• Question: Can any other animals commit suicide?

    Asked by abichohan to Davie, Gemma, James P, James V, Nuala on 29 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: James Verdon

      James Verdon answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      Hi abichohan,

      That’s a really good question. I’m not really sure, I don’t know that there’s evidence for it happening, so if they do, we’ve never seen it.

      I think there is evidence that some smarter animals will take huge risks, and even get themselves killed, for the good of the herd or family, for example in trying to fight off a predator to save a baby. But that’s not the same as actually committing suicide.

    • Photo: James Pope

      James Pope answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      Hi abichohan,

      I think some scientists have observed some species of animal suffering from depression, but I don’t think we have observed them comitting suicide. But it is a brilliant question, something I wouldn’t have thought about!

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