Armed and dangerous - Flipper the firing dolphin let loose by Katrina

It may be the oddest tale to emerge from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Armed dolphins, trained by the US military to shoot terrorists and pinpoint spies underwater, may be missing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Experts who have studied the US navy's cetacean training exercises claim the 36 mammals could be carrying 'toxic dart' guns. Divers and surfers risk attack, they claim, from a species considered to be among the planet's smartest. The US navy admits it has been training dolphins for military purposes, but has refused to confirm that any are missing.

Dolphins have been trained in attack-and-kill missions since the Cold War. The US Atlantic bottlenose dolphins have apparently been taught to shoot terrorists attacking military vessels. Their coastal compound was breached during the storm, sweeping them out to sea. But those who have studied the controversial use of dolphins in the US defence programme claim it is vital they are caught quickly.

An out-take of "Day of the Dolphin" staring the guy who was in Patton as Patton:Mr.SCOTT; Give Pa the dart gun......you militant republican dolphin. Mr.BOTTLENOSE; No Pa, Fa kill Pa take money from tri-rail fund and buy house in Maui with Bea! Guest Speaker, Jacques Cousteau :The Dolphin tireless voyager master of the deep ..................Get away from my sonar bulb you pestulant little BLEEP........And another day ends on the big "Blue Marble".