Combat Dolphins
News:
UK says Russia is training combat dolphins in Crimea to counter Ukraine.
What:
- It refers to the use of the marine mammals for military tasks.
How:
- Cetaceans like bottle-nosed dolphins and Beluga whales are highly intelligent and can be trained to perform military undertakings such as:
- Detection of submarines, mines, suspicious objects or individuals
- Carry out surveillance using equipment attached to the animals by harnesses
- Even planting explosives on enemy devices
- An example is ‘Hvaldimir’, a harness-wearing whale that was spotted in Norway in 2019.
- Other animals like sea lions can also be used. Eg: the US navy used these animals to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Bahrain in 2003.
Who:
- The practice was started by the Soviet and the USA.
When:
- The practice dates back to the Cold War era.
If you like this post, please share your feedback in the comments section below so that we will upload more posts like this.
