Elephants in Polish zoo get cannabis oil against stress
Experimental CBD treatment
Agnieszka Czujkowska, head of the animal rehabilitation department at the zoo, tells the BBC that she has started an experimental treatment now that the animals are so out of their minds. Cannabis oil, also known as CBD oil, is made from extracts from a cannabis plant. The oil is said to help the body produce more serotonin and dopamine, relieving depression. Elephants are an ideal ‘guinea pig' because they are susceptible to stress and are easy to monitor.
Signs of stress
When Erna died, everything changed. I don't think Fredzia (one of the elephants, ed.) was ready for such a change,” Czujkowska explains. Erna was the oldest of the herd and therefore an important figure within the group. Fredzia is in deep mourning. She shows signs of stress and you can see that she is struggling with the changing relationship with Buba, the other female elephant. She keeps a constant eye on her, she is more restless than she used to be. It can take years before they learn to cope with the loss and there is harmony again in the herd”.
First results
The first part of the experiment has been completed, consisting of collecting stools, mucus and blood to monitor the height of the stress hormone cortisol. We want to give them CBD and then measure the cortisol again. We do not yet know for sure if the oil is working”. Fredzia and her herd mates are given the oil directly in their mouths or mixed with food. Their health is monitored with regular blood tests.
CBD oil does not contain THC, the psychoactive substance in cannabis, so the elephants will not get high from it, Czujkowska stresses. It is not very potent. The only side effect will be a change in behaviour. We will have to deal with that in order to get the results we want”. As far as the researcher knows, this is the first time that elephants have been treated with cannabis oil.
CBD Oil against stress and depression
We have been writing about cannabidiol and stress-related complaints for some time now. To learn about the positive effects CBD can have, please continue to read the following recommended articles:
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