Digital Dying By: Justin Nobel

by Justin Nobel

"Life-weariness and the determination to end miseries in a sudden manner are not confined to the human race," reads an 1878 article in "The Popular Science Monthly". The paper provides colorful examples of horses and dogs that have committed suicide. (Photo courtesy of NOAA)

An 8 year-old lowland gorilla named Muchana was found dead in his sleeping quarters at the St. Louis Zoo, last Spring. He had pulled apart his climbing rope and become entangled. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) claimed negligence, pointing out that the zoo had been fined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the connection with the death of two polar bears in 2007. Some reports suggested that Muchana may have committed suicide. Native American beliefs accommodate such an outcome, but what about Western ones?

“It has been asserted that ‘mere brutes' never commit suicide,” reads an article in The Popular Science Monthly, from 1878. “This is a wanton, it might be said an impudent, assumption.”

Birds, reptiles and other caged animals can persistently refuse food; isn't that suicide, the article argues.

More clear-cut animal suicides exist too. The article continues: “There are many instances among domestic animals, proving that life-weariness and the determination to end miseries in a sudden manner are not confined to the human race.” Read the rest of this entry »

by Justin Nobel

The Cove, a documentary that covertly captures a dolphin slaughter in the Japanese fishing village of Taiji, won the Audience Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. The protagonist is Richard O'Barry, Flipper's former trainer. He became a rabid animal rights crusader after Cathy the dolphin committed suicide in his arms.

Just before Earth Day, in 1970, Cathy the dolphin committed suicide in Richard O'Barry's arms, changing his life forever.

“She looked me right in the eye, took a breath, held it—and she didn't take another one,” O'Barry recently told New York Magazine. “She just sank to the bottom of the water. That had a profound effect on me.”

O'Barry helped capture and train the dolphins on “Flipper”, which didn't exactly make him a friend of animal rights activists. Now, he is the star of one of the biggest animal rights films in years, “The Cove”, a documentary that covertly captures a dolphin slaughter in the Japanese fishing village of Taiji. He credits Cathy's suicide as the turning point that transformed him from animal captor to animal liberator.

For Americans, O'Barry's suicide story may seem ridiculous. Science tells us that animals can't intentionally kill themselves. But Native Americans view animal suicide, and death in general much differently.

“The non-native mindset is so fearful,” said Maya Piñon, a Native-born naturalist who is working on a book about animal suicide. “The culture to which I was born tells me there is nothing to fear about death. Sure, you fight to live as long as you can but when that moment comes you're like, ‘Okay, game over, I've gone on to the next dimension.'” Read the rest of this entry »

by Justin Nobel

Penn State University researchers are recording the chemical signatures from decomposing pigs in an effort to better understand the smells that a rotting corpse gives off. Their goal is to create an "electronic nose" that may eventually put cadaver dogs out of business. (Photo Courtesy of Sarah Jones/Penn State)