Francesca Capozzi A mother chimpanzee separated from her deceased cub after months, showing her pain to the world. The episode reignites the debate on the dynamics of mourning among primates, as numerous cases have been documented between different species
@Bioparco Valencia
She had been carrying her dead baby for weeks and months, caring for him tenderly even after his death. She never left him until, seven months later, she finally parted with him forever.
This heart-wrenching display of grief comes from Natalia, a captive female chimpanzee, now at Valencia’s BIOPARC. Visitors witnessed her intense post-mortem attachment to her infant-a powerful evocation of empathy.
Although her baby had died in early February, for month after month, Natalia refused to let go, while in her own way, working through her profound loss. The zoo staff decided not to intervene throughout her whole grieving process.
Interfering or forcibly taking the baby away would have caused more emotional distress for Natalia. The staff kept her under their control, awaiting any moment she would be ready to release her infant’s remains.
That finally came in September, the end of her very long and agonizing grief. The sad story of Natalia has touched the hearts of the BIOPARC Valencia team and many on the internet, but it is not an isolated case.
This is well documented in the animal kingdom, but mostly amongst the primate species of animal, for which much scientific interest has been aroused. Scientists have for long asked themselves whether the chimpanzee understands death and loss, and from evidence, it would appear they do.
Some scientists believe holding on to their dead offspring may be a protection to help cope with the loss. Previous scientific literature discussed complex patterns of loss processing in chimpanzees and linked them to physiological and psychological reasons.
A study among wild chimpanzee populations gave reason to believe that mammals have some sense of mourning. However, these findings are limited in such a way as to make their universal interpretation quite difficult.
Natalia’s recent experience, in a zoo, stresses the need for further research to be done, at least in the wild. Countless observations in natural habitats are needed-perfect for the primates, as zoo conditions reflect only part of a whole spectrum of animal behavior.
