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Dolphins being used in the War on Iraq

Bottle Nose Dolphin Soldiers

Staff Sgt. Justin Roberts rides with K-Dog, a Bottle Nose dolphin, back to the USS Gunston Hall in the Arabian Gulf Tuesday, March 18, 2003. Coalition forces have brought in two specially trained bottle-nosed Atlantic dolphins like K-Dog, named Makai and Tacoma, to help ferret out mines in the approaches of the port of Umm Qasr, Maj. Gen. Victor Renuart of the Central Command said. The dolphins will help clear the way for the shipment of humanitarian aid to allied-held southern Iraq, Renuart said. (AP Photo/Photographers Mate 1st Class Brien Aho, U.S. Navy)

Dolphins are searching for mines at the bottom of the sea A team of specially trained dolphins are being used in Iraq to hunt down mines in the sea.

They've been taught by the US Navy to help divers hunt down Iraqi mines.

Their mission is very important because the mines have to be moved to allow ships carrying vital aid through to Iraq.

They use their natural sonar to find the mines, but they are very clever and know to stay away from them when they see them.

Once they spot one they drop a floating marker which tells the divers where the explosives are.

This means the dolphins stay out of danger too.

According to the US Navy, they only real danger they face is other dolphins who might not like new faces in the water.

Animals in the War on Iraq