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Dolphin pens identified at Russian naval base

Analysis of satellite imagery suggests that Russia may be using military dolphins at its naval base at Sevastopol in the Black Sea. Sea pens used to hold the dolphins have been identified near the entrance to the harbor. Tasks carried out by the dolphins may include searching for objects and patrolling local waters.

The US Naval Institute (USNI) reviewed pictures of the base and believe that the pens were moved to the base in February at the start of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Ukraine took over the dolphins in the Black Sea until Crimea was invaded by Russia in 2014. Since then, Ukraine has been unsuccessfully trying to get the dolphins returned.

In 2019, a beluga whale, thought to be from a Russian military facility in the Arctic, turned up off the coast of Norway, interacting with local fishermen.

1 Comment

  1. Diane Kastel on 05/03/2022 at 11:05 am

    Our family members are, vehemently, protesting Russia’s use of “military dolphins” at its, naval, base at Sevastopol in the Black Sea. “Military dolphins” are confined in captivity, which can cause them, extreme, mental, and, physical, stress, and, as with, other, dolphins kept in, marine, parks and dolphinariums, around the world, they live, shorter, lives than they would in the wild!

    They, also, suffer during transportation over thousands of miles, and, often, die during, military, operations, and, exercises!Ukraine’s, military, leaders have requested that Russia return ‘its’ dolphins, which fell into Russian hands when Crimea was annexed back in March.

    The dolphins, which are trained to identify, underwater, obstacles, have been kept at the “Cossack Bay Aquarium” in Sevastopol. Dolphins have been used by the military, mainly, since the Cold War, due to their, extraordinary, capabilities, and, use of echolocation. A military dolphinarium was established, in Russia, as long ago as June, 1965, beginning activities in Kazachya Bay, Sevastopol in April, 1966. The US Navy, also, currently, keeps dolphins in captivity for the, same, military purposes!

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