Have you ever pondered whether dogs and cats can feel joy and sadness? What about wild animals – do they experience love and grief? Barbara J. King, an emerita professor of anthropology at William & Mary College, a research fellow at PAN Works (a center for animal ethics), and a well-known author, has dedicated her career to exploring the emotional lives of animals. Her research highlights that emotions such as love and grief are not exclusive to humans but are shared across different species. Through her TED Talk and books like How Animals Grieve and Animals’ Best Friends, she advocates for acknowledging these emotions and taking steps to enhance animal welfare.
One poignant example of animal grief that Barbara discusses is the story of Tahlequah, an orca whose grieving process in 2018 and now in 2025 has captivated global attention and challenged misconceptions about animal emotions. Tahlequah, a member of the J pod of orcas in the Pacific Northwest, gained worldwide recognition in 2018 when her calf died shortly after birth. Over the following 17 days and covering about 1,000 miles, Tahlequah carried her deceased daughter in what has been dubbed her “grief swim.” This extraordinary display required immense physical and emotional strength as Tahlequah refused to let go of her calf despite the challenges posed by ocean currents and the needs of her pod.
Barbara King, a distinguished author, emerita professor of anthropology, and research fellow at PAN Works, underscores the significance of Tahlequah’s actions. She emphasizes that Tahlequah’s behavior was a tangible expression of her grief over the loss of her offspring and a departure from her usual routine, indicating a deep emotional experience. Tahlequah’s recent similar experience in 2025, where she carried another deceased calf after giving birth, further highlights the depth of her emotional turmoil and sheds light on the challenges faced by her pod, such as diminishing salmon populations and environmental stressors.
Tahlequah’s poignant actions challenge antiquated views that downplay animal emotions as mere projections of human feelings. Barbara recalls how, during her graduate studies, attributing emotions like love and grief to animals was considered taboo. She emphasizes the need to recognize and respect the emotional lives of animals, as demonstrated by Tahlequah’s powerful displays of grief that transcend anthropomorphic interpretations.
In graduate school, we were taught never to anthropomorphize animals by saying that one monkey loved another,” she explains. “This caution stemmed from concerns about projecting human emotions onto animals without appropriate evidence, a misconception that is prevalent in the field. Researchers were encouraged to use clinical language, referring to social bonds as “preferences for proximity.” However, as Barbara and other scientists have observed, animals display behaviors resembling grief in humans — altered routines, withdrawal, loss of appetite, and visible mourning rituals. For instance, elephants have been seen standing vigil over deceased family members, displaying signs of sorrow. Birds like magpies and crows have been observed mourning lost mates, and even domestic animals like dogs and cats exhibit grief when a companion passes away.
Barbara’s extensive research indicates that these behaviors reflect genuine emotional responses rather than anthropomorphic projections. She shares an example that deeply impacted her involving an elephant matriarch named Eleanor. When Eleanor passed away, her close elephant friend attempted to revive her, and elephants from different families came to pay their respects over the following week. Some elephants were curious, but many stood vigil, rocked over her body, and visibly expressed sorrow, demonstrating their grief.
Elephants are known for their strong familial bonds, showing documented signs of love and empathy. Barbara challenges the misconception that emotions like love and grief are exclusive to humans, emphasizing the need to recognize the emotional complexity of non-human lives. She stresses the importance of observing animals closely to understand their behaviors like love, grief, fear, and joy.
Barbara also highlights the tendency to value emotional expressions in certain animals like orcas and elephants while overlooking similar capacities in “food animals.” Cows separated from their calves exhibit distress, yet society often dismisses their grief due to ingrained practices around food consumption. Acknowledging the emotional lives of all animals requires consistency and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
Recognizing and understanding animal grief can provide valuable insights into human experiences of loss, offering a unique perspective on healing and emotional processes. Barbara emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the emotional depth and complexity of all animals, not just those traditionally seen as companions or wildlife.
Recognizing and acknowledging that grief is a universal experience shared not only by humans but also by animals can offer a sense of comfort and connection. It serves as a poignant reminder that love and loss are intrinsic aspects of life that transcend species boundaries, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all living beings in our collective journey through existence. This broader perspective on grief can help to normalize the emotions associated with loss, alleviate feelings of isolation, and foster a profound sense of kinship with the natural world.
Advocacy for animal emotions goes beyond mere intellectual contemplation; it necessitates tangible actions and ethical considerations. Barbara emphasizes the importance of bridging our understanding of animal emotions with ethical decision-making in our daily lives. This advocacy begins with simple yet impactful choices, such as adopting plant-based diets to lessen the suffering of food animals and refraining from supporting entertainment venues that exploit animals for human pleasure.
Furthermore, public policy plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the emotional well-being of animals. Enacting laws against animal cruelty, implementing regulations on factory farming practices, and supporting conservation efforts are crucial steps towards respecting and protecting animal emotions. In the context of orcas like Tahlequah, addressing environmental challenges such as water pollution, river damming, and overfishing becomes imperative to ensure their well-being and survival.
Tahlequah’s journey of grief serves as a poignant call to action, prompting us to reflect on our collective responsibility towards the welfare of animals. It challenges us to evaluate the extent of our compassion and to take concrete steps to address the systemic issues that threaten the lives and emotional experiences of these sentient beings. By observing, understanding, and advocating for animals, we not only pay homage to their unique emotional landscapes but also enrich our own humanity in the process.
Barbara’s insightful work and Tahlequah’s poignant swim of grief serve as enduring reminders that animals are sentient individuals with complex emotional lives. Their experiences of grief, love, and other emotions transcend species boundaries, compelling us to reassess our attitudes and behaviors towards the animals that share our planet. Tahlequah’s monumental journey symbolizes the profound interconnectedness that binds all living beings together, underscoring the importance of empathy, compassion, and advocacy in creating a more harmonious and respectful relationship with the natural world that we are all a part of.
