Technology
Science
Animals
Learning & Knowledge
Life & Discovery
Smart Buying
Q&A
There is little doubt today about the high intelligence of elephants. One of the most remarkable aspects of their behavior is their apparent “funeral culture.” Elephants have been observed mourning their dead, returning to the same sites, and covering bodies with leaves and branches.
A study published on February 26 in the Journal of Threatened Taxa documented a particularly unusual behavior. Forest officer Parveen Kaswan and researcher Akashdeep Roy of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research spent 16 months recording five burial events involving Asian elephant calves in northern West Bengal, near the Himalayan foothills and surrounding floodplains.
These elephants live in fragmented landscapes that include forests, tea plantations, farmland, and human settlements. What surprised researchers was not only that the elephants buried their dead calves, but how they did it.
First, the method allows multiple members of the herd to participate in the burial process. Second, because irrigation trenches are relatively shallow, elephants may prioritize burying the most important parts of the body — especially the head — which could reflect a form of respect for the deceased. Finally, the exposed legs may help mark the location of the burial site.
Previously, researchers had observed African forest elephants covering dead herd members with leaves and branches. However, burial itself — especially in this specific posture — is far less commonly documented.
The five Asian elephant calves were found buried in tea plantations in northern West Bengal between September 2022 and October 2023. The calves, estimated to be between three months and one year old, appeared to have died from natural causes such as infection or malnutrition.
Their bodies were placed on their backs inside irrigation trenches up to 65 centimeters deep and then covered with soil. While the head and torso were mostly buried, all four legs remained protruding above the ground.
Bruising on the calves’ backs suggests that the herd dragged the bodies over long distances before reaching the burial sites. In some cases, elephants reportedly carried or moved the bodies for up to 48 hours before burying them.
Researchers argue that placing the calves in trenches with their legs pointing upward may make it easier for multiple elephants to take part in covering the body. The presence of numerous footprints and dung at the sites supports the idea that many members of the herd were involved.
The team also suggests that elephants may intentionally bury the head and torso to protect the remains from scavengers.
Local tea workers and villagers reported hearing loud elephant calls lasting 30 to 40 minutes before the animals left the burial sites — something researchers interpret as part of a mourning or funeral-like process. This aligns with findings from a 2022 study showing that Asian elephants guard the bodies of deceased herd members, vocalize, and appear to comfort one another in what researchers described as “calming responses.”
Afterward, elephants also seem to avoid returning to burial areas, suggesting some level of spatial memory tied to these events.
Elephants are among the few animals known to recognize themselves in a mirror, a sign of self-awareness. They also have exceptional memory and can recognize individuals even after decades apart.
One widely reported case involved two elephants at a zoo in Tennessee that showed an unusually emotional reaction upon being reunited. Researchers later discovered that the two animals had lived and performed together in a circus more than 20 years earlier.
Like humans, elephants can also experience deep emotional distress when they lose companions. In April of this year, a well-known incident at Elephant Nature Park in Thailand drew attention to this behavior. Two elephants, Jok and Mae Perm, had lived closely together for 17 years.
Jok, who had been rescued from illegal logging operations, was blind. Mae Perm effectively became his guide, staying by his side constantly — eating, playing, and resting together.
When Mae Perm died of old age, Jok was left alone. During her burial, which took place near Jok’s enclosure, the blind elephant reportedly showed clear signs of grief, vocalizing loudly and displaying distress for hours.
These observations continue to reinforce what scientists increasingly recognize: elephants are not only highly intelligent, but also deeply social and emotionally complex animals.
A study published on February 26 in the Journal of Threatened Taxa documented a particularly unusual behavior. Forest officer Parveen Kaswan and researcher Akashdeep Roy of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research spent 16 months recording five burial events involving Asian elephant calves in northern West Bengal, near the Himalayan foothills and surrounding floodplains.
These elephants live in fragmented landscapes that include forests, tea plantations, farmland, and human settlements. What surprised researchers was not only that the elephants buried their dead calves, but how they did it.
First, the method allows multiple members of the herd to participate in the burial process. Second, because irrigation trenches are relatively shallow, elephants may prioritize burying the most important parts of the body — especially the head — which could reflect a form of respect for the deceased. Finally, the exposed legs may help mark the location of the burial site.
Previously, researchers had observed African forest elephants covering dead herd members with leaves and branches. However, burial itself — especially in this specific posture — is far less commonly documented.
The five Asian elephant calves were found buried in tea plantations in northern West Bengal between September 2022 and October 2023. The calves, estimated to be between three months and one year old, appeared to have died from natural causes such as infection or malnutrition.
Their bodies were placed on their backs inside irrigation trenches up to 65 centimeters deep and then covered with soil. While the head and torso were mostly buried, all four legs remained protruding above the ground.
Bruising on the calves’ backs suggests that the herd dragged the bodies over long distances before reaching the burial sites. In some cases, elephants reportedly carried or moved the bodies for up to 48 hours before burying them.
Researchers argue that placing the calves in trenches with their legs pointing upward may make it easier for multiple elephants to take part in covering the body. The presence of numerous footprints and dung at the sites supports the idea that many members of the herd were involved.
The team also suggests that elephants may intentionally bury the head and torso to protect the remains from scavengers.
Local tea workers and villagers reported hearing loud elephant calls lasting 30 to 40 minutes before the animals left the burial sites — something researchers interpret as part of a mourning or funeral-like process. This aligns with findings from a 2022 study showing that Asian elephants guard the bodies of deceased herd members, vocalize, and appear to comfort one another in what researchers described as “calming responses.”
Afterward, elephants also seem to avoid returning to burial areas, suggesting some level of spatial memory tied to these events.
Elephants are among the few animals known to recognize themselves in a mirror, a sign of self-awareness. They also have exceptional memory and can recognize individuals even after decades apart.
One widely reported case involved two elephants at a zoo in Tennessee that showed an unusually emotional reaction upon being reunited. Researchers later discovered that the two animals had lived and performed together in a circus more than 20 years earlier.
Like humans, elephants can also experience deep emotional distress when they lose companions. In April of this year, a well-known incident at Elephant Nature Park in Thailand drew attention to this behavior. Two elephants, Jok and Mae Perm, had lived closely together for 17 years.
Jok, who had been rescued from illegal logging operations, was blind. Mae Perm effectively became his guide, staying by his side constantly — eating, playing, and resting together.
When Mae Perm died of old age, Jok was left alone. During her burial, which took place near Jok’s enclosure, the blind elephant reportedly showed clear signs of grief, vocalizing loudly and displaying distress for hours.
These observations continue to reinforce what scientists increasingly recognize: elephants are not only highly intelligent, but also deeply social and emotionally complex animals.
