Sharks on cocaine. Yeah … its Shark Week
While the title may appear astonishing, the show dives into some initial but thought-provoking experiments carried out by researchers in Floridas Key West.
Drug and chemical pollutants in water bodies position a serious environmental challenge. From pharmaceuticals to consumer chemicals like sunscreens, fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides, these compounds enter our waterways and become part of the environment. As an outcome, they can hurt marine life and, possibly, people.
During these experiments, the researchers observed sharks behaving peculiarly, with a hammerhead shark even approaching scuba divers unpredictably, something this types would normally prevent. In addition, a sandbar shark was seen swimming in circles, apparently fixated on an imaginary object.
Tracy Fanara, a research researcher and program supervisor at NOAA, took part in the experiments showcased on “Cocaine Sharks.” She explains that big quantities of cocaine typically clean up on the U.S. coasts, especially in the Florida Keys, due to drug trafficking.
In addition, the researchers exposed the sharks to a stimulant similar to cocaine to observe their reactions. Offering sharks cocaine would have most likely raked in more views for the show, Tracy stresses that giving sharks actual cocaine in the wild is not ethical, so they had to rely on simulations for the research study.
The researchers wished to understand how sharks would respond to such exposure. Previous studies have actually shown that numerous drugs and contaminants, such as methamphetamine, can change the habits and physiology of aquatic organisms like fish.
The aim of “Cocaine Sharks” is to accentuate these concerns. Who understands, possibly individuals come for the sharks on drug and stay for the science. We can only hope.
Just recently the Coast Guard intercepted over 14,000 pounds of cocaine, valued at more than $186 million, in the waters near Miami. In some cases drug traffickers will discard all of their stash right into the ocean if they notice they will get busted.
Marine biologist Tom “The Blowfish” Hird is investigating drug sharks for the Discovery Channels yearly Shark Week. He states leaving smugglers being gone after by the DEA are dumping substantial levels of drug into the ocean which end up in the stomachs of sharks. In addition, the sharks were revealed bait balls made from concentrated fish powder, which is suggested to simulate drug.
The scientists assumed that, like fish and other marine animals, sharks may also enter into contact with these drugs if the drug follows the ocean existing. To explore this possibility, they carried out experiments to observe the sharks habits in the existence of simulated cocaine bales.
It was insane,” Hird says on the program.
Lots of sharks bit into the dummy drug bales drifting in the water. In addition, the sharks were revealed bait balls made from focused fish powder, which is suggested to imitate drug. They responded like felines would to catnip.
Credit: Pixabay.
Furthermore, the scientists exposed the sharks to a stimulant similar to drug to observe their reactions. Cocaine is a addictive and potent stimulant understood to impact users energy levels, state of mind, and physical health. Giving sharks drug would have probably raked in more views for the program, Tracy worries that providing sharks actual cocaine in the wild is not ethical, so they had to rely on simulations for the research study.
The upcoming Discovery TV program, “Cocaine Sharks,” has captured the curiosity of numerous. It likewise attracted ridicule and stimulated flashbacks of the unsavory “Cocaine Bear” movie that premiered at some point in 2023.
While the extent to which the sharks were consuming drug stays unsure, this initial research study calls for additional examination. Dr. Fanara plans to team up with other Florida marine researchers to assess cocaine levels by taking blood samples from a few of the sharks.
Shark Week programs starts at 8pm ET Sunday on Discovery. Cocaine Sharks is scheduled to air Wednesday 26 July at 10pm ET.
Fanara, in addition to marine biologist Tom “Blowfish” Hird, deployed phony bales of drug into the water to assess the sharks reactions. They monitored whether the sharks were drawn to the phony bales or showed any modifications in their common habits, such as eating patterns.
The Florida Keys showed to be the perfect location for this research due to a merging of ocean currents that lead to the frequency of drifting drug bales. Florida, being a staging point for large drug shipments entering the US from South America, typically experiences drug packages lost at sea or tossed overboard by traffickers.
Marine biologist Tom “The Blowfish” Hird is investigating cocaine sharks for the Discovery Channels annual Shark Week. He states fleeing smugglers being chased by the DEA are discarding significant levels of drug into the ocean which end up in the stomachs of sharks. pic.twitter.com/nXIz1eav5I— Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) July 21, 2023
