Next time you’re ready to pop up on a wave and blast down the line, look out for stoned dolphins. According to the UK’s The Independent, dolphins catch a buzz from the toxins that a specific species of puffer fish release, which is an interesting development, both good and bad.
The puffer fish’s toxin is said to be deadly if too much is ingested, but dolphins use their high intellect to gauge an appropriate amount for inebriation and share the goods with their dolphin friends. Maybe they’re celebrating the beginning of 2014 with Colorado the only way they know how? Video evidence compiled by BBC shows dolphins holding the puffer fish in their mouths, sharing it with each other, then slipping into a trance-like state and staring at their own reflections around the surface.
Dolphins are said to be remarkably intelligent. Their ability to gauge the proper amount of puffer fish toxin without dying is a testament to that intelligence. However, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Remember bath salts, toad licking and heroin? All bad ideas. Unfortunately, Spicoli did a lot to taint the image of surfers for decades after Fast Times at Ridgemont High and, in light of this new evidence, dolphins ain’t helping. As wave riders themselves, they’re shooting themselves in the…uh, fin?
This behavior will be shown in the second episode of BBC One’s new series “Dolphin: Spy in the Pod,” which premiered yesterday. Producers captured this footage by installing cameras in fake sea life such as turtles, fish and squid.
For a more comedic clip, here’s Buzz 60‘s coverage:
