Comments on: Chimpanzees Mourn Their Dead

By: CrazieShamrock

CrazieShamrock — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:26:55 +0000

Perhaps saying that they are the only ones who mourn is to strong a statement. It might have been better to say that Chimpanzees are the only species to mourn as we do and to care for the dead as we do. Chimpanzees have been known to groom the dead. This is not something other animals do. They also protect the dead from outsiders, you might call these behaviors almost funeral like. The picture above shows how human like their reactions are.

By: morag harris

morag harris — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:05:03 +0000

only two species that mourn?…us and chimps?…i think not…i dont even study animals but am quite well aware through my own observation of the despair certain birds are thrown into when their mate dies…and have also been led to believe (from TV and from what i have read ) that elephants also mourn

By: horses

horses — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:52:17 +0000

Horses mourn the loss of their friends, and their babies. Seen it numerous times, myself. They also extend comforting gestures to others, and not just of other horses. I've seen those same behaviors in dogs and cats, as well.
You obviously really don't know animals–many mate for life, so how can you say they don't have nurturing emotions, and all the other emotions that go with that.
In the glorification of our own species, we have minimized the others. We, actually, are a pretty sorry culture, for what we have done to other animals, and the earth.