Buzz
Over the centuries, rival nations have gathered intelligence on each other through a variety of cunning and colorful tactics. In the ancient world, nearly all espionage activities were carried out through covert human agents. However, with the rise of the industrial age, spies began enlisting members of the animal kingdom to gain an advantage in the competitive world of intelligence gathering.
Some tales of animals being used for espionage serve as a stark reminder of the lengths to which humans will go to collect secrets about their enemies. Other stories about alleged animal spies simply highlight how individuals under extreme stress are particularly prone to seeing threats lurking around every corner.
10. The Atomic Lizard
In February 2018, a high-ranking military adviser to the supreme leader of Iran made some peculiar statements to Western media outlets. When questioned about the recent arrests of a group of environmentalists traveling through Iran, Hassan Firuzabadi claimed to know nothing of the arrests but suggested that Western visitors with seemingly innocent intentions had previously been used as spies.
A few years prior, Firuzabadi mentioned, the Iranian government had grown suspicious of a group claiming to collect aid funds for Palestine when their route through Iran raised some unexpected red flags.
When confronted, the authorities discovered the group carrying various “reptile desert species like lizards [and] chameleons,” which had allegedly been modified to attract “atomic waves.” The lizards were said to act as beacons to guide spies to Iran’s hidden uranium mining sites.
Firuzabadi told the media that the discovery of these so-called supercharged lizards confirmed his suspicions of Western interference in Iran’s nuclear ambitions. One might wonder why innocent activists for Palestine would carry live lizards, which gives some reluctant plausibility to what would otherwise be an outlandish and imaginative accusation by this rising Islamic power.
9. The Dolphin Who Knew Too Much
For many years, the United States Navy has trained dolphins to locate underwater explosive mines. Rewarded with delicious fish for their efforts, these intelligent cetaceans are even more skilled at finding mines than some of the most advanced technology. This remarkable ability for underwater intelligence gathering may have been the reason Hamas suspected a dolphin of espionage in 2015.
Early reports were unclear on whether Hamas had captured an Israeli Dolphin-class submarine or an actual dolphin. However, Hamas Army Radio quickly clarified that the spy in question was indeed a marine mammal, equipped with cameras and other surveillance devices.
While Israel faces many challenges in its attempts to collaborate internationally with other regional powers, it appears quite skilled at fostering interspecies cooperation when it serves their intelligence-gathering objectives.
8. Central Intelligence Ravens
Bob Bailey, the same individual who trained the first Navy dolphins to locate mines for treats, also played a role in CIA efforts to transform ravens into professional eavesdroppers. Rather than eavesdropping on trees, these ravens were trained to place listening devices on windowsills. A simple black bird would land, leave behind an audio transmitter that resembled a paint chip, and disappear without a trace.
Though ravens have long been known for their crafty, mischievous nature, it was Bob Bailey and the team at IQ Zoo who helped these tricksters earn their wings as secret agents.
IQ Zoo had already gained fame as a training ground for porcine pianists and cycling birds before they partnered with the CIA. However, it was this unlikely collaboration with one of America’s most secretive organizations that propelled IQ Zoo’s training of animals to new heights and thrust this quirky tourist destination into the world of espionage.
7. Mossad’s Shark Division
Bloodthirsty and relentless, sharks are terrifying creatures even when left alone. But if these ferocious fish were ever controlled by human hands, the consequences would be truly horrifying.
According to one Egyptian official, the 2010 shark attacks off the coast of Egypt might not have been a mere coincidence. Mohamed Abdel Fadil Shousha, the regional governor of Sharm el Sheikh, considered the theory that Mossad might have planted the attacking shark to be “not out of the question.”
What was the motive behind the attack? To sabotage Egypt’s thriving summer tourist season.
It is indeed rare for a shark to target humans, despite the negative portrayal these ocean creatures receive in Hollywood films. To his credit, Governor Shousha did acknowledge that further research was needed to determine whether the responsibility for the death of one tourist and the injuries of four others went beyond the shark’s basic instincts.
However, it’s clear that a shark attack investigation is the last thing anyone expected the Anti-Defamation League to label as “anti-Semitic.”
6. Squirrel Spies
In the summer of 2007, no tree in Iran was safe as Iranian police launched a crackdown on an elite group of Western spies. For at least 14 squirrels apprehended in Iran, the mundane life of collecting nuts had lost its appeal. These adventurous rodents had opted for a high-stakes career of collecting Iranian state secrets instead.
Though it’s uncertain whether these secret agents were led away in miniature handcuffs, the core of the story was confirmed by Esmaeil Ahmadi-Moqadam, Iran’s chief law enforcement officer.
Fortunately, state news agency IRNA reports that, thanks to the relentless vigilance of Iran’s intelligence forces, the squirrels were thwarted before they could complete their covert mission. The fate of the squirrels remains unknown, with Iran surprisingly not demanding ransom for the release of their Western captives.
5. Eagle Espionage
With their sharp vision and powerful talons, eagles could make the perfect instruments of war if they were properly trained. It was likely the awareness of the potential threat these predatory birds posed to Lebanese national security that led two vigilant hunters to shoot down a soaring eagle on suspicions it was an Israeli spy.
The mysterious bird was spotted circling suspiciously above the town of Ashqout. When the bird was brought down, a tag from an Israeli university and a transmitting device were discovered attached to the unfortunate eagle.
The hunters quickly turned the eagle over to the appropriate authorities, allowing them to conduct a thorough investigation. This impressive display of aerial counterintelligence must have struck fear into the hearts of the Mossad agents who had sent the bird on its doomed mission.
4. The Acoustic Kitty
Animal cruelty can take many forms, but even the most twisted psychopath would likely find the idea of dissecting a cat to implant a microphone utterly repulsive and unwise. Unless, of course, you work for the CIA, where a project like Acoustic Kitty might seem like just another routine task.
In the early 1960s, the CIA embarked on a mission that had eluded many throughout history: training a cat to do something it didn’t inherently want to do.
Acoustic Kitty wasn’t like ordinary cats. It had an antenna running through its tail, a microphone in its ear, and battery packs hidden under its fur. This CIA agent of a cat was worth around 20 million taxpayer dollars. However, just like other cats, Acoustic Kitty was easily distracted and, tragically, was struck by a taxi while foraging for food on its first field mission.
At the time, the CIA struggled with how to equip the cybernetic feline spy with discreet, long-lasting listening devices. Today, however, any cat could easily be turned into a bug without needing such drastic measures.
So the next time you catch your kitty gazing off into the distance, remember, it might be receiving covert instructions from its handlers back at Langley.
3. A Dead Rat Tells No Tales
Rats are already unpleasant enough without any outside help. With their wiry fur and beady eyes, these disease-bearing rodents scurry about in the dark with a threatening air, sending housewives running for safety. Despite this, CIA operatives managed to overcome their natural disgust of these critters, even putting the dead bodies of rats to effective use.
To ensure predators stayed away, the rats were coated in Tabasco sauce, then gutted and filled with confidential messages for agents to retrieve. The general public's deep-seated fear and repulsion of these creatures worked to the CIA's advantage, effectively concealing their rat messengers.
So, the next time you stumble upon a dead rat by the roadside, remember: you now have another reason to avoid picking it up. You can never be certain whether there's hidden information inside that's not meant for public eyes.
2. Pigeon Photographers
Pigeons have long been known for their ability to carry messages. Small and inconspicuous, with an extraordinary homing instinct, these clever birds have served as reliable messengers for centuries. But by the early 20th century, pigeons found themselves pressed into a very different kind of service: photography.
The practice began when an amateur pigeon enthusiast attached a camera to one of his birds to track its usual flight patterns. Sensing a brilliant idea, the German military began outfitting pigeons with cameras during World War I as part of their espionage efforts. Like many other innovations, the CIA embraced pigeon photography after World War II, resulting in thousands of covert images captured mid-flight.
But seriously, don't try this at home. Strapping a GoPro to a local pigeon will most likely result in losing your camera and facing the wrath of the entire flock.
1. Scavenging For Intel
Life is tough for vultures. Constantly hungry and unable to enjoy the satisfaction of making their own kills, these scavengers endure a great deal just to survive. Yet some vultures face even worse fates, such as being falsely accused of spying for foreign governments.
For one particular vulture in the Middle East, things were beginning to look brighter. Rescued from the Catalonia region of Spain, it had been brought to Israel for a little rest and recuperation.
It made the critical mistake of straying into enemy territory after being released from Tel Aviv University to soar freely once again. Spotting the transmitter on its tail, Lebanese locals shot down the unfortunate bird, admiring their sharp capture of what they assumed was an Israeli spy.
When the vulture refused to reveal information about its Mossad superiors, Lebanese authorities reportedly released the disgruntled bird to continue its scavenging ways. However, this unlucky vulture will undoubtedly avoid Lebanon on its future flights.
