This is the heart-breaking moment a herd of grieving elephants mourn the loss of their deceased friend.
During the newly-released footage, which was captured in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, the elephants march towards their friend in scenes reminiscent of a ‘funeral procession’ before gathering around the animal’s motionless body.
The herd of elephants gently nudge their friend, who d.i.e.d of unknown causes, and rest their trunks on the d.e.a.d animal’s body as they pay their respects.
The grieving elephants march towards their d.e.a.d friend laying in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The herd gather around the animal’s motionless body and stare at their d.e.a.d companion lying on the ground
The elephants gently nudge their friend’s motionless body and lay their trunks on the creature’s skin +7The elephants gently nudge their friend’s motionless body and lay their trunks on the creature’s skin
During the extraordinary scene, the elephants lead a march towards their d.e.a.d friend before stopping near its body.
The herd circle around the elephant’s body and stare at their d.e.ad. companion as vultures watch on from a nearby tree.
As more elephants continue to gather around the d.e.a.d creature, one is seen pressing its head into the animal’s skin while another lays its trunk on the animal’s body.
After raising their trunks in the air and ‘saluting’ their d.e.a.d friend, the herd slowly make their way to the edge of the field.
One elephant rests its trunk on the skin of the d.e.a.d creature as the animals pay their respects
The herd circle around the elephant’s body and press their heads against their d.e.a.d friend
One elephant stands over the d.e.a.d animal in a protective manner before more elephants approach their friend
As the herd move away, one elephant remains by the d.e.a.d animal’s side and keeps its trunk pressed on the animal’s body.
This is not the first time elephants have been filmed grieving the loss of a loved one.
Earlier this month, heart-breaking footage uploaded to Twitter by Indian Foreign Service forest ranger Parveen Kaswan showed a herd of elephants carrying the body of a d.e.a.d calf across a road in India.
According to Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum, education and research complex, elephants often mourn their d.e.a.d relatives and are known to take a great interest in the bones of their deceased.
As the extraordinary scenes take place, vultures watch the heartbreaking moment from a nearby tree