#38: Doped Dolphins
Dolphins are known for their playful behaviour and intelligence, but they’ve also displayed a rather intriguing and unusual habit – using puffer fish to get high! This behavior has been observed in various dolphin species, particularly the bottlenose dolphins. Puffer fish contain a potent neurotoxin known as tetrodotoxin, which is deadly in high doses.
However, dolphins have been seen carefully handling puffer fish, gently chewing on them, but not enough to release a lethal dose of the toxin. Instead, it’s believed that they derive a certain level of pleasure from the tetrodotoxin, similar to recreational drug use. Hey, dolphins deserve to relax and unwind just as much as we do.