Military dolphin 865906 223514278 2008-07-04T11:51:32Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{Mergeto|U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program|date=April 2008}} {{contradict}} [[Image:NMMP dolphin with locator.jpeg|thumb|250px|right|A U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program dolphin named ''K-Dog'' wearing a locating pinger, performed mine clearance work in the [[Persian Gulf]] during the [[Iraq War]].]] A '''military dolphin''' is a [[cetacean]] trained for military uses. The [[United States]] and [[Russia]]n militaries have trained and employed [[oceanic dolphin]]s for several reasons. Such military dolphins have been trained to rescue lost divers or to locate underwater [[naval mine|mine]]s. The U.S. Navy trains dolphins and [[Sea Lion|sea lion]]s under the [[U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program]], which is based in [[San Diego, California]]. Military dolphins were used by the U.S. Navy during the [[First Gulf War|First]] and [[Iraq War|Second Gulf War]].<ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/03/0328_030328_wardolphins_2.html Dolphins Deployed as Undersea Agents in Iraq<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> About 75 dolphins are in the Navy's marine mammal program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbc11.com/news/11827003/detail.html?rss=bay&psp=news |title=Navy may deploy anti-terrorism dolphins |first=Thomas |last=Watkins |publisher=Associated Press |date=2007-02-12 |accessdate=2007-05-01}}</ref> The Russian military is believed to have closed its marine mammal program in the early 1990s. In 2000 the press reported that dolphins trained to kill by the [[Soviet Navy]] had been sold to [[Iran]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/670551.stm BBC News | MIDDLE EAST | Iran buys kamikaze dolphins<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Due to the secrecy of such practice, rumors of military dolphins include training them to lay underwater mines, to kill enemy combatants, or to seek and destroy submarines using kamikaze methods. There has even been speculation about the potential development of sophisticated equipment, such as poison darts, sonar jamming devices, and so on for dolphins, and about combat between cetaceans of both superpowers. The [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] denies ever having trained its marine mammals to harm or injure humans in any fashion or to carry weapons to destroy ships.<ref>[http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/NMMP_FAQ.html Frequently Asked Questions of the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 2005, there were press reports that some U.S. military dolphins based on [[Lake Pontchartrain]] had escaped during the [[Hurricane Katrina]] flooding.<ref>[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1577753,00.html Armed and dangerous - Flipper the firing dolphin let loose by Katrina | International | The Observer<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The U.S. Navy dismissed these stories as nonsense or a [[hoax]], though they may be taking on the status of an [[Urban legend|urban myth]].<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9503310/ Dispelling a myth of dangerous Navy dolphins - Countdown with Keith Olbermann - MSNBC.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ---- == The Military Dolphin == '''History''' The United States Navy implemented a program in 1960 to work with dolphins and sea lions in order to help with defense, mine detection, and design of new submarines and new underwater weapons. The Navy did many tests with several marine mammals to determine which would be best for the jobs they needed done. “More than 19 species were tested, including some sharks and birds.” Eventually the bottlenose dolphin and California sea lion were shown to be the best at what the Navy needed them for. The bottlenose dolphin’s asset was their highly evolved biosonar helping to find underwater mines and the sea lions asset was their impeccable underwater vision which can help to detect enemy swimmers. In the fiscal year of 2007, the United States Navy donated $14 million to marine mammal research on weapons and their training programs such as object recovery and mine detection. '''Care of Animals''' The marine mammals used for the Navy’s research and operations are taken care of with the most extraordinary of veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, and highly trained marine biologists.{{Facts|date=June 2008}} The doctors and staff are on call around the week so that the animals get the care that they need. Their focus is to keep the dolphins and sea lions healthy and fit for duty with routine physicals, nutrition oversight, and extensive data collection and management. Four dolphins, Kelly, Noah, Jackie, and Toni were rescued after they were found in the Gulf of Mexico after hurricane Katrina swept them away and they were held in three above ground saltwater pools and given extensive care and fed by Marine Life Aquarium trainers and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service. '''Training''' The dolphins and sea lions are trained by five teams of the Navy’s Marine Mammal fleet members. One team specializes in swimmer detection, three teams for mine location, and another team for object recoveries. The quick response goal of this fleet is to mobilize a team and be on site within 72 hours. Dolphins are trained much like police dogs and hunting dogs are. They are given incentives such as fish for them to do something right and complete a mission. Dolphins are trained to detect underwater mines and enemy swimmers and then report back to their handlers who are then able to do something about the situation. ---- ==See also== *[[Military animals]] *''[[The Day of the Dolphin]]'', a novel and later movie about training dolphins to carry out an [[assassination]] ==References== <references /> ==External links== *[http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/ Navy Marine Mammal Program]. *[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/whales/etc/navycron.html PBS ''The Story of Navy Dolphins''] *[http://www.yod2007.org/ Year of the Dolphin Home] *[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/31/earlyshow/living/petplanet/main808201.shtml CBS news "Dolphins, Sea Lions Serve Military"] == References == 1. Anonymous. (May 2, 2003). Searching the Sea. Scholastic News, 59(24), 2. Retrieved January 28, 2008, ProQuest. Gethings, Chris. Navy Newstand - Eye on the Fleet. 28 Jan. 2008. <www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=28305>. 2. Marine Mammal Health Care of the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program. U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Animal Health Care. Retrieved January 28, 2008, from www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/veterinary.html 3. Navy Office. Sonar - Balancing Environmental Stewardship and National Defense. Rhumb Lines: Straight Lines to Navigate By. Retrieved January 28, 2008, from www.navy.mil 4. Renwick, D. M., Simmons, R. & Truver, S. C. (August 1997). Marine Mammals are a Force Multiplier. United States Naval Institute Proceedings, 123(8), 52. 5. Walsh, D. (May 2007). Sleek Sailors - The Navy's Marine Mammal Program. United States Naval Institute Proceedings, 133(5), 176. Retrieved January 28, 2008, ProQuest. [[Category:Military animals]] [[Category:Oceanic dolphins]] [[he:דולפין לוחם]] [[ja:軍用イルカ]]