Buzz
Researchers have discovered peculiar behavior among thousands of sharks off the coast of Florida, USA. They suspect these shark schools have ingested cocaine and are now addicted. This is the highlight theme of Shark Week every year on Discovery, since July.Unusual phenomena in shark populations occur after the US Coast Guard announced the seizure of over 14,100 pounds (approximately 6,400 kilograms) of cocaine (valued at an estimated $186 million) in smuggling operations through the Caribbean to Florida. Normally, Florida serves as a major hub for a large influx of drugs into the US from South America.
A few weeks later, news broke that a boater stumbled upon a stash of 62 pounds of cocaine (about 28 kilograms) in the waters off Florida. In Florida, discovering cocaine packages floating at sea or washing ashore is commonplace. It's believed to be discarded by smugglers fleeing law enforcement.Specifically, Marine Biologist Tom Hird and Environmental Scientist at the University of Florida, Tracy Fanara, encountered a great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) head-on as it swam erratically, displaying unusual behavior.
IllustrationCarcharhinus plumbeus
IllustrationThey released fake cocaine packages (packed to look real) and swan decoys into the ocean to observe which objects sharks preferred. Surprisingly, some sharks ignored the decoys and swam straight to the fake cargo. Others even bit and gnawed at the packages.
IllustrationNext, they released bait balls filled with concentrated fish powder capable of stimulating the frenzy of shark groups, akin to the effects of using cocaine. As a result, the sharks became wild when consuming them.
IllustrationFinally, researchers released fake cargo into the ocean from airplanes, simulating how smugglers carry out drug transportation behaviors. As a result, some sharks swam around the cargo, waiting patiently.
IllustrationIn the coming months, Fanara plans to collaborate with other marine scientists in Florida to sample blood from some shark species to assess cocaine levels.This program reminds me of the movie Cocaine Bear I watched not long ago. The movie depicts black bears in a national park consuming drug packages dropped from smuggling planes. The drugs caused them to become addicted, erratic, and eventually exhibit extremely dangerous aggressive behavior, attacking anyone nearby viciously like the infamous Cocaine Bears.Source
