In Australia, sheep are committing suicide due to the effects of toxic plants. According to local media, thousands of sheep are behaving like drug addicts after trying the leaves of the plant “Darling Pea” (Swainsona greyana).
A plant with the misleading name “Darling Pea” acts as a drug for sheep. The natural toxin contained in it affects the central nervous system of the animals, disrupting metabolism and causing irreversible consequences. After the first taste of the “pea,” sheep cannot stop and begin to behave as if they are in a state of severe intoxication.
After consuming the leaves of the “Darling Pea,” sheep lose weight, develop a disease known as vertigo, lose coordination, and remain in a constant state of depression. Their condition gradually worsens, with seizures and increased intracranial pressure tormenting them, and eventually, they start banging their heads against posts or rocks until they die.
Currently, farmers and veterinarians are working on finding an effective solution to save the livestock from this deadly plant that spread across pastures after the fires in January 2014. Treating sheep that have already tasted the poison proves to be useless: antidotes and medications capable of neutralizing the toxin's effects have yet to be developed.
