One morning while driving along a road in the northern parts of the reserve we encountered something that was particularly unusual. At first glance it seemed like a normal giraffe sighting with a fair few individuals in one area but as we approached it turned out to be something both myself and tracker Richard had never seen before.
Let’s rewind the clock by about a week in order to unpack what we were seeing. A large male giraffe was found dead in this exact spot and was being fed on by the Nkuhuma pride. Unsure of whether the pride had killed the giraffe or if it had died naturally or as a result of a battle with another male. If the lions had brought it down that would have been a tremendous battle to witness, but this isn’t the point of this blog. Eventually, there wasn’t much meat left so the lions moved off allowing other scavengers to completely finish off whatever remains there were, leaving nothing but a bit of skin and bones within hours.
Now back to our sighting that morning. There was a group of about ten or so giraffes around the area where the giraffe had died, all with their heads down moving around within meters of the remains of the carcass. Giraffes will often chew on or grind bones between their teeth in an attempt to supplement mineral deficiencies within their diets such as calcium and phosphorus. Normally these are much older, smaller and dried out bones and unlikely to come from another giraffe.
What we were seeing was different. These giraffes were not looking for bones to chew. These giraffes looked a little uneasy and slightly distressed. Without opening a serious can of worms as we could go down a long rabbit hole here on this topic. There is more and more research showing that a number of animals including but not limited to whales, killer whales, chimpanzees, and elephants show signs of grieving, with new discoveries, apparently, so do giraffes. Everything within mammals’ lives is driven by hormones, and so are emotions. Without trying to anthropomorphise these wild animals too far, it could make sense that they would also feel some form of emotion around the loss of another one of their kind. Below is a video of the numerous giraffe around the exact spot in which the giraffe had died.
It was incredibly interesting behaviour from the giraffe. Because of our cognitive abilities, we couldn’t help but assume that they were paying tribute to the fallen giraffe. We don’t know this for sure though. I have heard of elephants acknowledging bones of passed elephants, but I personally have never seen this before in giraffes, it was quite something. We sat watching the giraffe for nearly half an hour as they all seemed so concerned about the bones below. Every one of them at some point lowered their head to the ground to sniff around, and most did this multiple times. It almost seemed as if they were trying to figure out what had happened to the dead giraffe. A few of the other rangers have seen similar behaviours shown by a mother giraffe when losing her young calf.
In these instances the mother was found standing next to her calf that had died naturally, she would often nudge it with her foot, or bend over and attempt to wake it up with her head, occasionally licking the little one. Almost appearing distressed, the rangers would hear her give off a loud deep exhalation, which sounded similar to the giraffe’s alarm call. A clan of hyenas then began to feed on the dead giraffe and as soon as the mother noticed she came charging back in and chased the hyenas away.
Over the course of the next three days, the mother was seen in the same area walking around aimlessly. Normally giraffes are always seen feeding or ruminating, this mother was doing neither and possibly could have been interpreted as a giraffe’s form of grieving or processing the death of her calf. Eventually, she moved off, but seeing these giraffes so fixated on the bones of one of their own was something new and quite spectacular for me. It gave me a new appreciation for giraffes and got me thinking that maybe they do in their own way, somehow acknowledge their dead.
One evenomg last winter we followed a pack of wild dogs who had left their pups behind in their den. They chased a leopard off its kill, a baby giraffe, and fed on it. A female giraffe, presumably the mother, stood nearby. When we returned the next morning, the dogs and leopard were gone. There were 2 giraffes walking around the remains.
Dear Tayla, I certainly believe that animals have lots of similar emotions as we human beings do have. After all, we are also „only“ an animal. I have seen distress in birds and mammals. Whether it‘s because of hormones or something else, doesn‘t matter, I think.
Animals are just wonderful creatures.
Tayla, thank you for sharing this not so unusable behavior with us. I believe animals do grieve when death occurs within their clan.
Hi Tayla, thanks for this touching and very interesting video. I had already seen videos of mother giraffe trying to protect their dead calf but such a numerous group of adults around a dead one is really something unusual. Maybe for us, it may happen more frequently. Compassion is a biological imperative for mothers, I am convinced that all animals have deep relationships and emotions. Corvid family is known to do that, swordfish, marine mammals and many others, also stray cats and dogs besides our pets. Love the giraffe, it’s a great animal.
So moving, Tayla. Perhaps we’ve underestimated these elegant, serene creatures. It makes me wonder what else we don’t know about the interior lives of these and other animals.
Could well be. It wouldn’t surprise me if we find out more and more about animal behaviour, simply because we now know more, so one can see more………….
Very interesting blog Tayla, thank you!
As a CVT, I am convinced that some animals do indeed grieve. I have actually witnessed such behavior in my own dogs, and of course one hears stories of other pets or wild creatures displaying such behavior. While it is hard on my heart, I know that this is part of the true circle of life.
Tayla, this is such a thoughtfully written piece. The photos and video demonstrate the apparent emotional side of this animal that is usually not expected. The premise that animals do not possess human emotions is generally followed by most, but I don’t believe it’s a black/white issue based on my experience observing animal behavior, both domestically and in the wild. So much to ponder….
omigosh so amazing
Tayla it looks as if the giraffe’s where saying good bye to the one that was dead. I felt sorry for them, and it looks like they where coming to grieve over the lost one.
Such a moving story Tyler, I must say it brought a tear to my eye…particularly hearing the tragic story of the mother giraffe 😔
So interesting, thanks for sharing
Beautiful post Tayla, and I really appreciate you approach to understanding animal behaviors without falling to the temptation of anthropomorphizing.