An Elephant Could Be More Empathetic Than a Human

 From Discover:

Researchers have commonly found that just like humans, elephants have a strong ability to show empathy. These massive animals can understand and share feelings with other elephants and even different animals. Despite their intimidating size, elephants are emotionally intelligent and form deep familial bonds within their herd. Masson and McCarthy, in their book, "When Elephants Weep," described elephants clustered around a dying matriarch. They stroked her, and put food into her mouth, knowing she wasn't feeling well. Other studies show elephants can recognize another’s emotional state and react to the emotions of their herd. So, how do elephants compare to how humans show empathy? (Read more.)