Photo Credit: Parveen Kaswan/X
Note: This story, which originally made headlines in June 2019, is being republished.
A touching video of elephants organizing what appears to be a “funeral” for a deceased young elephant has taken the internet by storm, evoking a wave of emotions on social media.
The heartwarming footage, posted on Twitter by Parveen Kaswan, a forest ranger in the Indian Forest Service, has resonated with thousands of viewers. In the video, an adult Indian elephant emerges from a forested area onto a road, gently cradling the lifeless body of a young elephant with its trunk.
Photo Credit: Parveen Kaswan/X
The adult elephant places the small body on the ground and stands vigil while waiting for the rest of the herd. Soon, the herd arrives, forming a line reminiscent of a solemn procession.
In a poignant display of unity, both young and mature elephants gather around the tiny carcass. With the herd standing as a somber congregation, they gently lift the lifeless elephant and carry it into the forest, leaving onlookers deeply moved.
The video resonated deeply on social media, receiving over 5,000 retweets and nearly 12,000 likes. Commenters expressed their profound emotional reactions, with one user, Devika, reflecting on the powerful message it conveys: "This is heart-rending. There’s a lot that humans can learn from animals.
Photo Credit: Parveen Kaswan/X
Another user, Sumita Bhatt, expressed her astonishment, saying, “Omg!!! First time I have seen such a video… Really very touching.” Mohan Alembath also found the video deeply moving, noting, “Elephants’ capacity for complex emotions like grief is truly remarkable.”
While scientists urge caution in attributing human-like "grief" to animals, elephants are among several species observed displaying mourning behaviors. They have been known to exhibit a keen interest in the remains of their deceased, sometimes engaging in what appear to be "funeral" rituals.
According to Smithsonian magazine, elephants may pass by the bodies of deceased herd members repeatedly, touching and smelling the remains. These gestures indicate a form of reverence or sensitivity to the
Photo Credit: Parveen Kaswan/X
Last year, the world saw a similar display of mourning when a female killer whale carried her dead calf on her back for over two weeks through Canadian waters before finally releasing it.
Chimpanzees have also shown mourning behaviors. In captivity, a group of chimpanzees examined the body of a fallen comrade for signs of life, cleaned her fur, and avoided the spot where she had died for several days.
In Zambia, primate researchers observed a mother chimpanzee using a piece of dried grass to clean debris from the teeth of her deceased son, indicating that social bonds persist even after death.
Photo Credit: Parveen Kaswan/X
Various other species, such as magpies, have been observed burying their dead under tufts of grass. In an intriguing incident, a young boy filmed peccaries—wild pig-like animals found in the United States—participating in mourning rituals by repeatedly visiting a deceased member, nuzzling it, and sleeping alongside it.
These poignant examples illustrate the remarkable depth of emotion and social connection within the animal kingdom, showcasing the beauty of nature’s many heartwarming and touching moments.
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