Bomb-sniffing elephants being trained in SA

[Von Tonner]

This news item offends me greatly. Apparently elephants are being trained in conjunction with the US Army Research division to "sniff out explosives, landmines and poachers".

There is a very thin line between this exploitation of a wild animal and that of a circus owner training a elephant to stand on one foot simply to delight and demonstrate man's dominion over all animals.

An elephant is a majestic creature and whatever attributes it might have it should be left alone and NOT have those attributes exploited simply to satisfy our needs.

Eons ago, when that lone wolf sought shelter and warmth at primitive man's fire a bond was formed leading to what is now referred to as "man's best friend".

This friend already does this work for us and more - and it wags its tail in delight at being of help. This is not the work of an elephant.

http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/sci...-trained-in-sa

[Aktungbby]

Somewhat old news unfortunately. Even in WWI with the horse at the front creating a shortage of equine labor (near Surrey):
As with the recent thread on the running of the bulls in Spain, animal abuse is one of my pet peeves as with Jimbuna's thread on elephant abuse: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=210576 I've worked with police dogs in burgled buildings and routinely with bomb sniff-dogs in Federal buildings-usually just for training...they should leave it at that.

[Oberon]

Well said Von Tonner, and Aktungbby too. Sadly this kind of exploitation of animals has been around for a while, from mine detecting dolphins, to dogs with anti-tank mines strapped on their back.
What we've put our fellow creatures through to profit our own ends, it's quite disgraceful, and yet they always forgive us. Some days I wonder who is the superior species.

[Betonov]

There's one thing that is better at sniffing mines and are actually cheaper to aquire and maintain. DRONES !!!!

I'm at a loss why they want to send living animals into dangers way when drones will do the same job better and cheaper

Smells like some quick idea from a family appointed member of government trying to justify his/hers usage of oxygen

[Stealhead]

Can't help but think of George Orwell's short story about shooting the elephant.

We are lucky if animals could think for themselves they in a most justified choice declare war on humans.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Betonov

There's one thing that is better at sniffing mines and are actually cheaper to aquire and maintain. DRONES !!!!

All depends on what exactly we are looking for.

Picking up the pattern of mine fields can be done well with a drone, but if you want to "sniff" explosives, not so good.

At this time, we don't have any sensors that can reliably detect the odors being emitted from explosives better than a well trained dog.

Where our technology excels is in the area of active sensors. When it comes to passive detection, nature still beats us.

We had great success training bees to detect the UV from HME. The only problem was that it was impossible to teach the bees recall. So the bees found the HME and swarmed around it, clearly indicating its location. But then what do you do then? Have EOD walk up to a swarm of bees? No thank you. It is tough to teach a bee to "come" "sit" and "stay".

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Platapus

We had great success training bees to detect the UV from HME. The only problem was that it was impossible to teach the bees recall. So the bees found the HME and swarmed around it, clearly indicating its location. But then what do you do then? Have EOD walk up to a swarm of bees? No thank you. It is tough to teach a bee to "come" "sit" and "stay".

Couldn't they return to the hive and do a little bomb location waggle dance ! almost like what weers do!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waggle_dance

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by Platapus

All depends on what exactly we are looking for.

Picking up the pattern of mine fields can be done well with a drone, but if you want to "sniff" explosives, not so good.

At this time, we don't have any sensors that can reliably detect the odors being emitted from explosives better than a well trained dog.

There are machines that can sniff out cancer in humans just like dogs
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innova...790482/?no-ist

I'm guessing same can be achieved with chemicals in mines.



But then we have rats finding mines
A rat is too small to trigger a mine, so even the rat is not in danger.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Well said Von Tonner, and Aktungbby too. Sadly this kind of exploitation of animals has been around for a while, from mine detecting dolphins, to dogs with anti-tank mines strapped on their back.
What we've put our fellow creatures through to profit our own ends, it's quite disgraceful, and yet they always forgive us. Some days I wonder who is the superior species.

QFT