| Dolphins and sea lions are usually seen either in the | | | | swimmer a.k.a. terrorist and is linked to a cable that |
| wilderness, an aquarium, a zoo or even a shopping mall | | | | allows soldiers to real the culprit in. |
| such as the West Edmonton Mall in Canada. They are | | | | In the 1990's the program was gradually used less as |
| very popular as entertainers or for the ecotourism | | | | the U.S. Navy expected the technology to take over. |
| industry. But did you know that they are also amongst | | | | Realizing that technology has not been able to fill the |
| or best allies to ensure your safety against terrorism? | | | | responsibilities met by dolphins and sea lions, the |
| Well, the U.S. Navy has been using their abilities to | | | | program is not expected to be dropped until 2012. |
| swim and see in murky waters easily as a defence | | | | Animal right activists are concerned that the cold |
| strategy. You see, the San Diego Naval base has | | | | water of certain regions may be affecting dolphins in |
| been training dolphins and sea lions in several | | | | the form of diseases, which could also be transmitted |
| occasions to ensure the safety of either their soldiers | | | | to the local pods of killer whales. The military |
| or Americans. | | | | veterinarian, who is responsible for the marine |
| Both marine mammals are able to see mines and | | | | mammals health has confirmed that dolphins' health is |
| swimmers in murky waters, which allow them to drop | | | | closely monitored in order to avoid such problems. |
| a light near mines. This way, mines can be avoided or | | | | The training program for dolphins and sea lions used in |
| even safely removed by the U.S. Navy. A good | | | | this Defence strategy is based at Naval Base Point |
| example of this was when they were used in 2003 in | | | | Loma in the San Diego Harbor where 75 dolphins and |
| the Iraqi harbor of Umm Qasr when they located | | | | 25 sea lions are currently being trained. |
| underwater mines. The soldiers were able to use a | | | | The San Diego Naval Base briefly opened its doors on |
| safe path shown by the dolphins to reach the land | | | | April 12, 2007; following the announcement of their plan |
| without problems. | | | | to send 30 dolphins to patrol the waters of |
| During the Vietnam War, dolphins were used to | | | | Washington State's Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, which |
| protect a pier. Dolphins and sea lions have been used | | | | is also home nuclear submarines, ships and |
| since the late 1950's. During the Cold War, they had as | | | | laboratories. |
| many as 140 marine mammals at their service. | | | | As you can see, marine mammals such as dolphins, |
| In 1996, they were used to patrol the San Diego during | | | | are not only natural curious and friendly towards |
| the Republican National Convention as swimmers | | | | humans, they can range from entertaining us in both |
| were a threat as they may try to plant bombs. During | | | | natural and man-made environments as well as |
| their patrolling, both sea lions and dolphins carry a light in | | | | protects lives. We can be thankful to have them in our |
| their mouth and drop it near a mine but sea lions also | | | | lives for more than one reason, which is why were |
| carry a handcuff-like device that can be hooked on a | | | | should be protecting them as well as they protect us. |