Navy Marine Mammal Program PDF

Navy Marine Mammal Program They stopped enemy swimmers from coming ashore. During the 1996 Republican Convention held in San Diego, dolphins patroll...

Navy Marine Mammal Program They stopped enemy swimmers from coming ashore. During the 1996 Republican Convention held in San Diego, dolphins patrolled the harbor and protected the people attending the convention. In 2003 dolphins cleared underwater mines ahead of U.S. ships during the Iraq War. Because of their intelligence and trainability, dolphins and sea lions are good choices for many of these difficult underwater missions. Without them, many more soldiers could be injured. In 1960, the U.S. Navy began using Despite the great work these mammals marine mammals such as dolphins and have done, many people argue against sea lions to protect our harbors, clear the program. They claim the dolphins underwater mines, and recover lost are put at risk and don’t live good lives. equipment. Over the years, this program But the Navy argues that most of the has been responsible for a lot of positive animals in their program live longer than work and should continue into the the mammals in the wild. In addition, the future. animals are never mistreated and are only given positive reinforcement. The The dolphins and sea lions in the Navy also maintains strict rules about program provide an important service to when a dolphin can be used (such as the men and women in the Navy. water temperature) so that the animals Dolphins’ natural sonar abilities have are not put in environments that are not been used to locate mines along the normal. Opponents also argue that bottom of the sea floor. robots could do the same work, but as of now we do not have the technology Dolphins and sea lions have excellent that matches the natural abilities of the underwater vision and hearing that allow dolphins and robots would cost a lot of them to detect and track undersea money. targets, even in dark or murky waters. They can also dive hundreds of feet While there are some arguments below the surface, without risk of against using marine mammals in the sickness like human divers. Someday it Navy, the benefits and good work of may be possible to complete these these animals is undeniable. Without missions with underwater drones, but for these animals, soldiers’ lives would be now technology is no match for the at risk. The Navy Marine Mammal animals. Program is an important program to our military and country. Until robots are as During times of war, these animals have smart as dolphins, the Navy should done a great service to our country and keep using the animals. the men and women in the military. During the Vietnam War, five dolphins protected an army ammunition post.