Today scientific consensus is that emotional tears are indeed uniquely human. But a small amount of evidence hints at some similar occurrences in other animals and has prompted interest from researchers.
We often talk about the cry of animals, like wolves or eagles, but I assume you mean shedding tears. Lots of animals do this to clear debris from their eyes. But surprisingly, there's no good evidence that any of them do this as a sign of unhappiness (our close relatives, chimps and gorillas, use vocal noises).
If you define crying as expressing emotion, such as grief or joy, then the answer is yes. Animals do create tears, but only to lubricate their eyes, says Bryan Amaral, senior curator of the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Animals do feel emotions, too, but in nature it's often to their advantage to mask them.
However, the trigger that induced the crying behaviour modulates helping behaviour (Hendriks et al., 2008). No clear description has been made regarding facial expressions of this emotion in apes, however it is well recognised that apes do not produce tears.
They are beautiful creatures! My understanding is that gorillas don't have the same emotional response that humans do and that the ability to produce tears is to lubricate their eyes. Sandra Leclaire There sure will be differences with humans. But they laugh and cry indeed.
In One Amazing Elephant, Queenie Grace is an elephant grieving the loss of her trainer, Bill. Elephants do grieve, and they are one of the few animals who are similar to humans in mourning patterns. Believe it or not, elephants cry. They bury their dead and pay tribute to the bodies and to the bones.
Although dogs experience watery eyes, they do not cry tears in response to their emotions like humans do. Dogs typically cry because there is a physical issue with their eyes. On the other hand, some furry friends might “cry” in the form of whining as a response to their emotions.
Emotional crying in humans seems to have its evolutionary basis in these animal distress calls, which is evident in its solicitation of help-provisioning and nurturing behavior.
Elephants are well-known for their strong social bonds and human-like behaviour. It has been observed that when a member of their herd dies, elephants stand together to mourn the loss.
Research: Dogs Functionally Respond to and Use Emotional Information from Human Expressions. Emotional Contagion: Dogs and Humans Show a Similar Physiological Response to Human Infant Crying. Empathic-Like Responding by Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris) to Distress in Humans: an Exploratory Study.
While crocodiles can and do generate tears, the tears are not linked to emotion. The fluid from their tear ducts functions to clean and lubricate the eye, and is most prominent and visible when crocodiles have been on dry land for a while.
Since animals and plants are living things, they have souls, but not in the sense in which human beings have souls. Our souls are rational–theirs aren't–and ours are rational because they're spiritual, not material. Animals and plants can't do anything which transcends the limitations of matter.
There are no documented cases of emotional tears being shed by any nonhuman animal, and though there are anecdotal reports of such tears in nonhuman animals, these report such tears in many non-aquatic animals.
There are dozens of photos and YouTube videos of grieflike behavior in dolphins: Some mothers have been seen carrying their dead infants in their mouths or on their backs for a week or longer, even as the body decomposes; a couple adult males have also been seen holding dead calves in their mouths.
Other animals, such as elephants , dolphins, some whales (particularly orcas), wolves, magpies, ravens, and primates like chimps and gorillas have shown complex mourning behaviors.
Once they are captured, their heads are often forced down and severed with a machete. Others have their heads nailed to a tree and their skins slowly peeled off. Because of their slow metabolisms, snakes remain conscious and able to feel pain and fear long after they are decapitated.
Most of us think of tears as a human phenomenon, part of the complex fabric of human emotion. But they're not just for crying: All vertebrates, even reptiles and birds, have tears, which are critical for maintaining healthy eyesight.
Pigs are highly intelligent, extremely emotional (they actually cry real tears), and very loving and affectionate. Pigs make bonds with people (just like dogs), and other animals. Pigs are a herd animal and enjoy the company of other pigs.
Cows lick people primarily as a form of social bonding and affection, similar to how they groom each other in their herd. This licking behavior is a way for cows to show they consider a person part of their "herd" and to build a closer relationship. It's a sign of trust and acceptance.
They have tear glands to keep their eyes moist and clean but sometimes the glands can get blocked. In an attempt to ease the irritation, the glands may put out more moisture, so you'll see teardrops coming from the horse's eye.
