Do Animals Cry When They’re Sad?
Humans may be the only animals that weep, but other species appear to tear up for different reasons
Scientists generally agree that tears of sadness are uniquely human.
John Morrison/Getty Images
Last December an Instagram Reel of a “crying” bison—created by photographer Chris Henry—went viral. The video has received more than eight million views and generated thousands of comments. But can bison really be sad? Do nonhuman animals ever cry from sadness?
Tears are useful for our eyes—as they are for many other animals. A lot of mammals, reptiles and birds have tear glands that secrete aqueous fluid. The precise concentrations of biochemical components of tears differ between species and have evolved as adaptations to different environments.
Tears come in three recognized types. Basal tears provide basic maintenance. Glands spontaneously release these tears to deposit a protective nourishing film on the cornea.
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Then there are reflex tears, which are produced in response to an external stimulus, such as irritation or injury to the eye. These also spring up after exposure to cold or certain substances, such as the chemicals released by freshly chopped onions. Reflex tears cleanse the eyes and can help heal damage.
The third form consists of emotional tears, which are prompted by one’s mental state. Societies have long seen sobs of sadness as a uniquely human behavior—so much so that some communities believed the ability to produce emotional tears could be used as a test of whether someone was secretly a witch or werewolf.
Although its exact function is unknown, there are many hypotheses for why we weep. A good cry may help us cope…
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