At Bioparc Valencia in Spain, a chimpanzee named Natalia has left many visitors stunned and emotional. For months, she carried the body of her dead baby, refusing to let it go. This unusual and heartbreaking behavior started after her baby died just a few days after being born in March 2024. Instead of leaving the body behind, Natalia held it close, moved with it, and cared for it as if it were still alive.
Visitors at the zoo were often taken by surprise when they saw Natalia walking around with the tiny body of her baby. She cradled it, groomed it, and protected it—just like any mother would. For most people watching, it was a clear sign of a mother in deep grief. And Natalia did this not just for a few days or weeks, but for several months.
By mid-May, the story had already started to get attention online, with people expressing sadness and curiosity. According to zoo officials, this kind of behavior has been seen in chimpanzees before, but it’s still rare for it to last this long. In some wild chimpanzee groups, mothers have been observed carrying their dead babies for days or even weeks, but Natalia’s mourning lasted even longer.
Zookeepers at Bioparc Valencia made the choice not to remove the body from Natalia. Instead, they allowed her to decide when she was ready to part with it. The park said that respecting the emotional processes of animals is important, especially for species that are known to have strong social and emotional bonds—like chimpanzees. The zookeepers monitored Natalia’s behavior but did not force any changes.
Months passed, and even as the baby’s body began to decompose and later dried into just skin and bones, Natalia still kept it close. She continued to act like the baby was still alive. It wasn’t until September 21—around seven months after the baby’s death—that Natalia finally placed the small body down for good. To her, it was still her child until that very moment.
Chimpanzees are known for their intelligence and social behavior. They form close relationships, experience emotions, and have been seen mourning the loss of others in their group. Natalia’s actions are another example of how complex and deep those emotions can be, even in animals
This event has opened up a lot of discussion online and in the scientific community. Some experts believe chimpanzees may not fully understand death the way humans do, while others think they do—but still struggle with the emotional weight, just like us. Either way, Natalia’s story is a powerful reminder that grief isn’t only a human experience. Other species feel loss, too—and they show it in ways that are strikingly familiar.
At Bioparc Valencia, the approach taken by the zoo—to allow Natalia to grieve on her own terms—also reflects a shift in how zoos view animal care. Rather than interrupting or forcing behavior, more places are choosing to observe and support animals’ natural emotions and actions. In Natalia’s case, that meant giving her the space and time she needed to let go.
Her story continues to touch people around the world. It’s a strange and sad reminder of something very real: even in the animal kingdom, the bond between a mother and child can be so strong that it doesn’t end with death.