The US Navy Put Cameras on Dolphins and the Results Were Wild
92 points by Jimmc414 2 days ago | 32 comments
  • Jimmc414 2 days ago |
  • mikestew 2 days ago |
    The results might be “wild”, but the dolphins weren’t.

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

  • 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?
      • mannyv 2 days ago |
        It'a only a few minutes.
      • ElijahLynn 21 hours ago |
        It is some, but it cuts short without anything interesting happening. I was hoping for more.
  • 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.
  • 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."

    • 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.
    • 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 a day ago |
          Just don't tell them about crypto. We don't need them on their sigma grind.
    • perplex 2 days ago |
      Next we'll need dolphin unions. This is actually the sub-plot of the John Scalzi novel "Starter Villain".
    • walthamstow a day ago |
      Basically just wet, smart cats then
    • slowmovintarget 17 hours 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."
  • 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 a day 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?
      • dboreham 2 days ago |
        Surely frikin lasers?
      • etiam 2 days ago |
        I don't think there's a black-or-white answer to that.
  • 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?
    • olyjohn 2 days ago |
      Seriously, where is the video?
    • dboreham 2 days ago |
      The dolphins retained copyright?
  • rabid_turtle 2 days ago |
    The navy also trains dolphins to find bombs and detonate them.