Ukrainian killer dolphins on the loose, went AWOL to seek sex

Posted on: Wed, 03/13/2013 - 17:12 By: Tom Swiss

I am not making this up: three of the Ukrainian navy's "killer" dolphins swam away from their handlers during training exercises, probably heading out to look for some (ahem) tail.

Ukrainian media reported earlier this month that only two of five military-trained dolphins returned to their base in the Crimean port of Sevastopol after a recent exercise.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry denied the reports, while refusing to confirm the navy makes use of dolphins, despite the frequent appearance in Ukrainian media of photographs of dolphins with military equipment strapped to them.

The dolphin training program dates back to at least 1973, when the Soviet navy would train them to find mines, and even plant explosives on enemy ships and to attack swimmers. The Ukrainian navy's program is said to have included training dolphins to attack swimmers using special knives or pistols fixed to their heads.