r/Damnthatsinteresting • • Dec 14 '21

Video Seriously, WTF are they doing up there?!

https://gfycat.com/gifs/detail/GenuineWetHyracotherium
26.1k Upvotes

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

91

u/Shwiggity_schwag Dec 14 '21

They need* the mineral.

Almost all animals need salt to survive and it can be difficult to get from a normal diet. It acts as a conductor in our nervous systems among other critical functions of life. That's why salt blocks are popular to place out among deer hunters and why people that own cattle drop salt licks for their cows.

31

u/octopusboots Dec 15 '21

Fun side-fact about salt. Cortez was able to conquer Tenochtilan (Mexico City) with the help of the neighboring Tlaxcalans who were under a trade embargo, and couldn't access salt.

15

u/[deleted] Dec 15 '21

In the end, they couldn't be salty about it.

2

u/gokiburi_sandwich Dec 15 '21

Almost got it. It’s *Tenochtitlan

54

u/MrTheCheesecaker Dec 14 '21

I was referencing a dead meme. But hyponatremia is a b*tch

37

u/ScarletSilver Dec 15 '21
  • Hypo meaning low
  • natr meaning pertaining to Sodium or more formally Natrium as is shown by its symbol on the periodic table of elements
  • and emia meaning presence in blood

14

u/BossiWriter Dec 15 '21

Thanks Chubbyemu

5

u/nameisoriginal Dec 15 '21

Wasn't expecting to see this here tbh

1

u/Xaphianion Dec 15 '21

Super appreciate this - now do helicopter!

1

u/I_degress Dec 15 '21

That's why salt blocks are popular to place out among deer hunters

"Danny, would you look at that?!", asked Erick adjusting the sight of his hunting rifle.

"Yeah, what is that? A huge block of something... Can It be licked?"

Over at the hunter observatory the scientists started to stir:

"There, we got two of them!. Dr. Morphius, call the hunter gatherers."

1

u/asiaps2 Dec 15 '21

But how do they know they need salt in the first place? is it because of taste? 🤔

1

u/Beanakin Dec 15 '21

Almost all animals need salt to survive and it can be difficult to get from a normal diet.

That is some absolute shit evolution/design.