Non Human Animals Responses to Social Loss

Authors:

DOI: 10.23880/oajvsr-16000286

Volume 10, Issue 2

Abstract

An emerging topic of interest for those studying the effects of social loss and separation in non-human animals converges upon whether non-human animals experience the negative emotions of losing an attachment figure to death. Following screening for inclusion criteria, we systematically reviewed 40 scientifically documented accounts of grief-like reactions around loss, primarily involving mother and young but also including several unrelated adults, in various animal taxa including primates, marine mammals, elephants, a canid species, and an avian species. Most accounts involved animals in the wild, but animals in captivity were also included. We summarized information about behavioral frequencies and durations and physiological responses before and after the loss, causes of loss, time lived together, and observation period. Distress behaviors such as self-grooming, allogrooming, grooming the carcass, and vocalizations were the most reported behaviors, followed by carrying, physical contact, and staying with the dead. Based on this body of evidence, we conclude that at least some non-human animals can experience grief-like emotions, making grief not exclusively a human phenomenon and, thus, worthy of animal welfare concern.

Keywords: Animal; Attachment; Emotions; Grief; Loss; Welfare

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