"Killer dolphins" escape ... that sounds like something you'd want to read about, right? There is no way that those cute silver swimmers would ever hurt any one. Well, apparently some dolphins in the world have been trained to kill. It's all part of the Ukraine's Navy system. And three of those trained dolphins? Have escaped. On March 13, the Science Recorder reported that a handful of these potentially dangerous sea animals "abandoned" their trainers. Why? Researchers believe that the animals may have wanted to "find mates."
"The team of dolphins have reportedly been trained to seek mines and attack enemy divers. According to navy officials, the dolphins are trained to use special knives and firearms to kill enemy divers" (via the Science Recorder).
When killer dolphins escape, many people worry. The chances of running in to one of these trained animals is slim, but it's still something else that you might think about when entering the ocean for a dip. But, really, how common are 'killer' dolphins? They aren't just in the Ukraine, that's for sure. Since the mammals are so smart, a lot of navies utilize them for training, even in the United States.
"The U.S. Navy announced in 2012 that it could begin training 24 dolphins to hunt mines, replacing by mine-hunting robots within five years. The dolphins are part of the U.S. Navy’s $28 million marine mammal program, which trains and employs 80 bottle-nosed dolphins and 40 California sea lions to detect and clear mines and other dangers from ports," reports the Science Recorder.
The killer dolphins made their escape in to the open waters and it's unknown if they will return. It's unknown if these dolphins have trackers on their bodies (one would think that would be crucial).
© Effie Orfanides 2013
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