The US Navy Put Cameras on Dolphins and the Results Were Wild

(sciencealert.com)

92 points | by Jimmc414 2 days ago ago

32 comments

  • karaterobot 2 days ago

    Lots of interesting stuff here!

    But I was surprised by this:

    > While these dolphins aren't wild, they are provided with regular opportunities to hunt in the open ocean, complementing their usual diet of frozen fish... "They can swim away if they choose, and over the years a few have. But almost all stay."

    • solardev 2 days ago

      > "They can swim away if they choose, and over the years a few have. But almost all stay."

      I wonder if they're gonna start a recruitment program so the dolphins can recruit their open-sea bros into the program. "Hey man, want a free GoPro and unlimited fish for life?"

      • taneq 2 days ago

        Explain ‘advertising revenues’ to them and ruin dolphin culture forever. :P

        • Tostino 2 days ago

          Just don't tell them about crypto. We don't need them on their sigma grind.

    • benlivengood 2 days ago

      I wonder if some of the ones that don't stay in San Diego go stay with unfriendly regimes who A/B test their designs with them.

    • perplex 2 days ago

      Next we'll need dolphin unions. This is actually the sub-plot of the John Scalzi novel "Starter Villain".

    • slowmovintarget a day ago

      One day one of these dolphins will point his camera at a sign spelled out with seaweed: "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

    • walthamstow 2 days ago

      Basically just wet, smart cats then

  • mannyv 2 days ago

    They should upload the footage to YouTube because Why Not?

    • kylehotchkiss 2 days ago

      For real, these guys are cool. Maybe they're exhibiting some searching behavior while out in the wild we don't want the Russians training their dolphins with.

    • kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 2 days ago

      There's a YouTube video in the linked article, isn't that some of the footage?

      • ElijahLynn a day ago

        It is some, but it cuts short without anything interesting happening. I was hoping for more.

      • mannyv 2 days ago

        It'a only a few minutes.

  • mikestew 2 days ago

    The results might be “wild”, but the dolphins weren’t.

    From TFA: ”While these dolphins aren't wild…”

  • kylehotchkiss 2 days ago

    One time I was boating on the San Diego Bay and a friendly dolphin was swimming nearby. I knew about the pens and thought it was really strange a wild dolphin would swim into the bay. He must have been one of the Navy's going to try a snack!

    • aphantastic 2 days ago

      Dolphins swimming into bays is actually somewhat common. If you spend a few hours every day on the water, you’re likely to see a few dolphins every year.

      • e28eta 2 days ago

        Or, it might be a harbour porpoise - I saw them all the time in SF bay from the ferry when I was commuting on it.

  • ipython 2 days ago

    That’s all well and good but I want to hear what happened when they placed lasers on those dolphins.

    • mousetree 2 days ago

      It's the sharks that have the lasers

      • tomcam 2 days ago

        Oh, sure, like dolphins can’t be patriots too

        • TeMPOraL 2 days ago

          Dolphins are trained for command and specialist roles; they aren't mere laser-wielding grunts like sharks.

          • tomcam 2 days ago

            I hate it when some nerd on HN snipes me on aquatic animal military roles

        • akira2501 2 days ago

          You just have to drug them first.

          https://williamgibson.fandom.com/wiki/Jones

          • tomcam 2 days ago

            Duh, how do think I’m so successful romantically? Syrettes in the dashboard at all times.

    • lemoncucumber 2 days ago

      If you put lasers on them do they become killer whales?

      • etiam 2 days ago

        I don't think there's a black-or-white answer to that.

      • dboreham 2 days ago

        Surely frikin lasers?

  • Jimmc414 2 days ago
  • rabid_turtle 2 days ago

    The navy also trains dolphins to find bombs and detonate them.

  • endlessvoid94 2 days ago

    How, how do you have a science article about putting cameras on dolphins and only upload an 18s clip to YouTube?! What is the point?

    • dboreham 2 days ago

      The dolphins retained copyright?

    • olyjohn 2 days ago

      Seriously, where is the video?