In a poignant and somber display of emotion, a group of grieving elephants has been spotted delicately carrying the lifeless body of a deceased calf across a roadway. The heart-wrenching footage captured the image of an Indian elephant emerging from the undergrowth, cradling the motionless calf, while at least eight other elephants followed in a mournful procession.

The emotional scene, reminiscent of a funeral procession, was shared on Twitter by Parveen Kaswan, an Indian Foreign Service forest ranger, who expressed the profound impact of the spectacle. The video depicts the lead elephant, potentially the calf’s mother, tenderly bearing the calf’s remains on the roadside. The solemn procession is joined by a group of elephants, including three calves, all walking solemnly behind her.

As the group traverses into a different area of the undergrowth, the mother elephant carefully places the calf’s body on the ground for a brief moment before lifting it once again and returning it to the shelter of the wilderness. The deeply moving display unfolds amidst stopped vehicles and a gathering of onlookers, both touched and affected by the poignant ritual.

The act raises questions about the capacity for elephants to experience grief and emotional connections within their social structure. As creatures that form strong bonds within tightly-knit herds, elephants often display a remarkable interest in the remains of their deceased counterparts and may even mourn for the departed. The Smithsonian Institution, a global leader in education, research, and museums, highlights elephants’ tendencies to show emotional attachment to the bones of their deceased and to engage in mourning behavior for lost family members.

While the exact cause of the calf’s demise remains unknown, the profound emotional response exhibited by the elephants serves as a testament to the intricate social dynamics and the depth of their emotional experiences. Observations like these continue to deepen our understanding of the complex emotional lives of these majestic animals, evoking empathy and compassion from all those fortunate enough to bear witness.

In a world where the mysteries of animal emotions are still being unravelled, such moments underscore the need for further study and conservation efforts to preserve these remarkable creatures and their rich emotional lives.