[kellyhound]

India.

[William May]

Elephants cry when they are stressed. You can see this one was stressed!

[kellyhound]

Originally Posted by William May ↗

Elephants cry when they are stressed. You can see this one was stressed!

Elephants do not possess the mammalian tear drainage structures required to wick away moisture. Their eyes are constantly lubricated and cleaned by secretions from the Harderian gland to protect against dust and dry environments. Because they lack functional drainage canals, excess lubricating fluid continuously gathers and dribbles down their faces, which is frequently mistaken for crying instead they emit low frequency rumbles, trumpets and high-pitched screams when mourning or being anxious.

[William May]

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

Elephants do not possess the mammalian tear drainage structures required to wick away moisture. Their eyes are constantly lubricated and cleaned by secretions from the Harderian gland to protect against dust and dry environments. Because they lack functional drainage canals, excess lubricating fluid continuously gathers and dribbles down their faces, which is frequently mistaken for crying instead they emit low frequency rumbles, trumpets and high-pitched screams when mourning or being anxious.

That may be the current scientific consensus, but I can tell you it is wrong. Read about elephants that are stressed from Ivory hunters in Africa. Maybe they AREN'T actually crying, but their eyes are all ringed with huge drippages that run down their face from the stress. Look at the pictures and you will see. You can tell if an elephant is stressed just by how huge these areas are on their faces. Google something on Ivory hunting in Africa, or Elephants in heavy hunting areas, and you will see this very dramatically. I wasn't aware of this until I read extensively about Ivory hunting and the wardens and agents who are trying to protect the herds. They point this out as one of the symptoms of extreme herd stress. I know when I am scared, it don't usually cry. But I do crap my pants! Maybe these elephants are not crying either, but they DEFINITELY show signs of being under threat.