Russia to train five dolphins for its underwater combat fleet

Russia is on the lookout for five combat dolphins and use them to perform military duties underwater in an echo of its Soviet-era use of the animals for military tasks. It seems the search is on for two female and three male dolphins between the ages of three and five - they should have perfect teeth and no physical problems.
The animals are to be delivered before August to the military in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol. This location has been a training center for the animals since 1965. The center was badly dilapidated following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the dolphins were reportedly sold to Iran.
This has been reported in news.sky.com dated 9 March 2016.

Ukraine's navy had revived the center in 2012 but, once the Russians annexed Ukraine two years later, the center has gone back under Russia's control. Therefore, Russia is working out new programs to train the dolphins to serve the Russian military.
During the Cold War, dolphins were used to locate submarines, underwater mines and suspicious objects near harbors and ships. The dolphins were an integral part of the arms race between the USSR and the US. The dolphins were trained to not only plant explosives on enemy ships but could also locate abandoned torpedoes in the Black Sea.
Incidentally, the US even now uses sea mammals for military purposes - sea lions have been deployed to Bahrain in 2003.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Didi knows that ghosts have their uses (satire)

‘Make in India’ concept to market Ganga water (satire)

Moody throws light on conversion and smartness (satire)


Loss of bees and butterflies is disturbing the ecological balance

Madhya Pradesh to promote tiger tourism

China wants to fight terrorism in Xinjiang with entertainment, singing and dancing


Quantum jump for Priyanka Chopra from Quantico to Baywatch

Kissing scenes in movies – why this fad has never caught on in Bollywood

British actor Tom Hardy could become the new face of James Bond after Daniel Craig


Airstrikes in Syria target schools and hospitals - nearly 50 children killed

F-22 Stealth Bombers of the US fly low over South Korea skies

North Korea plans to carry out terror attacks on South Korea