Spy Animals: Birds, Cats, Squirrels And Insects Used For Espionage (PHOTOS)

A vulture was recently "arrested" in Saudi Arabia, accused of being a spy for Israel's Mossad foreign intelligence agency. While it may seem like an unusual occurrence, this vulture is just one of many animals that have been accused of spying. From insects to squirrels, animals have been accused of various forms of espionage over the years. As technology continues to develop, it seems that this trend may escalate. Whether these accusations are simply wild fears or bizarre truths, we've compiled a list of some unusual animal spy reports that could make James Bond unemployed.

Many argue that animals should not be used in our war games. By using animals to support human acts of violence, lines certainly blur - will we fear a real mosquito with malaria or a military mosquito with a camera? Is it possible that soon, we will struggle to differentiate between nature and war, if squirrels start hunting people instead of acorns, sea lions carry cuffs instead of fish, and cats groom their wires instead of their fur?

What do you think? Is this the future of espionage, or should we stop drafting species that can't escape our recruitment?

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Vultures

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Saudi Arabia recently accused a vulture of spying after it was found carrying a transmitter and leg bracelet attached by Tel Aviv University scientists. Researchers argue that the tagging was being used to study migration patterns.

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Saudi Arabia recently accused a vulture of spying after it was found carrying a transmitter and leg bracelet attached by Tel Aviv University scientists. Researchers argue that the tagging was being used to study migration patterns.

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This Espionage Accusation

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Comments

[nyldek]

02:11 AM on 01/26/2011

this is the funniest thing i've ever seen. disturbing, but hilarious. ahh the squirrel spies!

[Fein]

01:48 PM on 01/17/2011

Not exactly a new idea.

Many of Hannibal's biggest victories were due to his use of war elephants. Releasing hungry lions into enemy ranks was a staple of 'prehistoric warfare' for millenia.

Some of the oldest dog breeds like the Tibetan were bred for thousands of years specifically to kill human beings.

[WoodsideCraig]

10:55 PM on 01/16/2011

The information about the bats is wrong. The "bats as arsonists" program proved successful in trials and was ready for implementation to set Japanese cities on fire, but was scrapped when we decided to nuke them instead.

[Thisbeautifulplanet]

12:45 PM on 01/16/2011

These despicable methods highlight human animals' ugly nature.

[PaticaDeGato]

11:07 AM on 01/16/2011

The tail, er, tale of Acoustic Kitty is both as tragic as it is funny.

[lightist]

03:13 AM on 01/16/2011

This is very sad.

[Queen Cassandra]

05:27 AM on 01/16/2011

I agree.

[OneTop]

12:50 AM on 01/16/2011

During WW11 the Russians trained dogs to look for and retrieve food from under running tanks.
Apparently they would deprive the dogs of food, strap explosives to them and release them in the path of the on-coming German panzers.

When the dogs got under the tanks, the attached explosives were detonated, thereby disabling the tank.

Horrible way to treat any animal

[PaticaDeGato]

11:13 AM on 01/16/2011

Stalin actually implemented an ape army project that aimed to create ultra aggressive human-gorilla(?) hybrids for combat purposes. The project failed ultimately, but not before a few specimens escaped, moved to the US and joined the NRA. I suspect a couple are in Congress now.

[Thisbeautifulplanet]

01:17 PM on 01/16/2011

Stalin's own record shows clear evidence of human beings's ultra aggressivity while gorillas are quiet apes that hardly engage in a fight. King Kong is a myth.

[urbangal]

09:47 PM on 01/17/2011

OMG. Hilarioius. Well done!

[realitytrumpsbull]

11:20 PM on 01/15/2011

Curses! Now they'll find out about my cloned platypus army...

[psssstyeahyou]

11:05 PM on 01/15/2011

ill never be able to look at a chicken without the james bond music in my head again, squirrels- secret agent man.

[peacekitten]

09:46 PM on 01/15/2011

this is absolutely morally reprehensible.

not to mention cowardly.

these are lives, not stuffed toys.  if we are going to k.i.l.l. each other, fine, but don't involve innocents that can't protest or defend themselves from us in anyway.

the only thing that seems to separate us from the rest of the animal kingdom is our capacity for sheer, unadulterated e.v.i.l.  these hideous project only prove that even more strongly, as if it weren't already glaringly obvious.

[Bdgold]

09:28 PM on 01/15/2011

Morocco did offer to send several thousand macaque monkeys to aid in Gulf War II. The little critters were supposed to clear mine fields. Something tells me the monkeys in question were not thoroughly trained as sappers.

[rambot02]

08:46 PM on 01/15/2011

Tabby Cat could tell you about her Mata Hari-esqu exploits but then she's have to k. ill you.

=^..^=

[BreezyinVA]

08:24 PM on 01/15/2011

Jimmy Morrison's father was the head of the dolphin project.

[eodguy]

08:24 AM on 01/16/2011

Untrue. ADM Morrison was a Naval Aviator. Dolphin program run by Naval Special Warfare

[ssmigs]

07:23 PM on 01/15/2011

Anybody remember Lance Link secret Chimp?

http://www.tvparty.com/reclance.html

[drjasonmd]

07:15 PM on 01/15/2011

The omitted the sharks with frickin laser beams attached to their heads.