9 unbelievable instances of animals in the military

Until the introduction of modern machinery, animals have played an often-decisive role in warfare.

For instance, the Mongol's masterful use of horses allowed Genghis Khan and his generals to carve out the largest land empire ever known.

In the book Beasts of War: The Militarization of Animals, author Jared Eglan curated amazing insights into how militaries have used a stunning menagerie of animals in combat.

From a 440-pound bear to pigeon-guided missiles, here are nine notable examples of wartime animals.