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.