Sniffing clue helps wildlife protectors crack over 100 cases of rhino poaching, other wildlife crime in Assam

Guwahati: Sniffer dogs have turned out to be handy in the crackdown against poachers of rhinos and other wildlife species in forests in Assam.

Belgian breed Malinois K9 dog squad, which were deployed way back in 2011 in some major wildlife parks in the state, has helped the forester and other law enforcement agencies by providing vital clues in over 100 cases related to wildlife crime.

The squad was engaged by Aaranyak, a prominent biodiversity conservation group, and the number has increased to eight now, of which two are being provided training.

"The choice of the Belgian Malinois breed was influenced by their remarkable prey sniffing capability. As soon as they pick up a scent and embark on tracking, they can outrun and capture the suspect, which they can defeat if the suspect tries to elude them. Our K9 squad members have assisted forest officials in tracing the poachers' exit routes after rhino poaching incidents,” said Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, founder of Aaranyak and a globally award winning rhino conservationist.

The dog squad are deployed in several parks including the famous Kaziranga National Park, the abode of largest number of one-horned Asian rhinos (2,613 as per census in 2022). Kaziranga, also a Unesco World Heritage Site, attracts thousands of tourists but poaching emerged as a serious concern. The dog squad, however, has helped the enforcement agencies to arrest several persons involved in such poaching cases.

Talukdar, who initiated the K9 sniffer dog programme of Aaranyak, said, "It ultimately results in the arrest of perpetrators by police and forest officials. Belgian Malinois are world-class sniffer dogs who create an unbreakable bond with their owners. The North-eastern region of India has served as a transit clandestine routes for the illegal trade of wildlife parts in recent times, especially in Assam and these dogs has proved handy check such wildlife crime."

The trained K9 squad run by Aaranyak is supported by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and NABU International Foundation and People for Nature and Peace.