Humans are not the only creatures who use drugs; numerous species display behaviours that point to a fascination with natural intoxicants. Elephants have been known to become intoxicated on overripe fruit, horses have been seen consuming hallucinogenic wildflowers, and bighorn sheep deliberately seek out narcotic lichen. According to some studies, monkeys’ high attraction to fermented and sugar-rich fruit may help to explain why humans have a similar fondness for alcohol. Similarly, dolphins seem to have found a unique way to experience altered states using pufferfish.
Young dolphins have been seen carefully handling pufferfish, which they chew on to release a neurotoxin and produce a trance-like state. Dolphins may deliberately seek out the pufferfish’s intoxicating effects, according to this behaviour seen on camera for the BBC documentary Spy in the Pod.