get high: to experience a mood change from a drug or other substance
toxin: a poisonous substance
trance: a relaxed state in which you are not fully aware
sceptic: a person who has doubts about something
ferment: convert into alcohol
immune: protected from the effects of an illness or substance
Dolphins Get High on Puffer Fish
In a 2015 documentary on dolphin behaviour, a filmmaker claimed that dolphins get high on puffer fish. Puffer fish release a poisonous nerve toxin that can be deadly to humans. In the film footage, the dolphins don’t eat the fish. They toss the fish around like a ball, and take turns with it. Afterwards, the dolphins appear to be in a trance-like state. The filmmaker suggests that dolphins use puffer fish to enjoy a natural high, just as other animals enjoy fermented sugarcane, nectar, or berries. Some sceptics say there is no scientific proof that puffer fish give dolphins a natural high. One researcher says that the dolphins would have to eat the puffer fish to feel the effects of the toxins. Another says dolphins may be immune to the toxins, like some sharks. Regardless of whether or not dolphins are affected by the toxins, they certainly have fun playing with objects, including ball-shaped fish.
