- Researchers in India’s Bengal region discovered five calf burials
- The herd carried the deceased calf by the trunk and legs before burying it in the earth
Harrowing new photos have revealed the human-like burial practices of Asian elephants.
Researchers in India’s Bengal region discovered five calf burials in 2022 and 2023.
In both cases, the herd had carried the deceased calf by its trunk and feet before burying it feet-side up in the earth.
In one case, the herd roared and trumpeted loudly as they buried the calf, according to researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research.
Authors Parveen Kaswan and Akashdeep Roy said they found “no direct human intervention” in any of the five calf deaths.
Harrowing new photos have revealed the human-like burial practices of Asian elephants
Researchers in India’s Bengal region discovered five calf burials in 2022 and 2023. In both cases, the herd had carried the deceased calf by its trunk and feet before burying it in the earth with its feet up.
From whales to chimpanzees, previous research has shown that many animals grieve just like humans.
African elephants are known to mourn their dead and visit their bodies regularly even after they begin to decay.
Until now, however, researchers had not observed the specific burial practices of their smaller, Asian cousins.
In the new study, the team analyzed five elephant burials in the Bengal region.
They found that only calves were taken away for burial, while deceased adults were left where they had died.
The researchers put this down to the ‘infeasibility’ of transporting heavier adult elephants through the rest of their herd.
In the new study, the team analyzed five elephant burials in the Bengal region. They found that only calves were taken away for burial, while deceased adults were left where they had died
The calves were buried in irrigation canals on tea plantations, hundreds of meters away from the nearest human settlements
The calves were buried in irrigation canals on tea plantations, hundreds of meters away from the nearest human settlements.
Post-mortems confirmed that the calves had died of multiple organ failure between three months and one year of age.
In terms of positioning, it appeared that in all five burials the deceased calf was buried in the earth with its feet pointing upwards.
“Elephants are caring social animals, and based on external examination of the carcasses we also suggest that the calves were gently placed by grasping the herd members by one or more legs,” the team wrote in their study, published in the journal The Guardian. Journal of Endangered Taxa.
In terms of positioning, it appeared that in all five burials the deceased calf was buried in the earth with its feet pointing upwards.
Around each cemetery, the team found “obvious footprints” of between 15 and 20 elephants. In the photo: an elephant carrying a dead calf
Around each cemetery, the team found “obvious footprints” of between 15 and 20 elephants.
In all five cases, the herd fled the scene “within 40 minutes of burial” and later avoided returning to the area.
They even took several parallel migration routes to avoid the burial.
The researchers hope the findings will encourage further research into the grieving behavior of other animals.
“We encourage scientific and social science-based thanatological studies not only for sentient beings, but also for non-sentient beings and less favored species in a changing natural and socio-political environment,” they concluded.