Kotik & Towers document the rare, closely witnessed decline and final hours of adult male orca whale , including interactions with Pacific white-sided dolphins, humpbacks, and the attentive presence of his kin.
Access link here: doi.org/10.1111/mms....
#epimeleticbehaviour #comparativethanatology

Benjamin et al. report a group of Bryde’s whales repeatedly surfacing, circling, and closely inspecting a deceased adult pod member over several days, marking the first documented case of such thanatological responses in these baleen whales. Link: doi.org/10.20944/pre...
#epimeleticbehavior

Chen et al. report thanatological responses in black snub-nosed monkeys, including revisiting and guarding deceased companions, alarm calls, and social partner hugging, alongside some scavenging by local carnivores. Access paper here: doi.org/10.1002/ajp....

#primatethanatology #cameratraps

Delval et al. report a primiparous capuchin mother carrying and caring for her dead infant, maintaining contact most of the time while other group members observed, suggesting coping strategies in response to the loss. Paper here: doi.org/10.1007/s103...

#primatethanatology #deadinfantcarrying

Nakamichi & Yamada observed Japanese macaques’ reactions to dying and dead adult companions.Most avoided individuals with maggots, but others with strong social bonds sometimes remained nearby/groomed the deceased. Open-access paper here: doi.org/10.1007/s103...
#comparativethanatology #socialbonds

Bersacola et al. used camera traps to document infant corpse carrying (ICC) in multiple unhabituated chimpanzee populations, with carrying durations up to 28 days. Showing camera traps as a great tool for studying rare behaviors: doi.org/10.1002/ece3...

#comparativethanatology #deadinfantcarrying

Hudson & Watt observed wild beluga whales’ reactions to a dead calf, documenting up to 16 individuals exhibiting approaching and remaining near the carcass. Full article here: doi.org/10.1111/mms....

#comparativethanatology #epimeleticbehavior

Sperou et al. document rare postmortem attentive behavior in leopard seals, including a female that cared for her deceased pup for up to 20 days — the longest case recorded in pinnipeds. Full article: doi.org/10.1007/s003...

#comparativethanatology #epimeleticbehavior