Natalia’s Grief: A Mother Chimpanzee’s Seven-Month Vigil That Touched the World

At Bioparc Valencia, something remarkable and profoundly emotional unfolded—an event that transcends species and touches the very essence of maternal love and loss. Natalia, a chimpanzee known to staff and visitors alike, made headlines across Spain and the world when she was observed cradling the lifeless body of her infant for over seven months, refusing to part with it. What happened within the leafy enclosures of this Spanish wildlife reserve is not just an anecdote—it’s a story that compels us to reexamine how we understand grief, not just among humans, but in the animal kingdom too.

A Silent Vigil Begins

In February 2023, Natalia gave birth to a baby at Bioparc Valencia. Tragically, the newborn passed away shortly after birth. Rather than abandoning the body—as some might expect—Natalia gently lifted her baby into her arms, nestled it close to her chest, and began a mourning ritual that would defy expectations and stretch on for over 210 days. Chimpanzee caretakers and ethologists working at Bioparc were immediately aware that something unusual was taking place. Chimpanzees, being one of the closest living relatives to humans, have often displayed emotional behavior in response to death. However, the duration of Natalia’s grief was unprecedented in the zoological setting.

Natalia’s Daily Ritual of Mourning

Caretakers noted that Natalia continued to treat the body of her deceased baby as if it were alive. She carried it on her back, gently groomed it, and even shared her sleeping area with it. This went on day after day, as the tiny body began to decompose and later mummify. The remains eventually dried into a thin shell of skin and bones—yet Natalia’s devotion never wavered. “She was calm, peaceful, and incredibly tender,” shared one caretaker at Bioparc in an emotional interview with La Vanguardia. “We decided not to intervene. This was her process.”

Understanding Grief in Animals

Modern ethology (the science of animal behavior) increasingly recognizes that animals—particularly intelligent, social mammals like chimpanzees, elephants, and cetaceans—experience deep emotional connections and suffer losses in ways that are strikingly similar to humans. In chimpanzee communities, mourning rituals have been well-documented. Studies from institutions such as the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and Oxford University have observed chimpanzee mothers carrying their deceased infants for days or weeks—a behavior believed to stem from emotional attachment and the cognitive inability to immediately process the concept of death. But seven months? That’s nearly unheard of—especially in a zoo environment where hygiene protocols, social interactions, and enclosure conditions can interrupt natural processes.

Scientific Insights: What Natalia’s Behavior Reveals

According to a 2020 study published in the journal Primates, prolonged infant-carrying among chimpanzee mothers is likely driven by a complex blend of psychological, hormonal, and social factors. The mother may experience ongoing lactation, hormonal cycles tied to birth, and social withdrawal—all while processing the absence of her baby. Natalia’s long mourning period aligns with the idea that animals can grieve deeply, especially when there are no predators or scavengers to force them into action. In nature, a dead infant’s body would likely be taken or decomposed quickly. But in the relative safety of a wildlife park, time slowed, allowing Natalia to carry out her silent vigil.

Bioparc’s Compassionate Response

One of the most striking aspects of this story is how Bioparc Valencia responded. Rather than removing the body—something that is standard practice in many zoos to avoid infection or social disruption—staff decided to let Natalia grieve at her own pace. “We believe in respecting animal behavior and natural processes,” the zoo said in an official statement. “Natalia’s pain is her own, and we will not interfere unless there is a risk to her health or the group’s well-being.” The staff carefully monitored her behavior daily, ensuring she remained healthy, ate normally, and maintained social connections. Remarkably, Natalia continued to engage with other members of the chimpanzee troop while still holding her child, often placing the tiny body next to her during feeding or grooming sessions.

September 21: Letting Go

On September 21, 2023, Natalia finally laid her baby to rest. Without ceremony or prompt, she gently placed the now-mummified remains on the ground and walked away. “She chose the moment,” said one zookeeper. “We didn’t have to take that from her. It was one of the most respectful and deeply moving things I’ve witnessed in my entire career.” The act signaled not just an end to a prolonged mourning period, but a lesson in empathy, dignity, and maternal devotion.

The Deeper Message: Grief Transcends Species

Natalia’s story captured the attention of animal lovers, scientists, and ordinary people around the globe. Social media exploded with posts about her, and her photo—eyes filled with sorrow as she held her baby—was shared thousands of times. What makes her story so powerful is not just its rarity, but its raw humanity. Natalia didn’t just mourn—she loved. We often forget that grief is not exclusive to humans. Elephants have been seen returning to the bones of deceased relatives and caressing them with their trunks. Orcas have carried dead calves on their heads for weeks, refusing to part with them. Bonobos and gorillas have also displayed long mourning behaviors, sitting next to dead group members in silence. Natalia is now one of the most well-documented and heartfelt examples of this type of grief. Her experience challenges outdated assumptions about the emotional capacities of animals and invites us to develop deeper compassion and empathy for non-human beings.

The Psychology Behind It

Dr. Frans de Waal, a prominent primatologist, has long argued that primates possess what he calls “emotional intelligence.” According to him, behaviors like Natalia’s are rooted in the same evolutionary foundations that govern human mourning. “To say animals don’t grieve is to deny biology,” he writes in his book Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves. Grief serves an evolutionary purpose. It’s how social animals adapt to loss, build emotional resilience, and sometimes draw closer to their group for support. That Natalia grieved for so long—without withdrawing from her community—demonstrates a resilience and complexity that cannot be dismissed as instinct alone.

Public Reaction and Global Awareness

Following the media coverage of Natalia’s story, Bioparc Valencia saw a wave of public engagement. Visitors arrived not only to see the animals but to pay quiet tribute to a mother who had shown such devotion. Animal rights organizations have also highlighted the case, calling for greater respect and protection for primates and other intelligent creatures in captivity and in the wild. Her story has helped humanize chimpanzees in the eyes of many, reinforcing why conservation and ethical treatment are crucial. Chimpanzees remain critically endangered, primarily due to habitat loss and illegal trafficking.

A Lasting Legacy

Today, Natalia continues to live at Bioparc Valencia, surrounded by her troop. She has slowly returned to her normal behaviors, and caretakers note that she remains affectionate and socially engaged. Her story will likely become a touchstone case in future research on animal grief and emotional intelligence. She has shown us something profound: love knows no species boundaries, and mourning is not reserved for humans alone.

Final Thoughts: Why Natalia’s Story Matters

In a world where animals are still often treated as lesser beings, Natalia reminds us that they feel, they love, and they mourn. Her grief teaches us not only about chimpanzees but about ourselves—about our capacity for empathy, for understanding, and for changing how we view the natural world. Her story has been told and retold—not just as a viral news piece but as a poetic reflection of maternal love and loss. We can only hope that stories like Natalia’s lead to more respectful treatment of animals, both in captivity and the wild. And perhaps, as we learn to better see them, we’ll come to better understand our own emotional landscape too.

References and Sources

• Bioparc Valencia Official Website (bioparcvalencia.es)
• La Vanguardia: “Natalia, la chimpancé que ha estado siete meses con su cría muerta”
• National Geographic: Reports on chimpanzee and elephant grief
• Frans de Waal, Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves
• Scientific American: Studies on non-human animal mourning
• Primates Journal: “Prolonged infant-carrying behavior in chimpanzees”

RTVE, El País, and Levante-EMV coverage on Natalia

Also Read :