Elephant carries stillborn calf in Namibia

An elephant in Namibian desert has been observed carrying stillborn calves, a behavior that has captured the attention of scientists and wildlife photographers. The most recent incident was captured in September 2025 by wildlife photographer Federico Veronesi, who documented the elephant carrying a stillborn calf along a dried riverbed.

Details of the calf's position

The calf was positioned with its legs wrapped around the elephant's trunk, while the rest of its body hung in the air. Veronesi described the moment as "intimate" and "almost spiritual," suggesting the calf may have been born only hours earlier or during the night. The female elephant was later identified as not being the mother of the calf, having lost her own calf two years prior.

Behavior linked to grief

Christin Winter, director of conservation programs at Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA), suggests the behavior could be a form of emotional processing, allowing the elephant to grieve and cope with the loss. Winter notes that the high mortality rate of newborn calves in the area is "extremely high and very concerning," with only two calves surviving out of 16 births between 2014 and 2022.

Similar behavior observed in Kenya

Joyce Poole, a specialist in African savanna elephants and founder of Elephant Voices, has also observed similar behavior in Kenya. She recounted witnessing a female elephant attempt to lift and defend a stillborn calf for two days, emphasizing the emotional complexity of elephants and their ability to feel grief and suffering.

Concerns for desert elephants

Poole also raises concerns about the survival of desert elephants, noting that they are being pushed to the brink of extinction due to climate change and trophy hunting permits authorized by the Namibian government. She stresses the need for more efforts to prevent trauma to these animals and to protect their future.