
This tear duct acts as draining away the liquid that is secreted in the eyes, which flush out debris. Do Elephants Have Tear Ducts?īased on science, elephants don’t have tear ducts that produce a tear. They do not physically produce tears associated with a sad emotion. This sadness and grief are unique to elephants among the members of the animal world.īut this species does not cry out of sadness.Ī mammal-like elephant is capable of producing tears but for eye lubrication only. They can feel sadness, joy, love, jealousy, grief, compassion, and distress.

Research has found that elephants are experiencing emotions similar to human beings. That makes the elephant look like it is really crying. Thus, it spills out from there down to its face. Since the fluid has nowhere to go, it would accumulate in the inner corner of their eyes. These canals are supposed to wick the moisture away. It contains mucous, which makes the consistency of their tear film unique among most mammals.Īnother fact is that elephants look like crying because they lack the drainage canals in which most mammals have. In addition to that, these creatures, like any other mammals, have a fluid-producing gland on their third eyelid.

This fluid will maintain the moisture in their eyes. The reason elephants cry is because of adaptation that occurs during the primitive time of their ancestors.Įlephants repurpose other glands within their eyes effectively to produce the same type of fluid.

It is a fact that only human beings are capable of producing emotional tears. Elephants seem to be crying because of the noticeable liquid found in the corners of their eyes. These mammals don’t cry because of sadness. What Do Elephants Do When They Are Sad?.
