Animal Have Feelings
Nicholas Destino
Professor Thomas
English 101
10 November 1997
Do Animals Have Emotions? Somewhere in the savannas of Africa a mother elephant is dying in the company of many other pachyderms. Some of them are part of her family; some are fellow members of her herd. The dying elephant tips from side to side and seems to be balancing on a thin thread in order to sustain her life. Many of the other elephants surround her as she struggles to regain her balance. They also try to help by feeding and caressing her. After many attempts by the herd to save her life, they seem to realize that there is simply nothing more that can be done. She finally collapses to the ground in the presence of her companions. Most of the other elephants move away from the scene. There are, however, two elephants who remain behind with the dead elephant—another mother and her calf. The mother turns her back to the body and taps it to follow and eventually they do (Mason and MaCarthy, Elephants 95). These movements, which are slow and ritualistic, suggest that elephants may be capable of interpreting and responding to the notion of death. The topic of animal emotions is one that, until recently, has rarely been discussed or studied by scientists. However, since the now famous comprehensive field studies of chimpanzees by the internationally renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, those who study animal behavior have begun to look more closely at the notion that animals feel emotions. As a result of their observations of various species of animals, a number of these researchers have come to the conclusion that animals do exhibit a wide range of emotions, such as grief, sympathy, and joy. One of the major reasons research into animal emotions has been avoided is that scientists fear being accused of anthropomorphism—the act of attributing human qualities to animals. To do so is perceived as unscientific (Masson and McCarthy, “Hope and Joy” xviii). Frans de Waal, of the Yerkes Regional
Professor Thomas
English 101
10 November 1997
Do Animals Have Emotions? Somewhere in the savannas of Africa a mother elephant is dying in the company of many other pachyderms. Some of them are part of her family; some are fellow members of her herd. The dying elephant tips from side to side and seems to be balancing on a thin thread in order to sustain her life. Many of the other elephants surround her as she struggles to regain her balance. They also try to help by feeding and caressing her. After many attempts by the herd to save her life, they seem to realize that there is simply nothing more that can be done. She finally collapses to the ground in the presence of her companions. Most of the other elephants move away from the scene. There are, however, two elephants who remain behind with the dead elephant—another mother and her calf. The mother turns her back to the body and taps it to follow and eventually they do (Mason and MaCarthy, Elephants 95). These movements, which are slow and ritualistic, suggest that elephants may be capable of interpreting and responding to the notion of death. The topic of animal emotions is one that, until recently, has rarely been discussed or studied by scientists. However, since the now famous comprehensive field studies of chimpanzees by the internationally renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, those who study animal behavior have begun to look more closely at the notion that animals feel emotions. As a result of their observations of various species of animals, a number of these researchers have come to the conclusion that animals do exhibit a wide range of emotions, such as grief, sympathy, and joy. One of the major reasons research into animal emotions has been avoided is that scientists fear being accused of anthropomorphism—the act of attributing human qualities to animals. To do so is perceived as unscientific (Masson and McCarthy, “Hope and Joy” xviii). Frans de Waal, of the Yerkes Regional
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