WEB DESK: Recent research sheds light on an intriguing behavior observed among wild Asian elephants, indicating that they may engage in burial rituals for their deceased calves, a phenomenon previously thought to be unique to African savanna elephants.
The study, conducted by Parveen Kaswan, an Indian Forest Service officer, and Akashdeep Roy, a senior research fellow at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune, documents five instances of wild Asian elephant herds burying their dead calves in irrigation ditches within India’s northern Bengal region. These occurrences, observed between 2022 and 2023, provide the first recorded evidence of full burial behavior in Asian elephants.
Typically, both African and Asian elephants, along with magpies, engage in what scientists term “weak” burial, covering their deceased with foliage. However, the burial behavior observed in the study involved the calves being fully buried, with their legs protruding from the ground and their heads, trunks, and backs covered with soil.
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Roy emphasises the significance of this behavior, stating, “It puts the elephants apart. This behavior also tells us how much they care for their loved ones.” However, some experts remain cautious, citing the need for further evidence to confirm intentional burial by the elephants, especially given that the burials occurred exclusively on tea estates.
Heidi Riddle, vice chair of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group, underscores the importance of substantiating these findings, noting the lack of direct observation of the burial process. Raman Sukumar, an ecologist at the Indian Institute of Science, echoes this sentiment, suggesting that actions described in the study may not necessarily indicate burial behavior.
The study highlights the unique circumstances surrounding these burials, occurring predominantly between July and November when elephants traverse tea plantations during their migration in search of food. The elephants appeared to select burial sites deliberately, choosing isolated locations away from humans and carnivores, often utilizing irrigation drains and depressions for burial.
Examinations of the burial sites revealed footprints of elephants of varying sizes, indicating collaborative efforts in burying the carcasses. Roy suggests that these footprints demonstrate a coordinated approach by the elephants, illustrating their understanding of how much pressure to exert and where to place their feet during the burial process.
While the study offers intriguing insights into the behavior of wild Asian elephants, further research is needed to fully understand the motivations and implications of this burial behavior.
