Jaguars have been observed eating the roots and bark of yagé (ayahuasca vine), a plant containing DMT, after which they appear intoxicated and roll around playfully—some researchers believe this sharpens their senses for hunting.
Jaguars Eat Hallucinogenic Plants and Trip Out
Deep in the Amazon rainforest, jaguars have been caught doing something utterly unexpected: getting high on purpose. These apex predators seek out the roots and bark of the yagé vine—better known as ayahuasca, the same plant used in traditional shamanic ceremonies—and chew on it until they're visibly intoxicated.
The result? Rolling around on the jungle floor, pawing at the air, and generally acting like the world's most dangerous house cat who just discovered catnip.
What Exactly Are They Eating?
The yagé vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) contains powerful psychoactive compounds, including DMT precursors and MAO inhibitors. For humans, ayahuasca produces intense hallucinations and has been used for spiritual purposes by indigenous Amazonian peoples for centuries.
For jaguars? It seems to produce a similar mind-altering effect, though obviously we can't ask them about their visions.
The Hunter's Edge Theory
Here's where it gets interesting. Some researchers propose that jaguars aren't just recreational drug users—they might be self-medicating to become better hunters.
The theory goes like this:
- The compounds in ayahuasca may heighten sensory perception
- Enhanced senses could help detect prey more effectively
- The purging effect might also eliminate intestinal parasites
It's a compelling idea: nature's most efficient killing machine using jungle pharmaceuticals to gain an edge. Though it's worth noting this remains a hypothesis—proving intentionality in animal behavior is notoriously difficult.
Not Just Jaguars
This behavior isn't unique. Animals across the world seek out mind-altering substances:
- Dolphins pass around pufferfish to get mildly intoxicated on tetrodotoxin
- Elephants seek out fermented marula fruit
- Reindeer eat psychedelic Amanita mushrooms
- Wallabies break into opium poppy fields in Tasmania
The jaguar-ayahuasca connection stands out because it involves one of the most potent psychedelics known to science and one of the most formidable predators on Earth.
Witnessed But Mysterious
Indigenous peoples of the Amazon have long known about this behavior. In fact, some accounts suggest that humans first discovered ayahuasca by observing jaguars eating the vine—though this origin story is difficult to verify.
What we do know is that the behavior has been documented multiple times. Jaguars specifically seek out these plants, consume them, and exhibit clear signs of intoxication afterward. Whether they're doing it for fun, for health benefits, or to sharpen their predatory instincts remains one of the jungle's enduring mysteries.
Either way, the image of a 300-pound apex predator tripping in the rainforest is a reminder that nature is far stranger—and more fascinating—than we often give it credit for.