2007-02-11 04:34:18 · 10 answers · asked by neptune4bluestar 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
They don't. This is a complete myth - it never happens.
Back in the 1950's the Walt Disney company made a nature film in Norway called "White Wilderness" and as they believed the myth they herded a bunch of lemmings off a cliff so they could film it. That is the only time lemmings have ever jumped off a cliff.
So much for the nice wholesome family image of good old Walt
See here for more information on the myth of leaping lemmings and what really happens to them when their numbers increase too high >>> http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1074699,00.html
2007-02-11 04:36:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
To put it simply: they don't.
The myth of mass lemming suicide began when the Walt Disney movie, Wild Wilderness was released in 1958. It was filmed in Alberta, Canada, far from the sea and not a native home to lemmings. So the filmmakers imported lemmings, by buying them from Inuit children. The migration sequence was filmed by placing the lemmings on a spinning turntable that was covered with snow, and then shooting it from many different angles. The cliff-death-plunge sequence was done by herding the lemmings over a small cliff into a river. It's easy to understand why the filmmakers did this - wild animals are notoriously uncooperative, and a migration-of-doom followed by a cliff-of-death sequence is far more dramatic to show than the lemmings' self-implemented population-density management plan.
So lemmings do not commit mass suicide.
2007-02-11 04:39:33 · answer #2 · answered by Wildamberhoney 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Every one has heard of this but it is only a myth. Lemmings might be seen to fall off cliffs during a migration route but they don't comit suicide and neither is it when they reach a certain age. Interesting question tho.
2007-02-13 04:43:01 · answer #3 · answered by Esquire 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They dont. Disney filmed a documentary showing a few lemmings walking off a cliff but made out that mass suicide is normal.
Check the link out below - its very interesting!
2007-02-11 04:41:34 · answer #4 · answered by Girugamesh 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because some leader Lemming persuaded them to join a cult...
Suicide was the only way out of this cult...
Silly Lemmings...
They will never learn.
2007-02-11 07:04:48 · answer #5 · answered by Badgerer 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because they have not paid into a private pension, Their endowment policy is undervalued, The only job they can get is working in B&Q or Tescos pushing trolleys and stacking shelves.
Why else???????????
2007-02-11 04:50:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think they only do that in the game.
2007-02-11 04:40:38 · answer #7 · answered by J87 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
they copy the mass fools here
2007-02-11 04:39:01 · answer #8 · answered by ms vicci pollard 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Its a myth! They don't really do that.
2007-02-11 04:37:30 · answer #9 · answered by Mark D 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
They were pushed.
2007-02-11 06:57:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋