Meet the Gaming Sea Lions of the US Navy

The US Navy has a program where sea lions play video games. Yes, someone's actual job involves creating video games specifically for Navy sea lions. These games have gotten so advanced that the animals can now play multiplayer games against their human caretakers.

Beyond Entertainment: The Navy Marine Mammal Program

This isn't just about entertainment. Through the Navy Marine Mammal Program, sea lions are trained to perform important tasks like attaching recovery lines to Navy equipment on the ocean floor. These animals work and train in the open ocean daily and are free to swim away if they choose.

Interestingly, over several decades, very few have chosen to leave. Only a couple of instances have been recorded where sea lions swam away. This high retention rate suggests they genuinely enjoy their situation in the program.

Why Sea Lions Stay in the Program

The benefits for these marine mammals are substantial. They receive protection from predators, daily health screenings, and guaranteed meals. But perhaps most importantly, they get tons of playtime.

Video Games as Enrichment and Research

The video games serve as both enrichment and mental stimulation for the sea lions. These games also help researchers understand how marine mammals think and solve problems.

One sea lion named Spike has become particularly fond of gaming. He and other sea lions return to play repeatedly, even without fish rewards. They've mastered navigating mazes and collecting moving objects using navigation buttons.

Gaming with Enthusiasm

Many of the sea lions show clear enjoyment while playing. Spike, for example, performs a little happy dance when completing a level - clear evidence that these intelligent animals find genuine satisfaction in the mental challenges presented to them.

The sea lions' enthusiasm for gaming reveals something fascinating about their intelligence and capacity for learning. Through this innovative program, the Navy has found a way to combine important military training with animal enrichment and scientific research.