What do apes do with their dead?

Question

What do apes do with their dead?

Answer 1

On a personal level, certain apes (I believe they were chimpanzees) are known to mourn for their loved ones upon death, and some even fast (starve themselves), or take to smoking in their effort to cope with the loss.

As for group behaviour, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis was the first to bury the dead. Although not explicitly stated, this would assume that other non-human primates do not bury their dead.

"History

Further information: Paleolithic burial, Megalithic tomb, Grave field, Tumulus, Chariot burial, and Ship burial

Intentional burial, particularly with grave goods may be one of the earliest detectable forms of religious practice since, as Philip Lieberman suggests, it may signify a "concern for the dead that transcends daily life."[1]

Though disputed, evidence suggests that the Neanderthals were the first hominids to intentionally bury the dead, doing so in shallow graves along with stone tools and animal bones.[citation needed]

Exemplary sites include Shanidar in Iraq, Kebara Cave in Israel and Krapina in Croatia. Some scholars, however argue that these bodies may have been disposed of for secular reasons.[2]

The earliest undisputed human burial dates back 130,000 years. Human skeletal remains stained with red ochre were discovered in the Skhul cave at Qafzeh, Israel. A variety of grave goods were present at the site, including the mandible of a wild boar in the arms of one of the skeletons.[3]

Prehistoric cemeteries are referred to by the more neutral term grave field. They are one of the chief sources of information on prehistoric cultures, and numerous archaeological cultures are defined by their burial customs, such as the Urnfield culture of the European Bronze Age.

Reasons for human burial

See also: Health risks from dead bodies

After death, a corpse will start to decay and emit unpleasant odors due to gases released by bacterial decomposition.

Burial prevents the living from having to see and smell the decomposing corpse, but it is not necessarily a public health requirement.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the WHO advises that only corpses carrying an infectious disease strictly require burial.[4][5]

Human burial practices are the manifestation of the human desire to demonstrate "respect for the dead". Among the reasons for this are:

Respect for the physical remains is considered necessary. If left lying on top of the ground, scavengers may eat the corpse, which is considered highly disrespectful to the deceased in many (but not all) cultures.

Burial can be seen as an attempt to bring closure to the deceased's family and friends.

By interring a body away from plain view, the pain of losing a loved one can be lessened.

Many cultures believe in an afterlife.

Burial is often believed to be a necessary step for an individual to reach the afterlife.

Many religions prescribe a "correct" way to live, which includes customs relating to disposal of the dead."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burial

Answer 2

Since all other primates are nomadic, they've never needed to find any way to dispose of the dead. They just move on and leave the body (shrieking, and after repeated attempts to get it to move).

The answerer above is quite right about them toting dead babies about. I've seen a Gombe chimp doing it when the baby died of sarcoptic mange. Very sad.

Answer 3

leave them to rot

Answer 4

They just leave them where they fall.  Sometimes a mother will carry the baby around until it starts smelling bad.