Animal Grief: How Animals Mourn

Science is now providing some remarkable insights into animal behaviour, with crocodiles, for example, emerging as devoted parents, and elephants – like whales – able to communicate with each other across long distances by ultrasound, which is inaudible to our ears. There seems little doubt that animals experience a range of emotions, just as we do; but can they grieve, too ...? Evidence exists that, indeed, they can: in addition, David Alderton – award-winning, multi-million selling, specialist animal author – contends that emotions – including grief – can potentially have a survival value for a species. The authoritative, rational text is superbly supported by interesting, sensitive photographs carefully chosen to be reflective of the subject matter.

Table of Contents:
1 Changing times, changing ways The concept of the soul Communication with animals An obsession with hierarchy The concept of animism Darwin's impact Testing self-awareness Problem areas Catholicism recognises an animal soul Body chemistry Reactions to grief Rituals Expressions of grief differ 2 Why get emotional? Different judgements A degree of control Biological parameters and grief Parental bonding, aggression, and emotion Grieving studies Do animals go through stages of grief? New thinking Is it possible to detect grief? 3 Wild observations Expressions of anger and grief? Other encounters Misplaced affection Memories and grief Elephant graveyards A physiological explanation Ongoing studies Mourning the dead Crying Something missed? Close quarters Talking about loss Avian conundrums Grieving corvids Watchful parrots 4 Companion animals Loyalty in death Different interpretations Another similar instance Grief-struck Loyalty after death Staying put Canine grieving Feline perspectives Bird talk Missing you Radical thoughts Difficulties in this field of study In conclusion

About the Author :
David Alderton trained as a veterinarian and his books about dogs have sold over a million copies. David has been awarded the Maxwell Medal by the Dog Writers’ Association of America and has acted as consultant on canine programmes screened by the Discovery Channel. He was very closely involved in the TV documentary celebrating the Crufts Centenary dog show, screened by the UK’s BBC and broadcasters in thirteen other countries worldwide.

Review :
We really don't need more data to know other animals grieve and mourn the loss of family and friends and I'm sure as time goes on more and more species will be added to the list of animals who grieve. But for those who do want more, a book called Animal Grief: How Animals Mourn was recently published that contains new information on how a wide variety of animals respond to death. Accompanied by striking photographs of a wide range of animals is a text filled with new information about animal grief. Topics covered include animal souls, self-awareness, the neurobiology of grief and mourning, mourning rituals, stages of grief, and numerous examples of grief in a wide variety of animals, including elephants, chimpanzees, cats, dogs, and various birds. A large amount of information is packed in its 80 pages and it's an easy read. - Marc Bekoff - Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.