Do elephants cry?

There are numerous documented reports of elephants shedding tears in response to events that would be considered traumatic for humans. However, until science finds a way to measure emotions, without having to depend on verbal communication of subjects being studied, this will continue to be a matter of debate.

Some animal behaviorists contend that tears in animals are hard-wired responses to loss of comfort and not the result of emotions as humans know them. Others contend that despite the lack of scientific certainty, there is solid research that suggests that elephants and other animals do enjoy rich emotional lives, experiencing empathy, joy and grief.