Editor’s Note: This story was originally reported in June 2019 and is being republished for its continued emotional resonance.
A powerful video capturing elephants appearing to hold a “funeral” for a baby elephant has gone viral, touching hearts across the internet and sparking deep conversations on social media.
The moving footage, shared on Twitter by Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan, shows an adult elephant emerging from the woods and carefully carrying the body of a young elephant with its trunk before gently laying it on a roadside.
The moment is both somber and awe-inspiring.
The adult elephant waits quietly with the small body, standing guard as the rest of the herd arrives. In a scene that mirrors a funeral procession, the elephants form a single-file line, gather around the lifeless calf, and eventually carry it back into the forest together.
The video has struck a deep emotional chord online, amassing over 5,000 retweets and nearly 12,000 likes. One user, Devika, commented, “This is heart-rending. There’s a lot that humans can learn from animals.” Another, Sumita Bhatt, wrote, “Omg!!! First time I’ve seen something like this. Really very touching.” Mohan Alembath added, “Elephants’ capacity for complex emotions like grief is truly remarkable.”
While scientists are cautious about attributing human emotions to animals, elephants are known for exhibiting behaviors that resemble mourning. According to Smithsonian Magazine, elephants often revisit the remains of their dead, touching and smelling them—actions that suggest a sense of reverence or connection.
This isn’t the only time animals have displayed such grief-like behaviors. In 2018, the world was moved when a female orca carried her dead calf for over two weeks off the coast of British Columbia, refusing to let go.
Chimpanzees, too, have been observed mourning their dead. In one instance, captive chimps tended to a deceased group member—cleaning her fur and avoiding the spot where she died for days. In Zambia, a mother chimp was even seen using dried grass to clean her dead son’s teeth.
Other species show similar behaviors. Magpies have been spotted covering their dead with grass, and in the United States, wild peccaries—relatives of pigs—have been filmed nuzzling and sleeping next to the body of a lost companion.
These powerful moments remind us just how deeply animals can feel, form bonds, and grieve. They offer a humbling glimpse into the emotional worlds of creatures we often underestimate—and show that nature is filled with moments of compassion, sorrow, and connection.
