In Turkey, a ‘drunk’ bear was discovered collapsed in a woodland and sent to the vet after consuming hallucinogenic’mad honey.’
The bear wobbled, moaned, and looked into space as she sat belly-up in the back of a pick-up truck in the Yigilca area of Duzce Province, after being rescued from the jungle yesterday.
The crazy honey she had consumed, known as ‘deli bal’ in Turkish, is a sort of rhododendron honey with hallucinogenic properties.
The bear was gasping for air as a result of the aftereffects of feasting on honey.
She was taken to a veterinarian for treatment and will be released back into the wild in the following days, according to local officials.
Forester Yasin Oztas discovered the cub and informed local media that they transported her to the Ducze National Parks and Nature Conservation Branch Directorate.
Mr Oztas added that residents had reported a mother and her two cubs passing through the area the day before.
‘While we were carrying out our forest protection management efforts, we observed a bear cub resting on the ground in a sluggish manner,’ he stated.
The pack was first terrified, but they soon realized the little cub was ill.
‘Our infant brown bear, who is weary in Duzce, is in excellent condition, and our teams continue their care,’ the Ministry stated in a statement Wednesday.
Citizens were also urged to come up with a name for the bear.
Dr Meral Kekecoglu, Associate Director of the Duzce University Beekeeping Research, Development, and Application Centre, spoke to local media about the hazards of crazy honey.
‘It has advantages, but it may also lead to death,’ said Dr. Kekecoglu.
He went on to say that various forms of hallucinogenic honey, such as those prepared with chestnut or rhododendron, and others with linden, may have diverse effects.
The doctor stated that the effects might vary substantially depending on the chemical makeup of the honey.
‘If the quantity of grayanotoxin is quite large, it displays a blood pressure lowering impact and even begins to hallucinate the person who drinks it,’ Dr Kekecoglu said.
‘|As a result, it may reach very deadly levels in persons who ingest it. The scenario might be severe.’ When ingesting rhododendron honey, extreme caution is required. It offers advantages, but it may also have fatal repercussions.
‘It is debatable if such an impact on a bear is feasible, yet it is.
‘If it has such an impact on a bear, imagine how much it may have on a human when they ingest too much.’
Gayanotoxins are a kind of neurotoxin found in a variety of plant species.
According to Dr. Kekecoglu, when ingested in moderation, honey containing this chemical may benefit persons suffering from hypertension and asthma.
‘Our forest guards on patrol discovered this delighted bear cub,’ claimed the Turkish General Directorate of Forestry in a statement issued on Thursday.
‘Based on preliminary assessments, we believe it has got a touch too much honey.’