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

(sciencealert.com)

93 points | by Jimmc414 8 months ago ago

32 comments

  • karaterobot 8 months 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 8 months 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 8 months ago

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

        • Tostino 8 months ago

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

    • benlivengood 8 months 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 8 months ago

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

    • slowmovintarget 8 months 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 8 months ago

      Basically just wet, smart cats then

  • mannyv 8 months ago

    They should upload the footage to YouTube because Why Not?

    • kylehotchkiss 8 months 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 8 months ago

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

      • ElijahLynn 8 months ago

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

      • mannyv 8 months ago

        It'a only a few minutes.

  • mikestew 8 months ago

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

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

  • kylehotchkiss 8 months 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 8 months 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 8 months 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 8 months ago

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

    • mousetree 8 months ago

      It's the sharks that have the lasers

      • tomcam 8 months ago

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

        • TeMPOraL 8 months ago

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

          • tomcam 8 months ago

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

        • akira2501 8 months ago

          You just have to drug them first.

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

          • tomcam 8 months ago

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

    • lemoncucumber 8 months ago

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

      • etiam 8 months ago

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

      • dboreham 8 months ago

        Surely frikin lasers?

  • Jimmc414 8 months ago
  • rabid_turtle 8 months ago

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

  • endlessvoid94 8 months 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 8 months ago

      The dolphins retained copyright?

    • olyjohn 8 months ago

      Seriously, where is the video?