Are there any animals that commit suicide?

Answer 1

First off - lemmings don't thats just a modern myth with no basis in reality - I won't point out that human beings are animals because I know you mean animals, besides humans.

In fact, yes there are - evolution shows that an animal should always want to survive and so such behaviour that is observed did at first seem puzzling - for example, a redback spider while mating does a flip so that the female can start eating his body - however, we only survive for the purpose of replicating our DNA, if an animal's best chance for having young involves the adults death, then the adult will die - take salmon who swim up stream, many die there but as long as they've laid eggs then their genes will continue - as for the redback, his sacrifice means that while he is being consumed his sperm is more likely to fertilise the female.

Answer 2

Outside of humans, lemmings have been known to die en masse to stem overpopulation through suicide. Also, while the causes are unknown, numerous cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises, and whales) have been known to beach themselves, resulting in their own demise. Some animals, when pushed to the brink due to extreme hunger, can make suicidal attempts at a prey item that is not normally consumed (ex. a shark rarely attacks a dolphin, but may do so if very hungry and the dolphin is in the area). Those animals may or may not survive. There have even been instances where sick or old animals will move themselves away from a herd and become the focal point of an oncoming carnivore, sacrificing themselves for the good of the herd (ex. wildebeests). Other animals exert all their energy and do not feed to propogate the species, then die shortly after spawning (ex. salmonids).

Suicide does occur in the animal kingdom, but it isn't always considered as such.

Answer 3

In the sense that an animal will starve itself to death pining away at the passing of a mate or relative.
Well, kinda-sorta, yes.
Though she has been criticized for some of her conclusions, Jane Goodall did observed an adult chimp grieving over the dead body of his mother. He wouldn't leave her body to feed and starved to death.

But suicide in a conscience sense? NO.
A human is the only animal that makes the actual choice to end their own life. Other species don't think in terms of themselves dying.

BTW, lemmings don't commit suicide. It only appears that way when hundreds drop themselves into the water. They are swimming to new territory and they DO swim just dandy!
Like rats leaving a sinking ship. ;-)

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Answer 4

There is a kind of animal called the lemming.They fall off cliffs in Norway by the hundreds.No one knows why.

Answer 5

i'm not sure i understand the answer above me.

I don't think they commit suicide in the way you mean it, but I do think animals can become fatigued with age or illness and lose the will to live.
With this they may stop eating and doing other activities that keep them healthy so that they slowly drift away.

Answer 6

Yes humans. We're animals too

Answer 7

lemmings will sometimes commit mass suicides when they overpopulate, but other than that, I have never heard of an animal killing itself.

Answer 8

yes . i had a friend who died in a car wreck. his dog layed on his bed and old coat and refused food and water. he would sit in the drive way and wait for him to come home

we found him dead on his master's coat in the garage.
he grieved his self to death.

Answer 9

Interesting! I've never seen that. Guess they are smarter than us after all. (Bush should read this!)