Dolphins are said to have many human-like social traits ; including the predilection for recreational drugs it seems . Hidden cameras captured a pod in action as they got 'high ' from nerve toxins released by a pufferfish in waters off Southeast Africa . In the incredible scene , filmed for a Discovery Channel special , the sea creatures are seen rolling on their backs with their eyes closed in an apparent state of bliss . At one point the dolphins are seen floating just underneath the water 's surface , apparently mesmerized by their own reflections . Scroll down for video . Bad habits ? Hidden cameras captured a pod of dolphins in action as they got 'high ' from nerve toxins released by a pufferfish in waters off Southeast Africa . Floating off : In the incredible scene , filmed for a Discovery Channel special , the sea creatures are seen rolling on their backs with their eyes closed in an apparent state of bliss . In a trance : At one point the dolphins are seen floating just underneath the water 's surface , apparently mesmerized by their own reflections . Though large doses of a puffer 's neurotoxinthe can be deadly - 100 times more potent than cyanide - in small amounts it is known to produce a narcotic effect . To release the substance , the bottlenose dolphins were caught chasing the pufferfish along the ocean floor . In a bid to escape attack , footage shows the fish quickly inflating into a ball shape . The playful dolphins then grab the puffer between their teeth and pass it around until it eventually lets out a burst of poison . A brown-colored cloud is seen dispersing and diluting in the water . As the dolphins drift off into their own world , the weary pufferfish seizes the chance to deflate and slip away into the deep blue . Getting in on the act : Though large doses of a puffer 's neurotoxinthe can be deadly - 100 times more potent than cyanide - in small amounts it is known to produce a narcotic effect . The footage , from Dolphins : Spy in the Pod , was taken by wildlife filmmaker John Downer - who has previously used hidden cameras to bring the secrets of penguin colonies to television screens . Downer designed underwater cameras disguised as squid , tuna and even other dolphins . Zoologist and series producer Rob Pilley said that it was the first time dolphins had been filmed behaving this way . He added : 'We saw the dolphins handle the puffers with kid gloves , very gently and delicately like they were almost milking them to not upset the fish too much or kill it . 'As a result the fish released various toxins as a defense . The dolphins then seemed to be mesmerized . ' He insisted that the scene could n't have been a one-off encounter , saying : 'The dolphins were specifically going for the puffers and deliberately handling them with care . ' The series , which aired on the Discovery Channel on Saturday , follows the success of Penguins : Spy In the Huddle , which used similar tactics of disguised cameras , documentary producer Downer was eager to create a range of cameras disguised as sea creatures to offer viewers unprecedented proximity to their favorite species . Fun and games : To release the substance , the bottlenose dolphins were caught chasing the pufferfish along the ocean floor - in a bid to escape attack , footage shows the fish quickly inflating into a ball shape . Water polo : The playful dolphins then grab the puffer between their teeth and pass it around until it eventually lets out a burst of poison . Covert : The footage , from Dolphins : Spy in the Pod , was taken by wildlife filmmaker John Downer – who has previously used hidden cameras ( seen above ) to bring the secrets of penguin colonies to television screens . As well as the Dolphincam , the Tunacam , Turtlecam and Squidcam have also been created for different spying roles , with each fitted with HD cameras to capture life under the sea . With the help of the cameras , viewers can watch a mother teaching her calf to catch fish and leap from water , as well as finding themselves at the center of huge megapods with thousands of dolphins swimming around them at once . Some 900 hours of raw footage was collected over a 12-month period from locations including America , Coasta Rica , South Africa , Argentina and Australia . The pufferfish footage was filmed in waters near Mozambique . The film crew also dived some 1,500 times , spending nearly 3,000 hours at sea filming with the Spy Creatures in all types of weather . Speaking of the project , Downer said : 'Unlike Penguin-cams , this time our spy creatures had to keep pace with fast-moving dolphins , often out in the deep ocean . 'The dolphins were very curious about their new neighbors and allowed them into their lives . ' Downer 's last project , Spy in the Huddle , took viewers inside the world of penguins by deploying 50 cameras to the arctic for almost a year .
Hidden cameras captured a pod in distress as they got ' high ' from nerve toxins released by a pufferfish in waters off Southeast Africa . In the incredible scene , filmed for a discovery channel special , the sea creatures are seen rolling on their backs with their eyes closed in an apparent state of bliss . As the dolphins drift off into their own world , the weary pod seizes the chance to deflate and slip away into the deep ocean . The footage , from Dolphins : Spy in the Pod , was taken by wildlife filmmaker John burns .