Animal Writings

Heartbreak from being ripped from her herd. Longing to be back in the forests. Anger at being kidnapped. Boredom because she has nothing else to do.

Or, perhaps, as all of these emotions compound, the elephants began to become suicidal. I know this is a novel concept to most who wouldn't believe that animals have volition, but it's been documented many times, in our cats and dogs especially -- when their human dies, they become inconsolable, and starve themselves to death.

Why do I say this is purposeful? Because even humans will not starve themselves when grieving unless it's perfectly purposeful. Holding out on food while your stomach gnaws at you and then finally shuts down is beyond the automaton-like nature that we ascribe to animals.

In humans, it takes a serious mental disorder to starve oneself -- we have a name for the symptom (anorexia nervosa), but the best doctors trace this back to the cause: depression, either chemical or neurotic.

I see no reason why animals are any different in this aspect of life.
 

Interesting points. I would only point out that in anorexa nervosa, there is usually a conscious obsession with body image. Underneath, there could be esteem issues or chemical imbalance.

I liken animals' starvation in grief to our depression, when food ceases to taste good, and life in general loses its appeal.