Can other animals understand death? - Barbara J. King

Summary

The transcript explores the possibility of non-human animals grieving, citing various examples such as an orca named Tahlequah, a gorilla named Koko, and elephant and giraffe responses to death. It references scientific studies, including stress hormone analysis in baboons, to argue that animals may exhibit behaviors resembling human grief. While the emotional experiences of animals remain unclear due to limited research, the implications are significant, raising ethical questions about animal captivity and treatment. The discussion invites reflection on whether animals should be assumed to have emotional capacities similar to humans.

Takeaways

• 🐋 In 2018, an orca named Tahlequah carried her dead calf for 17 days and 1,600 kilometers, diving to retrieve the body repeatedly.
• 🧠 The behavior of animals like Tahlequah raises questions about whether they experience grief or are simply confused.
• 📜 Charles Darwin argued in 1871 that animals experience emotions, including grief, but many scientists have been cautious to avoid anthropomorphism.
• 🐘 Elephants, like other animals, have been observed responding to death in ways that suggest grief, such as staying near the bodies of the deceased.
• 🐒 A 2006 study found that baboons who lost close relatives showed higher stress hormone levels and expanded their social networks through grooming.
• 🦒 Other animals, like giraffes, have displayed unusual behaviors after the death of a family member, such as mothers staying with their dead offspring.
• 🦍 In 1985, a gorilla named Koko used sign language to express grief over her dead kitten, suggesting animals may understand and respond to loss.
• 🤔 Researchers observe that some animals engage in contradictory behaviors after death, like grooming or cannibalizing their dead offspring, indicating emotional conflict.
• 🔬 More research is needed to understand if and how non-human animals experience grief, as the evidence is currently limited but growing.
• 🌍 The debate about whether animals grieve has practical implications for ethical decisions, such as the treatment of orcas in captivity or separating dairy cows from calves.

Q & A

What unusual behavior did the orca Tahlequah exhibit after the death of her calf?

Tahlequah kept her deceased calf's body afloat for 17 days and over 1,600 kilometers, diving to retrieve it whenever it slipped away, even as it began to deteriorate.

How do scientists debate whether non-human animals, like Tahlequah, grieve or are confused?

The debate centers on whether animals like Tahlequah are experiencing emotions like grief or whether their behavior is driven by confusion. While Charles Darwin argued animals feel emotions, scientists have long been cautious about projecting human emotions onto animals.

What role did Charles Darwin play in the discussion of animal emotions?

In 1871, Charles Darwin argued that non-human animals experience a wide range of emotions, including grief, challenging the idea that emotional experiences are uniquely human.

What was the historical view of human emotions compared to animals' emotions?

Historically, humans were considered exceptional for having emotions, while animals were seen as reacting instinctively for survival without the same emotional complexity.

How did the behavior of the gorilla Koko contribute to the understanding of animal grief?

In 1985, the gorilla Koko, who had learned some American Sign Language, expressed signs of grief by making distress calls and signing 'cry,' 'sad,' and 'frown' after learning her kitten companion had died.

What are some examples of animals showing grief-like behaviors, as observed in the wild?

Examples include elephants staying by the body of a deceased family member, giraffes attending to a dead calf, and primates carefully carrying or grooming their dead offspring.

What evidence suggests that baboons experience stress after a death?

Researchers found elevated glucocorticoid levels, stress hormones, in baboons who lost close relatives, and observed that they increased grooming behavior, which helped lower stress levels over time.

How have scientists interpreted the seemingly contradictory behaviors of primate mothers after their infant's death?

Primate mothers have been observed alternating between caring for and cannibalizing their deceased infants, suggesting they may experience conflicting impulses toward the body.

Why is it difficult for scientists to fully understand the emotional experiences of animals?

There is no reliable way to bridge the gap between human and animal minds, making it hard to definitively interpret animals' emotional states or confirm if they grieve like humans do.

What are the broader implications of whether or not animals grieve?

The debate impacts ethical decisions, such as whether animals like orcas should be kept in captivity or if dairy cows should be separated from their calves. If animals can grieve, these practices may need re-evaluation.