SORROW IN THE WILD

ANIMALS THAT MOURN THEIR DEAD

Published By Moushumi Mahanta | 27 Jun, 2025

Some animals exhibit mourning the loss of their own, displaying remarkable emotional intelligence and deep social bonds. 

Credit : UNSPLASH

Here Are The Animals That Mourn Their Dead:

Credit : UNSPLASH

Baboons

Studies show that baboons experience elevated stress after a troop member's death, but social bonding helps reduce it.

Credit : UNSPLASH

Whales

In Spain’s Bay of Biscay, a Cuvier’s beaked whale displayed a rare sight—carrying her dead calf. The grieving mother did not feed for two days while pushing her calf to the surface. 

Credit : UNSPLASH

Dolphins

 In 2012, an adult Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin was seen mourning the death of a juvenile by pushing and following its body to shore off the Red Sea.

Credit : UNSPLASH

Elephants

Elephants mourn their dead by carrying tusks of lost herd members or visiting remains of unrelated elephants. 

Credit : UNSPLASH

Giraffes

 In 2012, a giraffe in Zambia was observed mourning the loss of a dead calf by licking and nudging its body. Experts believe that long gestation periods in species like giraffes may deepen parental bonds and prolong grief.

Credit : UNSPLASH

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