Article Review: "When Animals Mourn" by Barbara J. King

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In this article, author Barbara J. King’s contends some animals mourn the loss of a companion animal or a mother the loss of her infant. She did not start out believing this, but after years observing animals, both in the wild and in captivity, she has come to this conclusion. She’s seen mourning wild animals, such as dolphins, giraffes, gorillas and even ducks as well as domestic animals such as cats. King defines grief as an interruption in the surviving animal’s normal routine. Behaviors involved such things as refusing food, and adopting body postures or facial expressions that exhibit distress. She admits that this is not a perfect definition. What follows is string of observed stories of what appears to be instances of animals mourning. The most unusual is the case of two ducks, Kohl and Harper, that were rescued from a foie gras farm where they’d been forced fed. Both were injured and took to being together at a sanctuary. Because of his injuries, one eventually had to be put down. The other duck was allowed to watch the procedure. He laid his head and neck over the still body of his companion. Even later, he didn’t respond to any other ducks, but frequented places where he and his dead companion had spent time together. Some months later, he died as well. King admits that not every animal reacts like this. Not every animal that approaches the corpse of an animal known to it in life can be said to grieve or to miss the animal. But she firmly asserts many animals have rich emotional lives we humans overlook. This is nicely written, with beautiful, poignant illustrations. As for the accuracy of what she says, I can only measure it against my own experience. I know mother cats look for their kitten when they’re given away. But my cat did not grieve when my other cat died. It was if she was erased. But she had been sick for a long time. I think he saw her as already dead before she was gone. According to the contributors’ notes, author Barbara J. King is professor of biological anthropology at William and Mary College in Virginia. She blogs for NPR and has a number of books out. ____ Title: “When Animals Mourn” Author: Barbara J. King Published in: The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2014 First Published: Scientific American July 2013 _____ *An earlier version of this review appeared at another site. It has been updated and expanded for its inclusion at myLot*