Sharks could also be ingesting various pharmaceuticals found in the ocean, including lidocaine, amphetamine, antidepressants, and birth control.
Cocaine has been washingup on Florida beaches and floating in coastal waters for decades as drug smugglers relentlessly attempt to infiltrate the product into the United States.
In a documentary called"Cocaine Sharks," which is part of Discovery's Shark Week that starts this week, marine biologist Tom Hird visited the Florida Keys to investigate the sharks’ behavior. Subsequently, the duo also explored highly concentrated fish powder and noticed how it induced a dopamine response in sharks, akin to what cocaine might trigger in addicted individuals. Which led to sharks acting extremely hyper.
However, Hird told Live Science that they still don't know what cocaine could do to a shark and that the experiment doesn't really show if sharks are actually consuming cocaine, but rather that they could also be consuming multiple other pharmaceuticals that land in the ocean, such as lidocaine, amphetamine, antidepressants, and even birth control.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Florida Sharks Suspected of Eating Discarded Bales of CocaineScientists are investigating if sharks are getting high off of bales of cocaine that are landing in the waters off of the coast of Florida.
Read more »
'Cocaine Sharks': Shark Week special investigates what happens when illegal drugs and ocean predators mixThe annual summer event offers other wild specials including 'Belly of the Beast,' where an experiment quickly ends up like a scene from 'Jaws,' and the latest 'Alien Sharks' installment featuring 'the dumbest thing' done in the name of wildlife science and television.
Read more »
Rare pink dolphin, unknown object on beach, cocaine sharks: This week's offbeat headlinesFrom a rare pink dolphin sighting to an unknown object found on an Australian beach, there was no shortage of unusual tales this week.
Read more »
Scientists say Florida Keys coral reefs are already bleaching as water temperatures hit record highsThe coral reefs around the Florida Keys are losing their color early this summer because of record-high water temperatures
Read more »
Florida Keys coral reefs are already bleaching as water temperatures hit record highs, scientists saySome Florida Keys coral reefs are losing their color weeks earlier than normal this summer because of record-high water temperatures, meaning they are under stress and their health is potentially endangered, federal scientists say.
Read more »