Based on the provided information, animals do produce tears, but not in the same way humans do when expressing emotion.
Tears in the Animal Kingdom
When people ask if animals "cry," they often mean if animals shed tears as a response to feelings like sadness, grief, or joy, similar to human emotional crying. According to Bryan Amaral, senior curator of the Smithsonian's National Zoo, if you define crying as expressing emotion such as grief or joy with tears, then the answer is no; animals do not cry with tears in this emotional sense.
However, this does not mean animals don't produce tears at all.
The Purpose of Animal Tears
Animals do create tears, but their primary, and generally only, function is biological:
- Lubrication: Tears are essential for keeping the eye surface moist and preventing dryness.
- Cleaning: They help wash away dust, debris, and irritants from the eye.
- Protection: Tears contain enzymes and antibodies that help protect the eye from infection.
This is a purely physiological process necessary for eye health across many species.
Comparing Human and Animal Tears
The key distinction lies in the purpose of the tears.
| Feature | Human Tears | Animal Tears |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Emotional expression (grief, joy), lubrication, cleaning, protection | Lubrication, cleaning, protection |
| Trigger | Emotions, irritation | Irritation, physiological need |
| Associated With | Emotional states | Eye health and function |
While animals certainly experience a range of emotions and express them through various behaviors (vocalization, body language, etc.), they do not typically produce visible tears as a part of that emotional expression like humans do. The tears you might see near an animal's eyes are most likely related to eye irritation, health issues, or simply the natural process of keeping the eye lubricated.
Therefore, based on the definition focusing on emotional expression, animals do not cry with tears. They do produce tears, but for essential biological functions.
