are there animals who commit suicide
The concept of suicide is complex and often tied to human emotions, mental states, and self-awareness. It is challenging to apply the term "suicide" to animals, as it is unclear if they possess the same self-awareness, emotional complexity, or understanding of death as humans.

However, there have been cases where animals have exhibited self-destructive behavior that can result in death. Some examples include:

**Lemmings**: A popular myth suggests that lemmings commit mass suicide by jumping off cliffs. This behavior results from their migratory patterns, where they may accidentally fall off cliffs or into bodies of water, and it is not an intentional act of self-destruction.

**Whales and dolphins**: There have been instances of cetaceans, like whales and dolphins, beaching themselves. While the reasons for this behavior are not fully understood, it is believed to be related to disorientation, illness, or other stress factors rather than an intentional act of suicide.

**Insects**: Some insects, like worker ants and bees, may exhibit self-destructive behaviors for the benefit of their colony. For example, worker honeybees can die after stinging a perceived threat, as their stingers become detached from their bodies, leading to fatal injury. This is more of an altruistic behavior, sacrificing themselves for the greater good of the colony rather than an act of suicide.

It is important to note that these behaviors may not necessarily be examples of suicide as we understand it in humans. Animals may not have the exact comprehension of life, death, or self-harm that we do, and their actions may be driven by instinct, illness, or other factors.