A viral video of two women performing Bharatanatyam with an elephant seemingly swaying in rhythm behind them has captured widespread attention. Many viewers interpreted the elephant’s movements as joyful dancing, further adding to the video’s charm.
However, wildlife experts have cautioned that the swaying likely signifies stress rather than happiness. Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan clarified, “That elephant is stressed. It is not a sign of dancing but stress.”
That elephant is stressed. It is not sign of dancing but stress. https://t.co/XdviJYkZ2q
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) November 27, 2024
The video, which has garnered nearly 700,000 views, shows two women performing the classical dance in an open area while the elephant, tethered to a pole, sways back and forth. The scene led many to mistakenly believe the elephant was joyfully participating in the performance, turning the footage into a viral sensation.
Parveen Kaswan emphasized that the swaying behavior exhibited by elephants in captivity is often a sign of distress. This is known as stereotypic behavior, which also includes head bobbing, pacing, and repetitive motions, typically observed in elephants confined to unnatural environments like chains or enclosures. These behaviors are often a response to boredom, stress, or the lack of stimulation that elephants would otherwise experience in the wild.
The incident has sparked a broader discussion about humanizing animal behavior and the need to better understand the true nature of such actions in captive settings.
