80% of the 50 species studied performed corpse-carrying behavior after the loss of an infant. The time spent carrying the deceased varied greatly—some mothers held the baby’s body for up to four months after death. The study also found that such behavior may mean that primates have some awareness of death or can learn about it over time, as older mothers are less likely to carry the body of the deceased but still seem to experience loss-related emotions.
Mourning Elephants Carry Dead Baby in Funeral Procession
This will move you !! Funeral procession of the weeping elephants carrying dead body of the child elephant. The family just don’t want to leave the baby. pic.twitter.com/KO4s4wCpl0
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) June 7, 2019
Yes #elephants are quite emotional. They do so many things like humans. The kids around water play like us. They snore while sleeping. They remember everything, including roads. They learn new things. Long life help them accumulate these. https://t.co/pSv52zBf65
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) June 7, 2019
Grieving Orca Mom Carries Her Dead Calf Through the Ocean for Over a Week
Her dead calf resting on her nose, an orca whale has swum in mourning for more than 3 days in the Pacific Northwest.
"I think she’s just grieving, unwilling at this point to let the calf go, like, 'Why, why, why?' " https://t.co/nWEVJcT7ni
— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 28, 2018
A Mom is a Mom in any species: mother grieves: Orca whale continues to carry her dead calf into a second day https://t.co/0bzMKPxECu via @seattletimes
— Maya Babu MD, MBA (@MayaBabuMD) July 27, 2018
Dog Stands by Friend’s Side Through Rain and Busy Traffic
Raindrops and tears are falling in East China’s Zhejiang Province, as this big-hearted dog refuses to leave the side of his fallen friend. pic.twitter.com/TyF3E8VcEg
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) April 19, 2017
Iguana Won’t Leave Companion on Street
Penguins Mourn Death of Baby
Squirrel Guards Friend
Dog Lays Head on Companion, Refuses to Leave
There are thousands of videos like these online, and many have been viewed millions of times, captivating the Internet and garnering emotional responses from viewers. Though animals may mourn in different ways, one thing is clear: They feel loss very deeply.
When animals are used for food, clothing, experiments, or entertainment, families are torn apart, and animals undoubtedly mourn the loss very deeply.
If you are among the millions affected by these powerful videos, you can help animals every day by making the compassionate decision to switch to a vegan lifestyle, which saves more than 100 animals’ lives every year.
