Mournful Whale Wail

Yesterday I learned that Whales commit suicide. What a depressing concept. I just never considered the possibility that Whales would intentionally beach themselves. Why would they do that? I know they must live difficult lives, and we certainly make it worse, but why off themselves? 

Not all of them commit suicide, certainly a percentage do get confused in storms, are sick, or exhausted. Some apparently just want it all to end. My understanding (which is extremely limited, I no smart.) is that Humans are the only species on Earth intelligent (or dumb) enough to understand our own finite existence. A Squirrel understands that a Hawk could kill it, but it does not understand that even if it avoids Hawks forever it will someday die of old age, or disease. Maybe they don't even understand that much. Maybe they only understand that Hawk = Pain. So for a Whale to truly commit suicide, by our standard definition, it would have to understand that it is finite, and has the ability to end it's own existence. If it understands that, what else does it understand? 

There are examples of animals killing themselves, though it is usually inadvertently. There is a bridge where Dogs routinely jump to their deaths, seemingly without hesitation. Squirrel road-kill seems to skyrocket in late fall, when they might become aware that they do not have enough food stored for the winter. These examples are weak references to suicide. The Dog bridge has no explanation, and the Squirrel road-kill could be instinct, or more associated with a hectic and distracting drive to get better prepared for winter. 

Some animals will become depressed, and waste away. Animals that have lost companions or mates often stop eating. This probably can't be called suicide. In order for it to be called suicide, the victim must understand that it's actions will lead to it's own end. It must also have a concept of the past, present, and future. For example "This event in my past is torturing my present, and will continue to do so in the future. It will not get better." This is of course a fallacy, as all things must pass. That being said, the afflicted exists only inside themselves and therefore creates a world in which the pain is omnipresent.

Coming back to the Whales: They are very sensitive beings, who form very close relationships. It is plausible that when they lose a loved one, either a mate, a child or a companion, they certainly feel the pain as much as (or perhaps more than) we do. Perhaps this drives them into an emotional spiral where they rage-beach themselves, having no concept that it will kill them. I know I've felt emotional pain so intensely that without thought I attempt to turn it into a more manageable physical pain. Not proud, just saying. On the other hand, perhaps they have a concept of death that we don't associate with animals. Perhaps Whales are smarter than we give credit, and they know exactly what they are doing to themselves.  

In the end, this begs the question: Just what do Whales sing about?