How animals have been used for espionage from Hvaldimir the roving Russian whale to American 'bat bombs' and a 'spy squirrel' unit caught behind enemy lines

 Among the many practices developed in the Cold War and brought together under the so-called Moscow Rules is to blend in and go with the flow as much as possible. 



But scientists in spy agencies across the world seem to have taken that to heart over the years. 

Though many have toyed with the idea of using animals in intelligence gathering, the first time they are believed to have been used was after German pharmacist Julius Neubronner developed the pigeon photograph method in 1907. 

This involved strapping lightweight cameras with timers to homing pigeons, which were sent out to take photographs from the skies. 

Battlefield tests of the technology during the First World War were promising, though it doesn't appear the idea took purchase during the Second World War.

But the idea of using creatures in espionage, coupled with major technological advancements made throughout the 20th century, sparked an animals arms race among spooks across the world. 

To this day, they continue to compete to figure out how denizens of the animal kingdom can be used to gain an information edge over their opponents. 


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