Zoo employees have been caring for the injured baby elephant, and he is said to be doing better, according to The Huffington Post’s translation of a Shandong TV report. The mother has exhibited a loss of appetite and may be depressed.
The University of California, Santa Barbara has delved into the question of whether elephants really cry, stating that it depends on which definition of “crying” is being used.
If “crying” is defined as shedding tears, then it is a “yes” since nearly all land mammals produce tears for eye lubrication. If “crying” is defined as shedding tears in response to an emotion, then the answer is a little less clear. It all depends on whether or not elephants actually experience emotions.
And there is evidence they do. Elephants are known to be highly expressive creatures, according to PBS. They are known to show a wide array of emotions, from joy and rage to grief and compassion.