Elephants Have Male Bonding Rituals, Too In her new book, Caitlin O’Connell shows how the interactions of tight-knit bulls can be surprisingly similar to human relationships ...

Humans aren’t the only animals that use rituals to connect and bond. Elephant researcher CAITLIN O’CONNELL has spent 30 years studying wild elephants in Namibia, observing their complex behavior, and ...

Aanayoottu ritual at Sree Vadakkumnathan temple in Thrissur, featuring majestic elephants and grand offerings.

How animals' group rituals can help explain human nature — and politics Behavioral ecologist Caitlin O'Connell explains the importance of ritual in animals, and the lessons for humanity ...

Rituals occur in 10 contexts: greeting, group rituals, courtship, gifting, spoken rituals, ... Elephant scientist Caitlin O’Connell explores the lessons humans can learn.

Elephants are renowned for their poignant and elaborate mourning rituals when a member of their herd dies. These rituals can last for hours or even days, with family members gathering around the ...

From birds to elephants, rituals are found everywhere in nature. Yet no animal is as ritualized as Homo sapiens. All human cultures have a plethora of ceremonial practices that serve many of the ...

Quiet scenes like this are peppered throughout “Secrets of the Elephants,” a Disney+ series produced by “Avatar” director James Cameron that premieres on Earth Day (April 22). While it is ...

Animals used in rituals are often subjected to mistreatment. In an effort to be "cruelty-free," a temple in India is using a robot elephant as a stand-in.

Elephants are among the few animals that mourn their dead, showing touching rituals like caressing bones, gathering at gravesites, and grieving in silence—proving their deep emotional intelligence.

Giraffes, crows, and elephants are among the animals that appear to grieve for their dead. Some animals have been observed performing death rituals, including burial. It’s not just.