New Delhi: Typically, when it comes to substance abuse or recreational drug use, only humans come to mind. However, there are plenty of evidence which support the fact that other animal species too engage in apparent recreational drug use, which denotes the intentional ingestion of psychoactive substances in their environment for pleasure. Sounds strange? Well, the vast wildlife of this planet is full of such quirky facts and in this article, we will take a look at the animals which are known to use recreational drugs.
Animals which are known to use recreational drugs
Vervet monkeys
In the Caribbean, there are some vervet monkeys which have displayed a preference for alcoholic beverages which probably developed to the fermented sugar cane juice from local plantations. These monkeys have been reported to rain bars and tourist beaches for alcoholic drinks on Saint Kitts and have visibly become drunk. There are local stories which states that these wild monkeys are caught by supplying them with a mixture of rum and molasses in hollowed out coconut shells.
Elephants
In South Africa, there is a local legend that the elephants like to get drunk. They search for marula tree, overindulge on its sweet fruits, and enjoy the intoxicating effects of the slightly fermented juice. There are scientific studies which have supported this notion and according to a 1984 study, elephants were happy to drink up a 7 per cent alcohol solution. However, research is still going on about this and the elephants do not seek out marula tree routinely. Sometimes, elephants eat the bark of the tree which contains beetle pupae, a toxic substance.
Dolphins
In 1995, Lisa Steiner, a marine biologist observed that a group of rough-toothed dolphins were pushing around inflated puffer fish and were behaving in a lethargic manner. Now, puffer fish are known to excrete tetrodotoxin when they are defensive and it might have had an effect on the dolphins. To those unversed, the tetrodotoxin is 120,000 times deadlier than cocaine, 40,000 times deadlier than meth, and over 50 million times deadlier than THC. In the 2014 BBC documentary ‘Dolphins-Spy in the Pod’, this behaviour of the marine animals was also reported. However, tetrodotoxin is not psychoactive and only causes numbness, tingling, and lightheadedness in small doses. Hence, there are doubts whether dolphins use the . puffer fish intentionally to get high.
Bees
According to a study by the University of Haifa, bees like to drink nectar containing nicotine and caffeine over those without them. This suggests that the bees do this as part of the reward system which drives the mutualistic feeding behavior.
Cats
Most of the domestic cats are attracted to and affected by the Nepeta cataria plant which is popularly known as the catnip. It also affects some wild cats, including someone as mighty as tigers. The cats can lick, sniff, and chew the plant. If the cats eat the plant’s concentrated extract, they quickly become overexcited. However, the concentration of the extract is too low to poison the animals.
Lemurs
There are black lemurs which reportedly bite toxic millipedes, causing them to salivate. While the millipede toxins, including benzoquinone and cyanide, protect the lemurs from some diseases like malaria, they also have a narcotic effect on the animals, which causes them to enter an apparently blissful state.
Beyond human drug use, the animal kingdom reveals surprising instances of apparent recreational drug consumption. Vervet monkeys in the Caribbean exhibit a fondness for alcohol, while elephants in South Africa are known to consume fermented marula fruit. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
