Emotional Intelligence: Joy and grief in the herd
Humans have long used the fact that we bury our dead to distinguish ourselves from other animals. Yet elephants, too, show great respect for deceased herd members, even "burying" them by covering them with branches. Here, an elephant visits the carcass of another elephant to touch the carcass and pay its respects.
Image courtesy of Paul F. Norris
Image courtesy of Paul F. Norris
Elephants are also similar to humans in their ability to feel empathy. When one elephant is distressed, nearby elephants react by expressing the same emotion. They also console the distressed elephant by touching it with their trunks in a comforting way, as in this photograph.
Image courtesy of Zoe Mintz |
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Elephants have also shown an incredible ability to recognize each other, even after decades apart. Take Shirley and Jenny, two freed elephants who were reunited 22 years after their stint in the circus together. They recognized each other immediately, nestling each other, roaring, and even bending the bars of their cages to get closer together.
Video courtesy of EVOLVE Campaigns |
For Further Reading
National Geographic: "It's Time to Accept That Elephants, Like Us, Are Empathetic Beings"
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140221-elephants-poaching-empathy-grief-extinction-science/
New York Times: "Elephants Give a Helping Hand"
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/science/elephants-give-a-helping-trunk.html?_r=0
When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140221-elephants-poaching-empathy-grief-extinction-science/
New York Times: "Elephants Give a Helping Hand"
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/science/elephants-give-a-helping-trunk.html?_r=0
When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
References
Evans, Sophie J. "Elephants REALLY Never Forget: How Freed Circus Animals Shirley and Jenny Locked Trunks, Hugged and Played When They Met for the First Time in TWENTY Years." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2579045/Elephants-REALLY-never-forget-How-freed-circus-animals-Shirley-Jenny-locked-trunks-hugged-played-met-time-20-years.html>.
Goldman, Jason G. "Death Rituals in the Animal Kingdom." BBC Future. BBC, 19 Sept. 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120919-respect-the-dead>.
Honeyborne, James. "Elephants Really Do Grieve like Us: They Shed Tears and Even Try to 'bury' Their Dead - a Leading Wildlife Film-maker Reveals How the Animals Are like Us." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 31 Jan. 2013. Web. 09 Dec. 2014. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270977/Elephants-really-grieve-like-They-shed-tears-try-bury-dead--leading-wildlife-film-maker-reveals-animals-like-us.html>.
Mintz, Zoe. "Elephants Feel Empathy? 'First Exploration' Shows How Elephants Console Each Other." International Business Times. N.p., 18 Feb. 2014. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ibtimes.com/elephants-feel-empathy-first-exploration-shows-how-elephants-console-each-other-1556294>.
Goldman, Jason G. "Death Rituals in the Animal Kingdom." BBC Future. BBC, 19 Sept. 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120919-respect-the-dead>.
Honeyborne, James. "Elephants Really Do Grieve like Us: They Shed Tears and Even Try to 'bury' Their Dead - a Leading Wildlife Film-maker Reveals How the Animals Are like Us." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 31 Jan. 2013. Web. 09 Dec. 2014. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270977/Elephants-really-grieve-like-They-shed-tears-try-bury-dead--leading-wildlife-film-maker-reveals-animals-like-us.html>.
Mintz, Zoe. "Elephants Feel Empathy? 'First Exploration' Shows How Elephants Console Each Other." International Business Times. N.p., 18 Feb. 2014. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ibtimes.com/elephants-feel-empathy-first-exploration-shows-how-elephants-console-each-other-1556294>.