The dolphins never cease to surprise us! Playful and sociable, for several decades we have noticed that they also have a dark side. But in addition to being rapists, murderers and stalkers, could they also be addicted to drugs?
Thrill-seeking cetaceans
During the filming of a documentary series for the BBC, dolphins were observed carefully passing a puffer fish around for around 30 minutes. They took turns gently sticking their beaks to the fish while pushing it. But how can we explain this behavior?
These dolphins were simply taking drugs using the poisson-globepoisson-globe. According to Rob Pilley, the producer of the documentary, the dolphins appeared to be in complete euphoriaeuphorialeaving them in a trance.
Pufferfish, also called fugu, are renowned for their dangerousness. When they find themselves in stressful situations, they produce a toxinstoxins called tetrodotoxin, which is fatal in high doses.
Yet for dolphins, it appears to act like a recreational drug. When dolphins heckle these fish, they can ingest a small amount of the toxin without suffering fatal effects.
Bottlenose dolphins play with toxic puffer fish that secrete a neurotoxin that in high doses can kill but in small doses appears to have a narcotic effect. © BBC, Youtube
Cetaceans are not the only ones to encounter the dangers of pufferfish toxins. In Japan, it is very appreciated for its meat, but as it is dangerous, chefs are obliged to undergo long and expensive training in order to obtain authorization to serve the fish.
Willingness to take drugs or unconscious gesture?
It is important to note that this behavior does not constitute predation in the traditional sense, as dolphins do not consume pufferfish. We could then ask the question of the level of consciousness they have when they push the fish. They could in fact simply play and not take drugs voluntarily.
Do all animals suffer the same way?
Although scientists do not definitively conclude that dolphins understand the full scope of their behavior, Rob Pilley, also a zoologist, clearly reported having “ saw the dolphins handling the puffer fish very gently and delicately. They specifically attacked fish and deliberately handled them carefully so as not to kill them. ».
This adds a surprising touch to their already very special reputation. Could dolphins ultimately be closer to us than we think?
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