Experts in animal behavior say that some animals may cry as we do from emotions like sadness or stress.
Many animals shed tears to lubricate the eyes and wash away dust and debris. However, recently the story of Zhuang-zhuang, the newborn elephant who cried inconsolably for 5 hours after being violently stepped on and kicked by his own mother, has many wondering if those tears come from the same emotions people feel.
Experts in animal behavior say that some animals may cry as we do from emotions like sadness or stress. Similar to human babies who cannot communicate in other ways, cries may be from desires for touch, attention, or other needs.
According to studies, chicken, mice, and rats all showed the complex ability to feel another’s pain. Similarly, more than 50 percent of dog owners report that their dogs try to comfort them when sensing the owner’s distress. More than 70 percent of dog owners said their dogs had demonstrated separation anxiety by whimpering or howling.
Other studies confirmed rats, dogs, and chimpanzees also laugh. (1,16,all) If animals do feel emotions like happiness or sadness, to what extent do they match what people feel? Stories like Zhuang-zhuang’s are sure to prompt more research for that answer.
