Do animals commit suicide?

[Avalon1984]

Just read this interesting article online. I always thought that some of the animals I had intentionally did things that ended up killing them. I joked that they tried to commit suicide. This makes me wonder if I was right.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_...n_new_zealand_do_animals_commit_suicide_.html

 

[EweSheep]

I know the praying mantis does..poor thing!

 

[yomama]

Interesting article. Seems to me that animals that are thought to be possibly committting suicide, are actually doing so per instinct, or due to environmental conditions. Animals that leave the group or colony due to illness, are keeping the rest of the group safe. Animals that kill themselves, to flee another type of grueling death, in my opinion, are just trying to in a sense, save themself. Not sure if that makes sense. Can't think of the words I want. The only one that slightly puzzles me are the pets that stop eating, or stop doing anything, due to depression from losing owners. I think that could possibly be attributed to losing a "pack member", or "a way of life". In essence, they die from the starvation, not necessarily a quick suicide death. Not sure about the dog that tries to drown itself, though. Just my 2 cents. I am by no means an animal behavour expert.

Very interesting, though. Thanks for sharing

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Really?

I hope this is not true for other animals. That is sad to know.

 

[yomama]

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What does it do?

 

[EweSheep]

Mating....the female ate the male.

 

[yomama]

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Oh, thats right, the male commits it. Guess he figures the payoff is worth it

 

[Avalon1984]

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This puzzles me also. I had one of my animals go into a deep depression after it lost its mate. She stopped eating at all for 5 days and when she started to eat again it was stuff that had never been in her diet before. She made a radical change to eat completely different stuff, like she was suffering from PTSD. I still think my kitty commited suicide. She was old, had seen the car come into the driveway a million times and decided after we realize she wasn't going to make it through the winter to run under the tire. I guess I want to believe that is what she did.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

What the praying mantis does is ensuring survival of his genes. He delivers his seed to a female and also provides a convenient & nutritious meal for her, giving her the nourishment she needs to complete her job of manufacturing & laying the eggs with their offspring.

Sort of puts a whole new perspective on bringing take-out home for the wife & kids... the next time the missus asks you to do this, don't complain!

And you'll think again if you ever hear a buddy say "I didn't bring a meal home for the wife one day and she just about bit my head off!"

 

[Imp]

It's difficult to believe only human animals have self-awareness. There are too many examples of animals putting themselves in dangers path to help their human owners or other animals.
If they can tempt fate, they must have some idea what that fate is. Maybe it's not the same as human intelligence, but it seems it must be more than just instinct.

Imp