War was started by humans... but the sacrifice is the dolphins' share? [Hello? Animal]

Russian Military Denies Existence of 'Combat Dolphin Unit'...But Satellite Captures 'Dolphin Enclosure'
Concerns Over Underwater Attacks Raise Suspicions of Dolphin Unit Deployment
US and Soviet Union Competitively Operated 'Dolphin Units' Since the Cold War
US Navy Deployed Dolphins in Vietnam, Gulf, and Iraq Wars
Experts Say "Influenced by Ideological War... Using Dolphins for Military Purposes Is Unethical"

On the 27th of last month (local time), it was revealed that Russia deployed the 'Dolgorae Unit' in the war in Ukraine. [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] It has come to light that Russian forces invading Ukraine have deployed 'military dolphins' near a major naval base in the Black Sea, sparking controversy. These dolphins, known for their excellent underwater sonar detection capabilities, are being used for maritime military operations. However, the 'dolphin units' created for wartime use have faced ongoing criticism due to ethical issues arising from their capture and captivity.

In the ongoing Ukraine war lasting over two months, it has been reported that the Russian military installed two dolphin enclosures near the entrance of Sevastopol port, a Black Sea naval base. On the 27th (local time), USNI News, a military-specialized media operated by the U.S. Naval Institute (USNI), reported, "Satellite images confirmed that the dolphins were relocated (to near the Black Sea naval base) during Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February."

Sevastopol is the largest port city on the Crimean Peninsula along the Black Sea coast and is considered a strategic stronghold. According to USNI, although most Russian vessels anchored in this area are out of missile range, they are potentially vulnerable to underwater attacks. It appears that the Russian military deployed dolphins underwater to prepare for surprise enemy attacks. In the past, the Soviet Union also deployed 'combat dolphin units' in this area to retrieve objects or prevent underwater infiltration.

A 'KDog' deployed in the 2003 Iraq War is seen running with a wave emission device that signals its location attached./Photo by Site Dolphin World capture.

The combat dolphin units are known as a so-called 'secret weapon' developed by the Ukrainian Navy, which was part of the former Soviet Union. During the Cold War in the 1960s, the U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in intense arms competition, producing about 70,000 nuclear warheads before the collapse of the Eastern European communist regimes. The combat dolphin units were also operated competitively and used in military operations. These dolphins, possessing echolocation abilities to understand their surroundings through returning sound waves, were assigned tasks such as underwater reconnaissance, search, and enemy detection.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the combat dolphin units were officially disbanded in the 1990s. However, suspicions arose that Russia resumed operating dolphin units after forcibly annexing the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Foreign media such as the British daily The Guardian reported in 2016 that the Russian Ministry of Defense purchased bottlenose dolphins aged 3 to 5 years for ?18,000 at the Utrish Dolphin Center in Moscow, and also bought five dolphins in 2015. At that time, Russia explained that the dolphin purchases were not for military purposes, but recent satellite images have revealed evidence of dolphin unit activity.

Not only Russia but also the United States has utilized dolphins' underwater sonar detection abilities for military purposes. The U.S. Navy established the Marine Mammal Program (MMP) in 1959 to train dolphins and other marine mammals. Trained dolphins have been deployed in the Vietnam War, the First and Second Gulf Wars, and the Iraq War. According to the American science magazine Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, over 100 dolphins were housed in naval facilities until the 1980s, and currently, about 85 dolphins and a smaller number of sea lions are being trained.

Dolphin. [Image source=Pixabay]

The problem is that dolphins are directly exposed to explosion risks while searching for explosives such as mines and torpedoes. Ethical concerns have been consistently raised because these animals are used in dangerous military operations against their will. The method of captivity has also been controversial due to allegations of animal abuse. Dolphins captured by the U.S. Navy are fitted with feeding prevention devices on their snouts during operations, allowing them to eat only fish provided by soldiers. This device has been criticized as a means to prevent dolphin escape.

In this regard, experts have criticized the use of dolphins for military purposes by some countries as inhumane. Jo Gyutgol, co-representative of Hotpinkdolphins, said, "Sevastopol, where it has been confirmed that the Russian military is currently operating dolphin units, is a place where Ukrainian forces also deployed dolphin units in the past," adding, "The ideological war that has continued since the Cold War era is still affecting dolphins."

He further pointed out that creating dolphin units for military purposes goes against the ecological habits of dolphins. Jo said, "Dolphins live in wild groups, swimming about 100 km a day and relieving stress by diving deeply. Forcibly abducting such dolphins and confining them in aquariums with depths of only 5 to 10 meters causes extreme stress and depression in dolphins." He emphasized, "This is a fundamentally different issue from training dogs, which have interacted with humans for thousands of years."

Jo also stated, "The U.S. Navy, which is currently conducting dolphin training, does not disclose specific details about the training provided. Because it is a military secret, related details are not made public, but the fact that it is impossible to know the environment and methods in which dolphins are trained is a cause for concern."