Dolphins ‘deliberately get high’ on puffer fish

Gilbert Grape

Dolphins are thought of as one of the most intelligent species in the animal kingdom – and experts believe they have put their ingenuity to use in the pursuit of getting “high”.

In extraordinary scenes filmed for a new documentary, young dolphins were seen carefully manipulating a certain kind of puffer fish which, if provoked, releases a nerve toxin.

Though large doses of the toxin can be deadly, in small amounts it is known to produce a narcotic effect, and the dolphins appeared to have worked out how to make the fish release just the right amount.

Carefully chewing on the puffer and passing it between one another, the marine mammals then enter what seems to be a trance-like state.

The behaviour was captured on camera by the makers of Dolphins: Spy in the Pod, a series produced for BBC One by the award-winning wildlife documentary producer John Downer.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2530664/High-not-dry-Dolphins-filmed-chewing-toxic-puffer-fish-enjoy-narcotic-like-effects.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/dolphins-deliberately-get-high-on-puffer-fish-nerve-toxins-by-carefully-chewing-and-passing-them-around-9030126.html

Gives a whole new meaning to puff puff pass

kneemos

So that's why they're smiling.

MadsL

So long and thanks for all the fish, man!

Fox_In_Socks

MadsL wrote: »

So long and thanks for all the fish, man!

Weh hey!

WoollyRedHat

I dream of a day where we can live side by side our mammal friends, and rejoice in harmony and get high together.

Me?

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

I dream of a day where we can live side by side our mammal friends, and rejoice in harmony and get high together.

Global warming is your fiend, we will be living next door to a family of strung out dolphins. The fúckers will be robbing our boats/rafts to feed their habits.

Fr_Dougal

Me? wrote: »

Global warming is your fiend, we will be living next door to a family of strung out dolphins. The fúckers will be robbing our boats/rafts to feed their habits.

They'll live in Dolphins Barn.

BBDBB

wow! so scientists think they are doing it on porpoise

My name is URL

Puffer is a gateway fish. They'll be chasing the dragonfish in no time

Eileen Down

I was gonna jump through hoops.. but then I got high.

mikom

Bloody stoners going through life with no porpoise.

Wattle

Does that mean Fungi is a stoner? :eek:

Insect Overlord

Wattle wrote: »

Does that mean Fungi is a stoner? :eek:

He prefers shrooms.

Hownowcow

A dolphin, with a very ill octopus on his back, swam up to a loan shark and said: "Here's the sick squid I owe you."