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Since early in the history of flight, non-human animals have been dropped from heights with the benefit of parachutes. Early on, animals were used as test subjects for parachutes and as entertainment. Following the development of the balloon, dogs, cats, fowl, and sheep were dropped from heights. During the 18th and 19th-century ballooning craze known as balloonomania, many aeronauts included parachuting animals such as monkeys in their demonstrations.
Later, animals were parachuted from airplanes, as test subjects, for amusement, and as a means of transporting working animals. During World War II, the many dogs parachuted from planes came to be known as "paradogs". Animal test subjects included a bear parachuted at supersonic speeds. Bat bombs, devised by the U.S. military, were designed to parachute a canister containing thousands of bomb-laden bats in Japan. Parachutes have also been used to transport animals, including mules and sheepdogs. In 1948, beaver drops in the United States parachuted beavers that were considered nuisances to remote locations.
Many animals were sent into space as test subjects and would return to Earth in capsules with parachutes.