# Does any animal besides humans commit suicide? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [December 20, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959 "2006-12-20T20:01:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gfunk842](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gfunk842](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gfunk842)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/1 "2006-12-20T20:01:10Z")
This column can be found here: [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbugsuicide.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbugsuicide.html) The answer that was given is no. I think I found an exception, well almost. Apparently crickets can become infected with a parasite that brainwashes them and makes them commit suicide. Not technically within the constraints of this question but gosh darn if it’s not interesting. Check out this vid explaining the whole thing: [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5220551385066049121&hl=en](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5220551385066049121&hl=en) ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/2 "2006-12-20T20:46:55Z")
Wow, that’s fascinating, yet disturbing. Postulate that the parasite could be passed to humans with similar effect, and you have the makings of a Dean Koontz book. Do a really good job with it, and you have a Stephen King book. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/3 "2006-12-20T21:35:22Z")
Lemmings!!! d&r falls off cliff. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/4 "2006-12-20T21:54:04Z")
Can beaching whales be considered suicide? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/5 "2006-12-20T23:58:40Z")
[QUOTE=IvoryTowerDenizen] Can beaching whales be considered suicide? [/QUOTE] No one fully understands the causes of beaching. Some evidence points to sometimes it being possibly psychologically related (loss of family and such), but sometimes evidence points to problems with the sense of navigation and other factors. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/6 "2006-12-21T23:55:18Z")
Right, but it is reasonably possible that some whale beachings are suicide. The thing is, in order for there to be “suicide” by Doug’s definition, we pretty well have to have a self-aware creature who understands death. Thus, only Whales (and their cousins), and the Apes could qualfiy anyway. And even that’s arguable. Thus, really by the definition used- only humans \*can \*commit suicide. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/7 "2006-12-22T15:59:52Z")
Scientific tests prove it: Any mammal will commit suicide if subjected to Carrot Top. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/8 "2006-12-22T16:01:21Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Scientific tests prove it: Any mammal will commit suicide if subjected to Carrot Top. [/QUOTE] Not just mammals: all my parakeets fell from their perches, stone dead and stiff, about 45 minutes into his movie. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/9 "2006-12-22T16:18:30Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Not just mammals: all my parakeets fell from their perches, stone dead and stiff, about 45 minutes into his movie. [/QUOTE] Nah, they prefer kippin’ on their backs. Beautiful plumage, innit? ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/10 "2006-12-22T16:19:41Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Not just mammals: all my parakeets fell from their perches, stone dead and stiff, about 45 minutes into his movie. [/QUOTE] Maybe he’s pining for the fjords? ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/11 "2006-12-22T16:21:30Z")
:smack: Shoulda picked some other species than the humble budgie. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/12 "2006-12-22T21:02:56Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] :smack: Shoulda picked some other species than the humble budgie. 😉 [/QUOTE] What about an albatross? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/13 "2006-12-22T23:25:44Z")
[QUOTE=runner pat] Lemmings!!! d&r falls off cliff. [/QUOTE] WRONG!!! 😛 Lemmings do not jump off cliffs–it’s an old wives tale. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/14 "2006-12-23T00:02:27Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] WRONG!!! 😛 Lemmings do not jump off cliffs–it’s an old wives tale. [/QUOTE] Sound of lemming in mid-plummet. WHOOOOOSH ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2006, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/15 "2006-12-23T02:29:24Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Lemmings do not jump off cliffs–it’s an old wives tale. [/QUOTE] Isn’t it more of a recent Disney tale than an old wives tale? ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2006, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/16 "2006-12-23T04:55:48Z")
[QUOTE=Giles] What about an albatross? [/QUOTE] What flavour is it? ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/17 "2006-12-23T18:42:52Z")
[QUOTE=adam yax] Isn’t it more of a recent Disney tale than an old wives tale? [/QUOTE] No, that’s based on a misunderstanding. It is true that the Disney film faked the scene in “White Wilderness”, but they were faking what they thought was true. (Indeed, I’m old enough to personally testify that the lemmings myth existed before the film came out.) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/18 "2006-12-23T21:24:45Z")
[QUOTE=John W. Kennedy] No, that’s based on a misunderstanding. It is true that the Disney film faked the scene in “White Wilderness”, but they were faking what they thought was true. (Indeed, I’m old enough to personally testify that the lemmings myth existed before the film came out.) [/QUOTE] Really? Thanks for that interesting information. I thought the myth derived from the movie. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2006, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/19 "2006-12-24T05:15:07Z")
And it’s not entirely false. Lemmings _do_ make a mad dash like that, and some _do_ fall. It’s just that it’s hwaaaaay over done in the myth and the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2006, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959/20 "2006-12-24T06:28:05Z")
Female octopuses (all species with which I’m familiar) will starve themselves after laying eggs. Nominally this is due to their protection of the hatch (she protects them from predators and regulates the oxygen content of the water to the eggs) but she won’t eat even if food is provided to her, and dies around the time the eggs hatch. Males of most species tend to die after reproduction as well, and nobody is really sure why. It’s obviously a biological imperative rather than a conscious decision (although octopuses are very smart and arguably have at least a limited self-awareness). I can’t think of another example offhand (excepting the altrustic behavior of certain social insects which can be quantified in terms of gene propogation) but I’m sure \*_Colibri_ or _Darwin’s Finch_ can come up with other examples. Stranger [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/384959.md?page=2)