A Bear's Sweet Misadventure: What Happens When Bears Eat Too Much Honey?
A young bear was caught on camera experiencing shock, breathing difficulties, and hallucinations after consuming a large quantity of honey that likely contained a certain toxin.
A video released on social media in Turkey went viral in just hours, capturing the attention of millions worldwide.
The footage showed a young brown bear suffering from breathing problems, shock, and hallucinations after apparently eating a large amount of honey known as 'mad honey.' This moniker comes from the presence of a toxin that can induce a state of 'madness.'
The bear was rescued last Thursday from a forest in Turkey's northwestern Duzce province, in severe abdominal pain, exhausted, and whimpering loudly. 'She kept clutching her stomach and writhing in pain,' recounted the rescuers who transported her to a veterinarian in a pickup truck (as seen in the video).
Mad honey is produced in small quantities by local beekeepers in Turkey's Kackar Mountains—it's the only place in the world where it is sold under the name “deli bal.” This mad honey contains a potent neurotoxin called grayanotoxin, which can cause seizures when consumed in large amounts, as experienced by the bear.
For humans too, it turns out, this honey is dangerous. Just a teaspoon can lead to hallucinations or euphoria.
