World
US deploys ‘military dolphins’ to protect nuclear weapons
Echolocation— the ability to ‘see’ and identify surrounding objects with the help of sound, which is strong not only in dolphins but also in bats.
Washington: This has been going on for at least five decades that the US Navy's Kitsap-Bangor base in Washington deployed specially trained dolphins to protect the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the United States.
According to the American website Military.com, the training of dolphins for military purposes began in 1967 and continues to this day. The aquatic mammals were initially trained to detect trespassers attempting to swim in at night.
Those trained dolphins were capable of detecting landmines to protecting and rescuing soldiers.
In addition, dolphins and other marine animals are trained under the “US Navy Marine Mammal Program” so that they can perform specific tasks in accordance with military requirements.
It is pertinent to mention here that dolphins are naturally equipped with powerful sonar which enables them to hear distant sounds while under water and with the help of sound they can see and recognize the objects in the dark deep-sea.
As per reports, military-trained dolphins identify an unknown diver or other underwater threat, they immediately approach their supervisor, who gives them a device.
With the given device, they float back quickly and attach the person or thing to the device which brings the person or thing in the depths of the sea to the surface.
Moreover, the US Navy has hundreds of dolphins guarding dozens of coastal and marine installations, but one of them is guarding a facility in Bangor, Washington.
It is the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, not only in the US but also around the world, with about 2,500 atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs, accounting for 25% of US nuclear weapons.
Moreover, the total number of US nuclear weapons is about ten thousand— meaning US has the largest number of nuclear weapons in the world.
This special troop of dolphins patrols the seas around Banger and immediately alerts troops in the event of an emergency or even takes suicidal action.
Echolocation— the ability to ‘see’ and identify surrounding objects with the help of sound, which is strong not only in dolphins but also in bats.