When elephants get sad: a touching tale

When elephants get sad: a touching tale: ""I think the genital touching, in combination with other touches, specifically in this context, serves to reassure the other elephant," Plotnik said. "We also see the elephants put their trunks into each others' mouths, which seems to be a way of saying, 'I'm here to help you."'

Consoling behaviours are rare in the animal kingdom. Humans, great apes, dogs and some birds are known to attend to peers in distress, scientists say.

"With their strong social bonds, it's not surprising that elephants show concern for others," said co-author Frans de Waal, a professor of primate behaviour at Emory University in Atlanta."



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