OK. Usually this is a very serious site, but every now and then I find something a little ... odd. This is one of those things.
Turns out the Navy, under the aegis of the Marine Mammal Program has had to acknowledge a squad of anti-terror sea lions, trained to patrol the Persian Gulf for terrorist divers, based in Bahrain harbor. Their barking was so loud there was no way the Navy could hide the existence of the mammals, which are not native to the Persian Gulf. I'm not making this up.
The Navy has long feared enemy divers who could blow up ships by attaching mines to them. Sea lions, dolphins and even a Beluga whale are trained to patrol the waters around the ships, locate enemy divers, snap a clamp onto one of their limbs and leave.
ABCnews.com continues: "The clamp is connected to a rope and signal buoy that humans with guns would then reel up, presumably pulling up a human on the other end." ["Humans with guns"? Who writes this stuff? -- Ed.] "In theory, the animals would not be hurt. Their contact with a potential terrorist -- who would presumably be surprised -- would last only an instant as they briefly made contact."
"When you study the animals and you come to realize what they can do in their own environment, the aquatic environment, it's no surprise that we have not been able to build a machine that can do what they do," said Navy veterinarian Eric Jensen.
Sea lions are preferred because, unlike dolphins, they can continue their pursuit of an enemy diver onto dry land. What? How hard is it to outrun a waddling circus act on flippers?
In a time of continuous bad news, this story -- while weird -- made my night.
UPDATE: Yes, yes, I know sea lions are not seals, already. But c'mon, that headline was too good to pass up.
What the… ?! Does the Navy really think a terrorist diver is giong to just let one of these animals swim right up to him and “snap a clamp” on him? This is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever heard. And I think it’s animal cruelty.
Therefore Saddam must be stopped.
Michael
This doesn’t surprise me at all. I seem to recall that on City Island in the Bronx, there is a place (Coast Guard station? NYPD?) where there are some seals or sea lions who are trained to engage in rescue missions in Long Island Sound. Apparently they are able to undo seat belts, open car doors, and the like. I can’t find any corroboration on the Web right now, though.
There was a piece about these seals on one of the cable channels just yesterday. (2.12.03)
The seal and dolphine program is true the navy has trained them to do just that, locate and tag divers near ships.
Where did the dolphens originate from, who trained them, how did they get to Iraq and are they treated well and have vets with them. How many dolphens are they using and how old are they? thanks
Yes, they train sea lions. If you think that you can spot a sea lion in the water and have time to react, then you never been around one. They are extremely quick in their environment. As far as the animal cruelty, they are like police dogs. Treated very well.
These seals are specially trained at the National Defense University’s Special School for Seal Operations (SSSO). These seals learn anti-terrorist tactics, how to field-strip an M-16, and double-entry accounting.
Once these sea-lions have spent 4 years in the military, they qualify for low-income housing and all-u-can-eat chum.
My friend Sara Loves the Navy Seals. When We had to do our repot in sco studies she said to the group that she wanted to do the report on the Navy Seal!!She is crazy about u guys!
My friend Sara Loves the Navy Seals. When We had to do our repot in sco studies she said to the group that she wanted to do the report on the Navy Seal!!She is crazy about u guys! Her father was a Navy Seal
Ha ha all of you are fools special warfare programs and operations shouldnt be brought out to the open. half the exciting special warfare operations are dramatized thru the media on special warfare the people don’t need people asking why the military treats animals so freaking bad! the military has been things behind the peoples back for many years. so get used to it will go on for enternity too save our behinds from being waxed so forget every thing you hear from media it is all bs! leave the 411 vague thank you have a nice life and live on!
I think that this is smart something someone would
wold never if able to train them with out them getting hurt then lets do it
I think it’s an interesting program, but I do have a few questions. Do these seals have to go through BUD/S? If not, then there is is no concern for their well being as they are already treated far better than their human counterparts! Hooyah, 175!!
Here’s a thought, Sea Lions with mp5’s! Shoot the damn terrorists on sight. Ask questions later. Remember the USS Cole? How many of our sailors did we lose that time? Hooyah!!
1st off all there is no animcal cruelty. the animals are well taken care off and are pleased with the way they live.
2nd Id like to see you try not let a sealion get near you. In fact id like to see you try to shoot one Michael. Do you think engaginga sea lion @ sea is even as easy as simple as engaging someone on foot.
3rd this site does not tell any counterpart squat in regards to operation tactics. The very well deduct just from movies the existence of such
a program.
This is a great program for so many reasons.