A BBC nature documentary crew has captured footage of young dolphins
passing around a pufferfish. They characterize the activity as "careful
manipulation" and speculate that the dolphins are getting a small dose
of the pufferfish's neurotoxin in order to enter a "trance-like state."
The documentary was produced by John Downer, a highly nature
documentarian, and a zoologist on the crew also confirms the "dolphins
get high" hypothesis.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment