Joey Day : First Edition: Dolphins and Mines

March 27, 2003

Dolphins and Mines

I saw this tonight on a TV show called "The Pulse".

That's right, the marines have employed dolphins (despite animal rights activists' protests) to search out and tag underwater mines so that bomb crews can come in and disarm them. Even in murky water where a human could only see a few feet ahead, the dolphins can "see" the mines up to thousands of feet away with the help of their built-in sonar systems. They are taught specifically not to touch the mines, and as long as they are trained correctly there is no direct danger to them.

I think this is a great idea. Rather than spend billions of dollars on some kind of little unmanned, sonar equipped, mine searching submarine, why not train a dolphin? It just makes sense, and I think it's really cool.

Posted by Joey at March 27, 2003 10:41 AM

Comments

I saw this a bit ago on MSN (along with the Navy's use of Sea Lions as well... which I think they have since gotten rid of in this war). This is a really touchy subject with some people. I frequent a BB daily, and it's mostly women. Someone posted an article on this too, and most of them thought it was "sickening" and outrageous that an animal would be put in harms way and used in this fashion for our benefit. They would have much rather a death row criminal do the job that some animal like a dolphin. Or not have them doing it at all.

I rather disagree. As you have stated, these animals are thoroughly trained and are not in any real danger and most likely very well taken care of (unlike dolphins that are group hunted in China and other Eastern countries, where they are either sold off to aquariums or butchered and slaughtered for meat, or circus animals that are mistreated (that in itself has pages and pages of reports on it)). They are FAR more capable at doing the job than someone else and are probably much more capable at locating such devices in the water as well. I mean, look at it this way. There are many animals used everyday for the good of man kind. Guide dogs for the blind, hawks are trained and used at many airports to deter pigeons and other fowl, K-9 units are sent out on patrol everyday. Really... what is the difference??

Most animals that are used for a type of government service or for the benefit of others (aside of lab testing... that's a whole 'nother story) are treated with the upmost respect and dignity. Check out this link that I found awhile back.

http://www.ronburns.com/sirius.html

It contains the story of the only dog to die in the the World Trade Center. Scroll down and read the entire story. His remains were treated in the same way as any other officer or fire fighter was that died. I honestly don't think that using animals in this manner is wrong.

Thanks for the above link though. I am still debating with them on this topic :) and I have since posted this article on the BB.

Posted by: Kristen at March 27, 2003 11:29 AM

I really think that all these 'activists' should shut up. (sorry for being so blunt, but I am sick of all these people whining about the war). If they are so concerned about the lives of these dolphins why don't they don their wet suits and go diving for the mines themselves. Now don't get me wrong, I care about the lives of animals as much as the average guy. I just feel that human life should be valued a little (if not a whole lot) more then that of a dolphin. sheesh.

what next

Posted by: Stu at March 29, 2003 09:52 AM