Sharks off the Florida Coast May Be Consuming Cocaine: Discovery Channel Study Reveals

Sharks off the coast of Florida may be consuming cocaine, say researchers

American researchers have found that sharks off the coast of Florida may be consuming cocaine dumped into the ocean by drug traffickers.

Increasing amounts of cocaine seized in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean

The US Coast Guard said up to 6,400 kilograms of cocaine were seized in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean in the past month alone.

Strange shark behavior observed in the area

Researchers working on the Discovery Channel series Cocaine Sharks told Live Science on Thursday that they have found some sharks acting strangely in the area and have conducted a series of shark experiments off the coast of Florida, where fishermen are said to have encountered fish that had taken the drug.

Shark encounters and experiments

Marine biologist Tom Hurd and University of Florida ecologist Tracy Vanara claim to have seen one of the dives. great The hammerhead — a species that regularly avoids humans — follows the crew straight as they swim perversely.

Another sand shark constantly swam in tight circles and seemed to focus on something that was not really there.

The scientists also conducted a test in which they placed a fake swan in water next to a bag the same size and appearance as a real bag of cocaine that drug traffickers dumped into the ocean.

To the researcher’s surprise, the sharks did not attack the pelicans, but instead headed straight for the cocaine.

The team also dropped fake cocaine from the plane to mimic real drugs and found that several shark species immediately took up residence in the packages.

However, the biologists acknowledged that their study has not yet proven that sharks actually consume cocaine, noting that “we have no idea what (cocaine) can do to a shark.” But Hurd said he hopes the documentary series’ broadcast will lead to more research on the subject, as well as how other drugs affect marine life.

Source: RT

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