Study reveals Asian elephants' burial rituals for deceased calves

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Researchers in India have recently observed Asian elephants burying dead calves for the first time.

Five calves were discovered buried on their backs in drainage ditches within tea gardens in northern Bengal, as revealed by a recent study.

According to study author Akashdeep Roy, a researcher at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), while African elephants are known to bury dead calves, this is the first instance of such behavior being observed in Asian elephants. Roy shared this information with CNN on Wednesday.

The burials were documented in areas home to fragmented forests and agricultural lands such as tea gardens, said Roy.

A dead calf being dragged by an adult.

A dead calf being dragged by an adult.

Kaswan and Roy

Herds of elephants now travel through tea gardens on their way through the countryside, using trails that wind their way through the landscape.

Roy mentioned that elephants used to stick to the forests in the past, but nowadays they are starting to feel at ease in areas where humans are present.

Elephants avoid burying their dead in villages to avoid human interference. However, tea garden drainage ditches are ideal for calf burials, according to Roy.

Roy explained that elephants use their legs or trunk to hold the carcass before laying it in the ditch and covering it with mud. This method allows elephants to easily bury their dead.

Roy and his co-author Parveen Kaswan of the Indian Forest Service stumbled upon evidence of calf burials while conducting research in the area. Roy expressed his surprise at the discovery.

This is the first time that calf burials by Asian elephants have been documented.

This is the first time that calf burials by Asian elephants have been documented.

Kaswan and Roy

Roy mentioned that the researchers also investigated whether Asian elephants, like African elephants, would return to burial sites. However, they discovered that the Asian elephants tended to avoid these areas instead.

Roy mentioned that the Indian Forest Service removes the bodies, but he believes that elephants from different herds can still sense a burial site. "They know many things that we don’t know," he added.

Elephants are seen eating in a forest at the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Centre in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, southwest China. Residents in the Myanmar-Laos border area are now accustomed to seeing elephants on the streets as the recovering elephant population competes for space in dwindling habitats, increasing human-elephant conflicts. This photo, taken on July 20, 2021, accompanies an AFP story on China's efforts in animal conservation by Dan Martin.

Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images

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Almost two-thirds of elephant habitat has been lost across Asia, according to a recent study. Roy, who spoke with CNN, plans to continue searching for more cases of calf burials in northern Bengal and Assam, where there are numerous tea gardens.

The team plans to utilize drones and seek assistance from tea garden managers and local residents to identify any burial sites, according to the speaker.

Joshua Plotnik, an assistant professor of psychology at Hunter College in New York, who was not part of the research, suggests that there may be a more straightforward explanation for these supposed burials.

Plotnik, who studies cognition in elephants and other animals, mentioned that while elephants have been seen carrying calf carcasses, none of his colleagues, some of whom have studied elephants for many years, have witnessed elephants burying their dead.

He also proposed another possible explanation - that the calves may have fallen into ditches, got trapped, and eventually died there. The dirt could have either naturally covered them after death, or there might be signs of a rescue attempt by other members of the herd.

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Indian temple switches to using a life-sized robotic elephant to avoid cruelty. According to Plotnik, more evidence like direct observations of the burials and the elephants' behavior is needed before drawing any conclusions.

Roy disagrees with this theory, pointing out that bruises found on the backs of the deceased calves indicate that they were actually pulled to their final location by other herd members.

This research was officially released in the Journal of Threatened Taxa on February 26th.

Editor's P/S:

The discovery of Asian elephants burying their dead calves is a fascinating and heartwarming testament to the complex emotions and behaviors of these magnificent creatures. It challenges our understanding of elephant behavior and suggests that they possess a deeper level of empathy and connection with their young than previously thought. The fact that this behavior has only been observed in Asian elephants, and not in their African counterparts, adds to the intrigue and highlights the diversity within elephant species.

Furthermore, the research raises questions about the role of human activity in shaping elephant behavior. As elephants increasingly come into contact with human-altered landscapes, they may adapt their behaviors to cope with these changes. The fact that the burials were discovered in tea gardens, which are a common sight in northern Bengal, suggests that elephants are adapting to the presence of humans in their environment. This research provides valuable insights into the adaptability and resilience of elephants and highlights the importance of understanding their interactions with their surroundings.