Like human beings, animals also use intoxicants to get high – Nigerian pop scientist, Arojinle
Award-winning on-air personality and documentarian, Mustapha Iskil Gbolahan, popularly known as Arojinle, has said like human beings, animals also use forest intoxicants to get high.
Arojinle shared that dolphins, black lemurs, gorillas, and chimps have all been observed using plants and substances to get high.
He suggested that humans might have initially learned about the effects of intoxicants by observing these animals, but have since amplified their potency, creating synthetic drugs that pose greater risks.
He made this known while responding to a question on X.com.
A user, Chief Himself who identifies as #omokaaroojire on X.com sharing a video of a Chimpanzee smoking asked, “Pls tag Ààrẹ Arojinle to come and explain what’s going on here to us”
Responding Arojinle said, “These guys taught us how to get high on drugs. Let’s learn how.
“Different pieces of evidence point to the fact that animals have been getting high before us and may continue to get high without our influence.
“I have written about and shared videos of dolphins gently biting on pufferfishes so that the fish can release a small amount of tetrodotoxin which gets them high in the past.
“In a few minutes, I will share a video of black lemurs getting high on the toxins released by millipedes. I pray I still have it in my archives.”
Arojinle added that apes. Gorillas and chimps have been observed to eat kola nuts when they’re tired.
He said, “The caffeine and theobromine content helps keep them awake. There’s a high chance our ancestors learnt to eat kola nuts by observing them.
“In Equatorial Guinea, some old people were seen using the root of Alchornea floribunda to get high. They testify of its intoxicating and aphrodisiac properties.
“When asked how they got to know, the locals explained that they see animals (most especially gorillas) go into a frenzy of fear as if being chased by invisible objects, after eating the roots.”
He added that apes have also been observed to use Tabernanthe iboga root which has now become a thing for the locals in Gabon and Congo.
According to him, chimpanzees have been seen getting drunk on the fermented sap of palm trees.
“What am I driving at? The shreds of evidence on ground pointed to the fact that we learnt to get high from observing apes. However, humans know how to make lemonade from lemons,” he added.
Arojinle stated that humans have developed ways to greatly concentrate intoxicants, making them more potent and harmful.
He also noted that scientists have created even more dangerous substances in labs, going beyond what was initially learned from observing animals. He pointed out that this has resulted in a wide range of harmful products, including cigarettes, drugs, and more.
Arojinle also condemned those who introduced the chimp in the video to smoking, calling them “wicked”.
He stated that chimps are highly intelligent and can easily copy human actions, including smoking if they are exposed to it.
He warned that regular smoking can lead to withdrawal syndrome in chimps.
Arojinle also advised those who are not currently using drugs to count themselves lucky and avoid starting, while urging those struggling with addiction to seek help immediately, as continuing down the path of addiction is like digging oneself into a deeper hole.
