Leinwand, Donna. “Sea Lions Called to Duty in Persian Gulf.” USA Today, February 17 (2003). Web. 10 Oct. 2011. <http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-02-16-sealions-usat_x.html>.
Summary:
In the article “Sea Lions Called to Duty in Persian Gulf” by Donna Leinwand, the author describes how the U.S. Navy is now using trained sea lions as a way to protect ships from terrorists in the Persian Gulf. In addition to the dolphins already in use for military security underwater, sea lions have made their way to the field. They are being used to detect swimmers or divers that seem to be approaching Navy ships and boats. Once spotted, the sea lions are specifically trained to silently approach the swimmer, attach a clamp around their legs, and swim off without being detected. Tom LaPuzza, a spokesman for the Navy’s Marine Mammal Program, claims that this is the safest and most effective way to restrain a possible enemy diver without risking the accident if it were to be a U.S. Navy swimmer. Recently, the Navy has also recruited beluga whales alongside sea lions to deliver equipment to divers, locate and retrieve equipment, detect and mark underwater mines, provide underwater surveillance, and guard and defend ships and submarines. As well as dolphins, sea lions have exceptional underwater directional hearing and the ability to see in complete darkness. This allows for the unmatched skill to identify mines, explosives, and other dangerous underwater objects. According to the Space and Naval Warfare System Center in San Diego, twenty sea lions have been trained for combat there. However, the military will not release information on exactly how many sea lions are currently completing missions in Bahrain’s harbor of the Persian Gulf.
Response:
After reading this article, I was shocked at how well the sea lions are trained to be able to complete such specific and demanding tasks. Sneaking up on an enemy swimmer seems like a very difficult and unsafe task, but if sea lions are able to fulfill these objectives, then U.S. Navy lives will be much safer. I was unaware that beluga whales were added to the arsenal of military mammals, but it seems as though both provide extremely useful help. They can locate, retrieve, and deliver crucial equipment to the Navy, as well as detect underwater mines. The Navy stated that terrorists often send swimmers and divers to attach bombs to the bottom of ships. I am glad to see that sea lions are also trained well enough to provide surveillance and guard the bottom of these ships and submarines from bomb threats. The article claimed that the training of sea mammals started in 1960 when the Navy purchased a dolphin to study its hydrodynamics and ability to perform underwater military tasks once trained. This piece of information shows that the Navy has been doing this for at least 50 years now, and have probably determined the safest way to train these mammals and keep them healthy while in captivity.
Next Steps:
As I searched for information about the military use of dolphins, I decided to use this source because it shows how a variety of sea mammals are now being used in the underwater war efforts. Not only are dolphins being used, but now sea lions and beluga whales are providing security for the U.S. Navy. I was curious as to the number of sea lions being used at the Bahrain harbor in the Persian Gulf, but secrecy is not always a bad thing, especially in today’s world. Nonetheless, they did say that the sea lions traveled to the Gulf by plane while being accompanied by their handler and veterinarians. It is safe to say that the mammals were probably in good hands and properly treated and cared for. Expanding the use of mammals to sea lions and whales provides a window of opportunity to search for the perfect animal to execute military actions for the U.S. Navy.
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