A definitive ranking of the US military’s worst animal projects Caitlin O'Brien March 9 Spc. Beruk Nessibu mounts Kyle, the camel, Dec. 19, to enjoy his very first camel ride at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. (SFC Debra Richardson) Animal-human collaboration is an interesting facet of military history. The U.S. Navy has trained bottlenose dolphins and sea lions as part of its Marine Mammal Program. These slippery sea critters are able to locate mines and retrieve missing equipment more successfully than human divers, thanks to the dolphins’ sonar and sea lions’ eyesight. Forget robots — these mammals might be the ultimate choice to replace us.