In the wild, elephants have long been known for their intelligence and deep emotional connections. A recent viral video posted by Parveen Kaswan, a forest ranger in India, showcases a remarkable and touching display of these traits. The video shows a herd of elephants mourning a deceased baby elephant, carrying out what resembles a funeral procession. This emotional scene captured the attention of thousands on social media and demonstrated the compassionate nature of elephants in a way that struck a chord with many people.
Kaswan’s video starts with an adult elephant emerging from a forest holding the lifeless body of a baby elephant with its trunk. This heart-wrenching sight sets the tone for what comes next. As the adult elephant lays the body down, it waits, almost as if standing vigil, for the rest of the herd to arrive. The others slowly gather, surrounding the deceased calf in a manner that echoes the solemnity of a human funeral procession.
What is perhaps even more poignant is the fact that the mourning elephants, after gathering, don’t immediately move on. Instead, the initial elephant picks up the baby once again, with others following closely behind. This touching procession mirrors the way humans might carry their dead during a funeral, showing the elephants’ understanding of loss and their collective grief.
Elephants are known to exhibit signs of mourning and grief, much like humans. Scientists have long studied their reactions to death, with countless observations of elephants standing near the bones of deceased family members or returning to the spot where a loved one passed away. They’ve been seen touching the bones with their trunks and even making sounds that resemble weeping. These behaviors suggest that elephants have a deep emotional awareness and mourn the loss of their loved ones in a way that is both communal and profound.
Social media users were quick to share their reactions to Kaswan’s video, with many expressing sympathy not only for the lost baby elephant but also for the grieving family. The video, which garnered over 5,000 retweets and 12,000 likes, serves as a powerful reminder of the empathy and emotional intelligence that animals possess.
The connection elephants have with death is a subject that has fascinated researchers for decades. They not only mourn their dead but also demonstrate a strong sense of family and community. A study published in the journal “Primates” highlighted that elephant herds are known to stay with their deceased members for days, often refusing to leave the body. They may cover it with leaves and dirt, further mimicking the burial rites observed in human cultures.
This particular video reinforces what researchers have long suspected—that elephants, much like humans, struggle with the concept of loss and experience grief in a tangible and emotional way. The elephant’s reluctance to leave the dead baby behind speaks to the strong familial bonds within elephant herds.
In various cultures, elephants are revered for their wisdom and emotional depth. In Indian culture, the elephant is a symbol of strength and compassion. These characteristics are reflected in the way the herd in Kaswan’s video responds to the death of the baby elephant. They show us that mourning is not exclusive to humans; it’s a natural response to loss, deeply ingrained in the animal kingdom as well.
The profound moment captured in the video also calls attention to the broader issue of how humans perceive animal intelligence. For many years, animals were thought to lack complex emotions like grief or empathy. But more and more, studies and observations are proving otherwise, suggesting that creatures like elephants possess a rich inner life, capable of understanding and responding to the world in emotionally complex ways.
Elephants’ capacity for emotion goes beyond just mourning. They are known to display behaviors such as joy, empathy, and even altruism. Instances have been recorded where elephants help injured members of their herd, display excitement upon being reunited with family, and even rescue other species in distress. These remarkable animals clearly have an advanced understanding of the world around them and form deep social bonds, further illustrating their shared emotional landscape with humans.
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
The video of the funeral-like procession serves as a sobering reminder of the interconnectedness between all living beings. Watching the elephants carry out their mournful ritual forces us to rethink how we treat animals and how we relate to them on an emotional level. It also highlights the need for greater efforts in wildlife conservation. As habitats continue to shrink and human-elephant conflicts rise, protecting these majestic creatures and their complex social structures becomes more urgent than ever.
In conclusion, the viral video posted by Parveen Kaswan is not just a heartbreaking scene of loss but also a powerful testament to the emotional depth of elephants. It shows us that grief, mourning, and love are not exclusive to humans. These profound emotions transcend species, binding all living creatures in a shared experience of life and death. Watching the elephants mourn their lost calf in such a human-like manner is a poignant reminder of the deep emotional connections that exist in the animal kingdom, connections that we often overlook. As we continue to learn more about these magnificent animals, it becomes ever more important to protect them, ensuring that their emotional communities continue to thrive in the wild.