Can other animals understand death?

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Barbara J. King |

TED-Ed

• July 2023

In 2018, an orca called Tahlequah gave birth. But her daughter died within an hour. Tahlequah, however, didn't leave her body. Over the next 17 days and 1,600 kilometers, she kept it afloat atop her own. By altering her feeding and travel patterns, Tahlequah's behavior was certainly unusual. But was she mourning— or just confused? Barbara J. King explores whether nonhuman animals experience grief. [Directed by Denis Chapon, The Animation Workshop, narrated by Susan Zimmerman, music by Cem Misirlioglu].