I have a crazy (in the best of ways) neighbor. He grazes his crazy (not in the best of ways) bull in our field. This morning on my way into town, I noticed a large truck at another neighbor’s field. It was a mobile slaughterhouse. When I came back home, the truck was long gone. The crazy bull in my field was going berserk. It took me a minute to compute that his behavior was caused by the missing cows. He was lowing pitifully and running back and forth along the fence. Back and forth across the field. Back and forth along the fence. Moaning. Bellowing. Moaning. Bellowing. I had never seen this behavior in him.

If you know me, you know I’m not crazy about cows (See this blog to know the depths of my moo trauma: Wild About Cows – Further The Faith) – but this was just heart-rending.

Grief in Herds and its Translation to Humans

Grief, a profound emotional response to loss, is not exclusively a human experience. Numerous academic disciplines show evidence that many social animals, especially those living in herds, exhibit behaviors indicative of grief. Understanding these manifestations in animal herds can offer valuable insights into the universality of grief, which in turn can illuminate aspects of human grieving processes.

Manifestations of Grief in Animal Herds

The observation of grief in animal herds is primarily based on behavioral changes following the death of a conspecific. (isn’t that a great word.) Grief behavior often deviates significantly from typical patterns and can persist for varying durations. The death of an infant often elicits a more intense and prolonged grieving response from the mother compared to the death of an unrelated adult (The Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior). This highlights the importance of social bonds and kinship in shaping the grieving process in animal herds.

Behavioral Changes

1. One of the most commonly observed behaviors in grieving animals is a change in their social interactions.
2. For instance, elephants, renowned for their complex social structures, have been documented to exhibit prolonged attention to the remains of deceased herd members. In Elephants: A Cultural History of the World’s Most Magnificent Creatures, it is noted that elephants may repeatedly visit and touch the bones of deceased individuals, sometimes for years after death. View this fascinating national Geographic video on elephants: https://youtu.be/Ku_GUNzXoeQ.
3. This behavior is often accompanied by a somber demeanor and suggests a form of remembrance or mourning.
4. Similarly, in The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Reveals How Animals Feel, it is described how chimpanzees may carry the bodies of their deceased infants for days or even weeks.
5. Chimps exhibit distress when forced to abandon their deceased infants. This prolonged contact and reluctance to separate from the deceased are strong indicators of an emotional bond and subsequent grief.
6. Beyond direct interaction with the deceased, grieving animals may also display altered activity levels:

• decrease in foraging behavior
• reduced play
• general lethargy
• becoming withdrawn
• less responsive to their surroundings

7. Vocalizations can also change in grieving herds.

• Some species, such as whales and dolphins, are known to produce distinct vocalizations when a pod member dies. These calls, often described as mournful or distressed, can persist for extended periods, suggesting a collective expression of grief within the group (Marine Mammals: Biology and Conservation). The alteration in vocal patterns serves as a communicative signal of distress, potentially eliciting empathy or support from other herd members.
• Primate Societies details how the loss of a high-ranking individual can lead to increased aggression or anxiety among subordinates, reflecting the emotional impact of the loss on the group’s overall well-being.

Physiological Responses

While more challenging to measure in wild animal populations, some studies suggest physiological responses to grief in animals.

• Increased stress hormone levels, such as cortisol, have been observed in animals following the loss of a close companion.
• In Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach, it is discussed how chronic stress can lead to immunosuppression and other health issues, suggesting that the emotional toll of grief can have tangible physiological consequences for animals, similar to humans.

Translation to Humans

The observations of grief in animal herds offer compelling parallels to human grieving processes.

Social Bonding and Attachment

A key aspect of grief in both humans and animals is its strong connection to social bonding and attachment. The intensity of grief often correlates with the strength of the bond between the grieving individual and the deceased. In Attachment and Loss, Vol. 1: Attachment, John Bowlby’s seminal work on attachment theory emphasizes the profound distress experienced by humans when attachment bonds are broken. Similarly, the prolonged mourning observed in animals for close kin or companions underscores the deep emotional connections that exist within animal societies. The disruption of these bonds, whether through death or separation, elicits a powerful emotional response aimed at:

• restoring proximity or
• coping with its absence.

What a powerful statement! The bull running along the fence is his best, albeit futile attempt to restore proximity with his buddies.

Behavioral Manifestations

Many of the behavioral manifestations of grief observed in animal herds find direct parallels in human grieving. Withdrawal from social activities, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, and expressions of distress (e.g., crying, vocalizations) are common across both humans and grieving animals. The tendency to revisit places associated with the deceased or to hold onto objects belonging to them is also seen in both species, suggesting a shared mechanism for remembrance and processing loss. The Psychology of Death, Dying, and Bereavement details how human mourners often engage in rituals and behaviors aimed at maintaining a connection with the deceased, a sentiment echoed in the prolonged attention elephants pay to the remains of their kin.

I love gazing at photos of my parents as well as those of my deceased siblings. I was over the moon yesterday when I saw a photo of my son James in Marines bootcamp for the first time. I studied every feature over and over in the grainy image. Though he wasn’t looking into the camera, his enchanting eyes grabbed me in a sea of faces, whereas others had trouble identifying him.

Physiological and Psychological Impact

The physiological stress responses observed in grieving animals, such as elevated cortisol levels, are also well-documented in humans experiencing grief. Chronic grief can lead to a range of physical and mental health issues in humans, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, weakened immune function, and depression. The parallels in physiological responses suggest that the emotional burden of grief has tangible biological consequences across species. Furthermore, the concept of “broken heart syndrome” (stress-induced cardiomyopathy) in humans, while not directly observed in animals, highlights the profound physiological impact of emotional distress, including grief.

Adaptive Functions of Grief

Grief plays numerous roles:

• In Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind, argues that grief can reinforce social bonds by highlighting the value of relationships, thereby encouraging individuals to maintain strong social ties.
• The collective expression of grief within a herd can also foster empathy and support among group members, strengthening social cohesion in the face of adversity.
• For humans, grief also plays a crucial role in processing loss, adapting to a new reality without the deceased, and ultimately, finding meaning in the experience. W
• While animals may not engage in conscious meaning-making, their behavioral adjustments following loss suggest a process of adaptation to the altered social landscape.

Cultural and Individual Differences

While the fundamental experience of grief may be universal, its expression and processing are influenced by cultural and individual differences in humans. Similarly, in animal herds, species-specific social structures, cognitive abilities, and environmental pressures can shape the manifestation and duration of grieving behaviors. For example, a species with a highly fluid social structure might exhibit different grieving patterns compared to a species with stable, lifelong pair bonds. Understanding these variations in animal grief can provide a broader context for appreciating the diversity of human grieving experiences.

In conclusion, animals and humans share behavioral, physiological, and social responses to loss, underscoring the fundamental nature of grief as a response to the disruption of social bonds. By recognizing these parallels, we gain a richer understanding of the universality of grief and its profound impact on both animal and human lives. For lovers and followers of Jesus, we hurt just as deeply when bereft. A magnificent difference is the hope we experience at the loss of a loved one who also loved and followed Jesus. Having stood at the gravesides of 4 precious direct family members, and numerous relatives and friends, I can attest to the power of God to wrap us in comfort. I can attest to a holy defiance that rises from deep within and screams, “Death where is your victory? Where O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55. I can attest to the confidence and eager expectation that we will see them again, all too soon…

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Credible References Sources:

1. Moss, Cynthia. Elephants: A Cultural History of the World’s Most Magnificent Creatures. (Print) (Book)
2. Bekoff, Marc. The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Reveals How Animals Feel. (Print) (Book)
3. Bradshaw, G. A. The Oxford Handbook of Animal Cognition. (Print) (Book)
4. Smuts, Barbara B., et al. Primate Societies. (Print) (Book)
5. Bowlby, John. Attachment and Loss, Vol. 1: Attachment. (Print) (Book)
6. iask.ai

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The past week has been grief intense. We are certainly herd animals. Allow yourself to grieve. Help others carry their grief.

CTA:

1. How would you say grief is affecting you?
2. How are you choosing to process what is happening?
3. Which of the things listed above can you adopt to help you cope with these adverse times?