Like a real Winnie the Pooh, a brown bear in Turkey gobbled up some honey last week. But unlike the beloved children’s book character, the baby soared as high as a kite on the sweet, golden treat. The reason? It was hallucinogenic “crazy honey”, known in Turkish as “deli bal”. Turkey’s Agriculture and Forestry Ministry said the young bear was rescued Thursday after it was found melted in the country’s northwestern Duzce province, about 130 miles east of Istanbul. Other than the bad trip, the female was in good condition after a stint at a veterinary care center. Somehow, the bear got its paws on an overdose of deli bal, which has been cultivated by beekeepers in the Black Sea region and the Himalayas for centuries. The essence – also known as bitter honey for its spicy taste – is the result of bees feeding on the pollen of rhododendron flowers. The colorful plants carry a natural neurotoxin called grayanotoxin, which, when consumed, can cause euphoria, hallucinations and intoxication – as the bear quickly found out. A video shared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry showed the bear in a state of complete surprise. In the back of a truck, she sat on her belly with her limbs spread out in what can only be described as a vertical tilt. Her mouth was slightly open. Her eyes widened. For a few seconds, she spun around in a daze and confusion. The clip quickly turned the kid into a local celebrity. After tapping citizens for name ideas, the government agency on Friday introduced her as Balkiz — meaning “honey girl” or “honey daughter” in Turkish — along with a photo showing the now-sober bear posing on a branch with a half-eaten watermelon on the ground. Although Balkiz is the latest to suffer the symptoms of a food frenzy, she’s not the first to do so. Thousands of cases of poisoning have been reported around the world throughout history. What does “slooting” mean? And why do New York squirrels do it? According to research by the late Texas A&M anthropology professor Vaughn Bryant, one of the earliest records of mad honey came from Xenophon of Athens, who was a student of the philosopher Socrates. The Greek historian wrote that a Greek army actually stumbled in 401 BC. as the troops were returning from the Black Sea after a victory over the Persians. “They decided to feast on local honey that they stole from some nearby apiaries. Hours later the troops started vomiting, had diarrhea, became disoriented and could no longer stand. The next day the phenomena were gone and they continued to Greece,” Bryant said in a 2014 press release. Other troops were not so lucky. About 334 years later, Roman soldiers led by Pompey the Great fell into a honey trap planted by the Persian army, which “collected pots full of native honey and left them for the Roman troops,” Bryant said. “They ate the honey, got disoriented and couldn’t fight. The Persian army returned and killed over 1,000 Roman soldiers with few casualties of their own.’ Centuries later, Union troops encountered the hallucinogenic honey near the Appalachian Mountains during the Civil War era. Like the Greeks and Romans before them, the Americans sulked and got sick, Bryant said. However, crazy honey is incredibly hard to find, the Guardian reported. Rhododendrons that produce the necessary neurotoxins are found in a few places and are most prolific in the Black Sea highlands and the foothills of the Himalayas. Harvest companies have to go to great lengths to get their hands on the crimson climber – climbing tall trees and cliffs and often fending off one of the world’s largest bee species. However, the returns on these risks are high. A pound of crazy honey can cost nearly $170, Bryant said. In Turkey, a pound of strong, high-quality deli bal can sell for up to 2,000 pounds, or about $111, making it one of the most expensive honeys in the world, the Guardian noted. TikTok’s viral beekeeper has a lot of… buzz The price is also a reflection of the medicinal value some place on the bitter taste of honey. It is often touted as a natural remedy for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, arthritis and sore throats. Some even use it as an aphrodisiac or as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, according to a 2018 report published in the scientific journal RSC Advances. But too much honey can land people — and bears — in the hospital. Only bees that produce crazy honey are immune to high. For all other animals, the substance can cause disorienting effects, although they usually last less than 24 hours. On Friday, Balkiz was released again in the forests near the Balkans – a region whose name translates to “land of honey and blood”. “Hail to the beautiful girl who has won all of our hearts,” Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Vahit Kiriski tweeted. An accompanying video showed the brown pup frolicking down a grassy hill. “May he eat everything in moderation, even honey,” added Kirishi. “Balkız”, whose treatment was completed, returned to her home😊 Let the way be open to our wonderful daughter, who has a throne in the hearts of all of us. I wish him to eat everything in the right amount, even if it’s honey😊 pic.twitter.com/mFU0JTtUOI — Prof. Dr. Vahit Kirişci (@VahitKirisci) August 12, 2022
