Research and observations have discovered that animals might have compassion.

Our world is a complicated and strange place. When we humans think we’ve learned all we can about the planet, something new and amazing emerges to challenge our thinking and give us deeper insight into this place we call home.

Understanding nature helps us understand ourselves. Our relationships with animals and the environment are intertwined. What we do impacts our lives, the lives of animals and the rest of the world. We can also learn so much from our animal friends, including whether or not animals have empathy.

Humpback Whales and Compassion

In the course of 62 years, there have been 115 cases recorded of humpback whales defending other species against killer whale attacks.  It has been argued that the humpbacks do this out of compassion and empathy for other creatures. One species coming to the defense of another anywhere in nature is usually unheard of. Empathy is usually a trait that is unique to humans and our higher brain function. We have been taught that animals don’t have the same brain function we do, so they are unable to experience emotions and think beyond their own survival.

Studies have shown that human brain development and animal brain development are different and not all species have the same regions in their brains that we do. However, other tests have shown that whales have spindles in their brain, like we do, and that they have the capacity to communicate, form alliances and relationships, cooperate with one another and use tools. Perhaps it’s possible these spindles also allow them to show empathy.

Other species that also have spindles include great apes and dolphins, and we’ve been taught that these animals show high intelligence. But even without spindles, it’s possible that other species have the capacity to show compassion and empathy for others, and science has seen this in experiments.

Science is uncertain why humpback whales would come to the aid of another species in trouble and have questioned whether or not it is an ingrained response. They may have been attacked by an orca when they were young, so now any orca attack spurs them into action. Some argue that it is a show of force and the end result is the orca realizing humpbacks shouldn’t be messed with and will avoid their young at all costs.

Scientists and researchers caution about projecting human emotions onto the humpback whales’ actions because not all humpbacks display this trait. Until they have more answers, they are cautious about how to classify the actions. However, they can’t deny that the defense of another species is occurring.

Beyond Human Compassion

Anyone who has owned a cat or a dog will attest to the fact that their pet at some point in their life seemed to know exactly how the owner was feeling and tried to comfort them. It has also been proven that dogs can use facial expressions consciously to engage and communicate with humans. Cats understand human behavior and often tailor their actions to how their owners are feeling, perhaps trying to make them happy when they are sad by cuddling with them.

Observations have shown that elephants show one another compassion and try to help if another elephant is in pain or in trouble. Again, however, science cautions about attributing these acts as empathy because this trait is difficult to test for and prove, especially in the wild. But again, it’s hard to deny that these acts are occurring.

Aside from the difficulty in being able to prove that these actions are empathetic, there are religious, philosophical and economical reasons to denying that animals have empathy. We would have to ask ourselves some very tough questions about existence and how we treat animals and the world if we discover that they are capable of these emotions.

Whether or not animals express compassion and empathy is still up for debate and study, but we’ll need the animals around to come to a conclusion. When it comes to humpback whales coming to the defense of other species, if we ever want to find out exactly what is going on, we need to make sure the oceans can sustain and support life. Humans are polluting the world in terrible ways, but we have the power and the technology to fix it. It’s time we show some compassion and empathy for other creatures.

Bio: Emily Folk is a conservation and sustainability writer. You can read more of her work on her blog Conservation Folks.