Program

Terrestrial animals have long been domesticated for various human purposes. Special forces regularly train and use canines for their explicit sense of smell, agility, and loyalty. Besides the domestic marine animals seen at SeaWorld shows or aquatic zoos, marine mammals are also specially trained to carry out important tasks.

The United States Navy Marine Mammal Program began in 1960 and continues to be in full operation. Today, its headquarters are located on the San Diego Bay in California, where the Navy’s marine mammals are housed, trained, and employed to fulfil a variety of operations. Some navy missions can even require the animals to travel or fly far distances. Originally, the program’s goals were primarily researched based. The Navy sought to design underwater technology such as, submarines and gliders, to be as efficient in speed and diving similar to the abilities of marine animals. Eventually, the navy began to train these intelligent and docile mammals to carry out the missions in substitution for the equipment that was difficult to design and construct.

During the early years of the program, over 20 species of marine mammals, including sharks and marine birds, were challenged to determine which marine animals would be most efficient and useful for Navy missions. For some time, orca and beluga whales were trained. Today, bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions are the most common in the program due to their compliance, adaptability, and ease in care.

Unlike humans, marine mammals are able to easily descend down far pressurized depths for extended periods of time that humans cannot withstand. These animals have become crucial in performing a several of underwater tasks and safety maritime safety. Some of their tasks include: ship and harbour protection, mine detection and clearance, and underwater object recovery, diver assistance, deep and prolonged diving, underwater patrol, and many more. For underwater object recoveries, the animals are either sent into the water equipped with a buoy to pinpoint the location of the item or they bite onto a clamp that can be hooked onto the object. Dolphins’ biological sonar, echolocation, is highly efficient at locating and retrieving sea mines that remain on the sea floor. Not only is echolocation more effective than the most advanced technology available today, but also dolphins’ training is also less expensive than equipment development. These animals are well feed and cared for, which explains why they return after their missions instead of escaping and swimming away.

In recent news, Ukraine’s so called, “killer” dolphins have been reported to abandon their program in search of mates. Photos of the animals with weapons attached onto them have sparked pre-existing controversy among animal activists. They criticize the use of marine mammals, accusing it of endangering the animals by risking their lives to carry out potentially dangerous missions, turning them into killing machines, and neglecting their natural dispositions. The Navy refutes these claims, and states that the missions are not intended to harm the animals, since sea mines detonate due to larger vessel movement and not by minor aquatic life activity. An extensive staff of veterinarians, technicians, biologists, and trainers all look after and tend to the animals. Today, the Navy Marine Mammal Program consists of over 100 marine mammals that are skilled, ready for duty, and vital in protecting our coasts.

Sources:

https://kb.defense.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/487/~/u.s.navy-marine-mammal-program http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/03/killermilitary-dolphins-go-awol-for-love-maybe-not/ http://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/Pacific/71500/Pages/ faqs.aspx http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/ navy_dolphins_montenegro