
Are we the only animals that cry?
What does it really sound like when doves cry?
Asked by: Anon
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).
Even elephant ‘tears’, sometimes produced under stress, are quite different from ours: for example, they are not produced from a tear gland.
Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.
Authors
Subscription offer
Subscribe and save 50% on the shop price. Pay just £16.50 every 6 issues by Direct Debit. Receive every issue delivered direct to your door with FREE UK delivery.