Aug 22, 2010  •  In Touching, Web

Who Says Animals Can’t Feel Love?

I have seen my guinea pigs mourn, and even become severely depressed after the death of their cagemates so I have no problem believing that humans can’t be the only species that feel attachment and compassion.

The following is a series of photos by a photographer chronicling the sad love story of a couple of barn swallows. It is said that people all over the world have cried after seeing these pictures, and that the French newspaper that originally ran the photos sold out on the day it first published the story.

A female swallow became fatally injured after being hit by a car.

Her mate brought her food and attended to her needs with love and compassion.

He left to bring her more food, but returned to find that she had died.
He tried to move her, an effort rarely seen with birds.

He realizes what must have happened and cries in distress…

He continues to stand by her body, mourning and crying over the loss.

He finally accepts her fate. But he continues to stand by her with sadness, pain, and confusion.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of the famous YouTube video of the dog that rescues another dog from a highway in Chile. I remember shedding quite a few tears after first seeing this video, and wondering how many humans would do this for a fellow human being.

Via Rocking Facts.

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6 Responses to “Who Says Animals Can’t Feel Love?”

  1. Liesal says:

    Oh my goodness! This is so touching! Made me cry.

  2. Those pictures gave me chills. I also thought of the dogs on the highway; the compassion and love is apparent.

  3. Christine says:

    Funny you should mention this. On the radio today, they were talking about how humans are so evolved because we are the only ones that cry and produce tears. We're supposedly higher beings because we are able to connect via our emotions and express them physically with tears.

    I thought that was such bullshit! My little dog when he is sad or sees me crying and sad will come and lie his head down on my lap, knee, hand, or whatever he can reach and he will have tears in his eyes and cry for me, too. Animals are loving and sympathetic- JUST LIKE HUMANS! I was so upset to hear these people think that animals are incapable of emotional expression.

  4. Both of these stories made me cry. I wasn't really one before, but I have turned into such a ridiculous animal lover since we got our dog 4 months ago. I don't even like birds and that photo vignette really made me sad 🙁

  5. Jesse says:

    I love reading your blog and wish I'd told you sooner. This one made me cry. Keep up the great work!

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