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by gingernaut 3008 days ago
Very interesting. I think it's unlikely that we are the only species that ingests materials/chemicals that make us feel good, aside from providing any nutritional value.
3 comments

Some bird species eat fermented berries to get drunk. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/12/141203-drun...
Animal drunkenness is a well documented phenomena. Many species of monkeys and apes will "recreationally drink," given the opportunity. Interestingly enough, the rate of "alcoholism" among many simians is inline with that of humans.

(skip to 0:55) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIDJ-sTuoO8

Every kind of animal getting wasted together in the same area, why don't we have a camera permanently pointed at this spot
Native wood pigeons, Kereru, do this in New Zealand. Stumbling on a drunk one is always memorable.
Jaguars in the Amazon rainforest are known to consume leaves of the Caapi vine to get high, because it seems to improves their ability to hunt effectively.

The Caapi vine is also the main ingredient in the psychedelic Ayahuasca brew drunk by the Amazonian shamans.