Florida is known for its sunny beaches, theme parks and wildlife attractions. But there is a dark side to the Sunshine State that few people are aware of: the presence of cocaine sharks. These are sharks that may have come into contact with bags of cocaine that were dumped into the ocean by drug smugglers trying to evade law enforcement.
How do Sharks get Exposed to Cocaine?
According to a report from KTLA News, people have reported seeing sharks eating cocaine off the coast of Florida. Experts say that sharks may be eating bags of cocaine that were thrown into the water by smugglers who transport cocaine from South and Central America.
The U.S. Coast Guard has seized over 14,100 pounds (6,400 kilograms) of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean in June 2023 alone, with an estimated value of $186 million. Some of these drugs may end up in the mouths of sharks that are attracted by the smell or shape of the packages. A sea full of crack addicted sharks is a very scary thought.
What are the Effects of Cocaine on Sharks?
Biologists studying the phenomenon have reported seeing a hammerhead shark swimming into discarded packages, and biting into them. After ingesting the drugs, the sharks were observed to be behaving erratically, causing what scientists call “crazy brain”.
This means that the sharks may experience increased aggression, paranoia, confusion and impaired judgment. Cocaine can also affect the sharks’ heart rate, blood pressure, metabolism and nervous system. Essentially it can probably turn a Shark into a giant piranha.
How are Scientists are Investigating Cocaine Sharks?
To find out more about how cocaine affects sharks, marine biologist Tom ‘The Blowfish’ Hird and University of Florida environmental scientist Tracy Fanara conducted a series of experiments for a documentary called “Cocaine Sharks”, which is part of Discovery’s Shark Week.
They dived with sharks off the Florida Keys and looked for any unusual behaviors. They also created fake bales of cocaine and placed them next to dummy swans to see how the sharks would react. They found that the sharks ignored the swans, and went straight for the bales, biting and tearing them apart. One shark even grabbed a bale and swam away with it.
The researchers also made a bait ball of highly concentrated fish powder, which was designed to trigger a dopamine rush as close to a hit of cocaine as possible. When the sharks ate the powder, they went wild and frenzied. Finally, the team dropped their fake cocaine bales from an airplane to simulate a real-life drug drop.
They saw multiple shark species, including tiger sharks, moving in to feast on the bales. They appeared to be truly the first Shark crack addicts.
How are People Reacting to Cocaine Sharks?
The discovery of cocaine sharks has sparked a lot of interest and curiosity among the public. People on social media are making light of the situation by making jokes about how this is like the shark version of the Cocaine Bear movie, which is based on a true story of a bear that overdosed on cocaine in 1985.
Some people joked about how Jaws high on cocaine would be one of the most frightening movie characters ever. Others expressed concern and sympathy for the sharks that are unwittingly exposed to harmful substances. Many environmentalists are saying this is an example of how humans are destroying the planet.
Cocaine sharks are a shocking and disturbing reality that reveals the impact of human activities on marine life. They also raise questions about how drugs affect other animals in the ocean, such as dolphins, whales and fish. As Hird said in the documentary, “The deeper story here is the way that chemicals, pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs are entering our waterways — entering our oceans — and what effect that they then could go on to have on these delicate ocean ecosystems” .
