Pulse - December 2024 - 11

T
he United States Navy possesses a massive arsenal that ranges from aircraft carriers
to advanced nuclear submarines. Less known are the bottlenose dolphins and California
sea lions that comprise the Navy Marine Mammal Program, a unique initiative
that advances the Navy's military mission while also contributing to veterinary science.
Managed by the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific
and based at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, the Navy
Marine Mammal Program was established in 1959 to assist
in a variety of ocean-based missions, including the protection
of divers and humanitarian de-mining missions. Numerous
species were evaluated at its inception, including sharks, rays,
marine birds, and sea turtles. Bottlenose dolphins and California
sea lions were found to be the most reliable, capable,
and easiest to train, and today are the only species involved
in the program. Approximately 70 dolphins and 40 sea lions
currently participate.
" Partnering with the animals, the Navy created its Marine
Mammal Systems to do what others can't-missions too
tough for men or machines alone, " observes Mark Xitco,
Ph.D., Director, U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program and
Head of the Reconnaissance and Interdiction Division,
NIWC Pacific. " Marine Mammal Systems combine dolphins,
sea lions, human operators, and specialized equipment and
tactics to perform missions in the areas of mine countermeasures,
underwater intruder interdiction, and object recovery
that cannot be accomplished in any other way. "
Dolphins have astounding sonar capabilities, and both
dolphins and sea lions have excellent low-light vision and
underwater directional hearing that allow them to detect and
trace undersea targets even in murky water, notes the Navy on
the NMMP website.
Since 1989, the Navy has bred the dolphins involved in the
program. Sea lions are obtained from rescue organizations,
marine parks, or the wild. Only male sea lions, which are neutered
to reduce health issues, aggression, and size, are used.
" When not swimming with us in the sea, the dolphins and
sea lions live in a complex of modular, netted enclosures in
San Diego Bay, " Dr. Xitco told Pulse. " Each of the enclosures
are connected to others by a series of gates, and by opening
and closing the gates, we can adjust which groups of animals
live and socialize together when they aren't interacting with
us. While in the open ocean, they can leave us any time if they
wish, but they choose to come right back. The Navy's Marine
Mammal Program has been recognized as outstanding in
audits by accrediting organizations, by peers in the scientific
community, and by those who monitor animal care facilities. "
Because of their unique skills, the animals are sometimes
required to travel internationally, usually aboard naval vessels
or by plane or helicopter. Sea lions travel in specially
PULSE
DECEMBER 2024
designed kennels, where they are kept wet and happy. Dolphins
are placed in fleece-lined stretchers that are suspended
in fiberglass containers filled with sufficient water to support
their weight.
" Overseas travel begins with a site survey to the destination
before the animals travel, " notes Eric Jensen, DVM, Senior
Scientist for Animal Care and Head of the Marine Mammal
Scientific and Veterinary Support Branch, NIWC Pacific. " A
veterinarian is part of the site survey team and gathers important
information regarding healthcare resources and potential
health challenges the animals might face while deployed. "
When animals travel overseas, they are always accompanied
by a veterinarian and often one or two veterinary technicians,
Dr. Jensen adds. All animals receive a pre-transport health
assessment prior to preparing for travel and only healthy
AVMA HONORS UNIFORMED SERVICES
VETERINARIANS
The Navy Marine Mammal Program is not the only military
unit to employ veterinarians. In fact, veterinarians play a significant
role in almost all military branches. Earlier this year, the
American Veterinary Medical Association approved a resolution
acknowledging and commending the " outstanding contributions
and achievements of the active and reserve component veterinarians
of the Uniformed Services of the United States of America. "
The resolution continues: " Their work at home and abroad in
peacekeeping, animal medicine, research development and public
health should be highly honored. The military veterinarians
serve a vital role in building and maintaining animal care and
human health in underdeveloped and underserved countries.
They also provide care for Military Working Dogs, working
animals of the Department of Homeland Security organizations
and pets owned by service members. Their sacrifice for
the world community and the citizens of the United States is
beyond reproach and a shining example of how these military
members serve their country. "
The resolution was created and unanimously approved by the
Michigan Veterinary Medical Association's Board of Directors
and Executive Committee, which requested that it be sent to the
American Veterinary Medical Association's House of Delegates
for consideration and passage. -DV
11
Pulse - December 2024

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