# Sergeant Dolphin **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 26, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sergeant-dolphin/164356 "2003-03-26T19:06:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sergeant-dolphin/164356/1 "2003-03-26T19:06:16Z")
Where does the military get the mine seeking dolphins? Do they capture them in the wild then set them loose in the area after they are trained? Also, is it true that 20,000 trained monkeys are being set loose in the mine fields in Iraq? Unlike the dolphins, I have heard that the monkeys are killed in the process of locating mines. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sergeant-dolphin/164356/2 "2003-03-26T19:21:34Z")
As far as the [two dolphins from Hawai’i](http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Mar/26/ln/ln13a.html) are concerned, they were “collected” in the Gulf of Mexico and brought to the Islands for training at the Navy’s Marine Mammal Program (now located in San Diego, where I think most of the deployed dolphins are from). I think the concept of “setting them loose in the area” is a bit erroneous; I’d think the actual procedure is more akin to giving them a task to perform, waiting for them to return from performing it, and giving them positive reinforcement. On a more interesting note, the article linked above claims the dolphins may be more in danger from local dolphins than the mines themselves, being that dolphins are highly territorial creatures. However, I know nothing about the monkeys, and will refrain from any further reference to “Rhesus pieces.” ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sergeant-dolphin/164356/3 "2003-03-26T20:10:41Z")
I think there was a thread somewhere mentioning the monkeys, but I don’t recall where it was and the board is acting up a bit for me so I’m afraid to search. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sergeant-dolphin/164356/4 "2003-03-26T20:12:57Z")
The monkey report evolved from an offer that Morocco made to the Coalition of 2,000 monkeys for mine-removal purposes. I’m assuming the U.S. turned down the offer. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sergeant-dolphin/164356/5 "2003-03-26T20:15:20Z")
I googled and found the [original wire report about this](http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030324-064259-1443r): > [@](#): > > RABAT, D.C., Morocco, March 24 (UPI) – A Moroccan publication accused the government Monday of providing unusual assistance to U.S. troops fighting in Iraq by offering them 2,000 monkeys trained in detonating land mines. > > The weekly al-Usbu’ al-Siyassi reported that Morocco offered the U.S. forces a large number of monkeys, some from Morocco’s Atlas Mountains and others imported, to use them for detonating land mines planted by the Iraqis. > > The publication quoted a highly-informed source as saying, “that is not a scientific illusion but a well-known military tactic.” ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sergeant-dolphin/164356/6 "2003-03-26T20:43:06Z")
Ohhh, that Rhesus thing was really bad. 🙂 Thanks for the info.