Elephants Don’t Just Walk Away From Death; What They Do Instead Feels Uncomfortably Human

Scientists have been studying the way animals behave in response to death for many years, but no other animal has been studied more than the elephant with regard to their detailed and emotional response to death.

Studies carried out in the Samburu National Reserve and the Amboseli ecosystem have shown some of the most compelling evidence yet of the fact that elephants don't simply ignore their dead but rather behave in a deliberate and socially complex way in response to death.

One of the most cited studies carried out in the year 2006 and published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science observed a dying matriarch with her family members surrounding her. In the study and subsequent media reports of the same, the members of the family touched the dying matriarch with their trunks as she died. After the matriarch died, the family stayed with the dead body, touched it, and made sounds that were different from their normal sounds.

Recognition of their own kind

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for high intelligence is found in studies conducted to test their reaction to animal remains.

A 2005 study by Karen McComb found that elephants displayed a strong interest in elephant skulls and bones compared to those of other animals. As revealed in various pieces of literature and information provided by sources like Britannica and National Geographic, elephants spend more time interacting with their own species than with those of any other animals.

The evidence indicates that elephants recognize their own species rather than being curious, and this shows that they are more aware of death in their own species than anything else.

Touch is a vital element in elephant communication, and this is evident in their interaction with dead bodies. In all instances, elephants have been observed using their trunks to touch and explore dead bodies in a gentle manner. In most instances, the elephants have been observed touching the face, tusks, and limbs of their dead family members.

According to National Geographic and PBS Nature, these touches are different from exploratory touches in that they are slow and repetitive. Scientists have interpreted this act of touching dead bodies as a bonding experience that still takes place even after death. Physical contact is vital in this case since it helps elephants cope with death and maintain bonding.

Lingering near the body

Another interesting thing is the long period of time spent near the deceased. While other animals tend to quickly get over the death of a member of their group, elephants have been observed to stay with the deceased for long periods of time. In some cases, they have been known to revisit the same spot.

According to National Geographic and ScienceDaily, the long period spent with the deceased might be for the overall good of the group. It might be aimed at maintaining the balance of the group in the face of the disruption. It is also worth noting that elephants have long life expectancies and are socially structured.

One of the more surprising discoveries is that these actions are not confined to family members. Observations indicate that even unrelated elephants interact, touch, and stay near a deceased member.

This indicates that elephants possess a level of social understanding that goes beyond their immediate family groups.

As discussed in articles by Nature and Science Magazine, this is a characteristic of a complex society where the well-being of the whole is just as important as the well-being of individuals.

What this reveals about cognition

While elephants are already known for their intelligence, memory, and problem-solving skills, their response to death provides a new dimension in understanding the cognitive abilities of the animal.

According to a study published in the journal PNAS and Frontiers in Psychology, the response of the elephant to the presence of the deceased provides evidence that the animal may have a level of awareness about death that goes beyond instincts.

The study of how elephants deal with death is significant for both scientific and conservationist reasons. It underlines the value of protecting groups of elephants, since their relationships are a vital part of their lives.

What is so interesting about this research is that it is not simply the research itself, but that it is all so uncomfortably familiar. When elephants touch, stay, and stop in relation to death, it is very difficult to distinguish between human and animal emotions.