Behavior toward the dying, diseased, or disabled among animals and its relevance to paleopathology

Compassionate behavior towards dying, diseased, or disabled individuals is often regarded as a uniquely human trait, though recent reports of reactions to death and dying in nonhuman animals highlight the value of adopting a comparative evolutionary approach toward these behaviors. Here, we review recent studies of animal behavior toward the dying, diseased, or disabled which may be of interest to paleopathologists and bioarchaeologists studying compassionate behavior in humans and their extinct ancestors. 'Compassionate' behavior toward the enfeebled and dying has now been reported in several non-primate mammals (e.g., wild African elephants and river otters) and nonhuman primates (primarily captive chimpanzees). In addition, a number of recent reports have documented wide variation in nonhuman primates' reactions to recently deceased group mates (or offspring) both across species, as well as across individuals belonging to the same social group. We suggest there is considerable potential for collaboration among paleopathologists and primatologists in examining the causes of illness and disability in animals and its impact on their lives.