In a twist that sounds straight out of a surreal sitcom, poppy farmers in Slovakia are dealing with a feathery dilemma. Swans, yes, swans, have taken over their fields after getting high on opium-laden poppy seeds.
It started with innocent puddle-dipping, but the swans quickly developed a taste for poppy seeds with an unexpected opium kick. Around 200 of these party-loving birds now call the poppy fields home, causing around €10,000 in damages. Some have even overdosed and forgotten how to fly.
Farmers tried to evict them, but swans are a protected species. Enter animal lovers and volunteers trying to rehab them off the seeds. Will the swans soar back to sobriety, or is this just nature’s latest quirky twist?”
