Puff, puff, pass: Young dolphins deliberately chew puffer fish to get high with each other

[mota bhai 2,675]

Experts have found evidence that young dolphins purposefully and carefully chew puffer fish to get high.

The behavior was captured by filmmakers during the creation of the BBC One documentary series Dolphins: Spy in the Pod, which used spy cameras hidden in fake turtles, fish and squid to film more than 900 hours of the aquatic mammals in their natural habitat.

Puffer fish release a toxin that can be deadly in larger amounts, but it can produce a narcotic effect in smaller doses.

Scientists found that dolphins apparently had learned just how much of the toxin would safely intoxicate them, and they carefully chewed the fish and then passed it among themselves.

The dolphins then entered what appeared to be a trancelike state.

“This was a case of young dolphins purposely experimenting with something we know to be intoxicating,” said Rob Pilley, a zoologist who worked as a producer for the series. “After chewing the puffer gently and passing it round, they began acting most peculiarly, hanging around with their noses at the surface as if fascinated by their own reflection.”

Pilley said the behavior was reminiscent of human attempts to seek biological highs.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/30/puff-puff-pass-young-dolphins-deliberately-chew-puffer-fish-to-get-high-with-each-other/

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Interesting. People pass the bong and Dolphins pass the puff.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Spy cameras hidden in turtle shells? Hiding them from what? If I'm a dolphin and shy about my drug habit I'd be more apt to say "No, not in front of the turtle!" than I would to say "No, not in front of that shiny thingy."

Edited December 31, 2013 by OnMyWayID

[Teddy B 17,252]

Spy cameras hidden in turtle shells? Hiding them from what? If I'm a dolphin and shy about my drug habit I'd be more apt to say "No, not in front of the turtle!" than I would to say "No, not in front of that shiny thingy."