GUWAHATI: Rhino poachers beware!
An Assam-based biodiversity conservation organisation has literally added “teeth” to its canine squad (K-9) by roping in four more Belgian Malinois dogs, with three of them undergoing acclimatisation training to hunt down poachers in the rhino-bearing areas this winter.
Aaranyak, which has now graduated to a scientific and industrial research organisation, had formed the sniffer dog squad back in 2011 with the induction of a Belgian Malinois dog, Jorba (male) to track down rhino poachers. In 2014, it roped in another, named Babli (female), as a back-up dog.
The four canines – Misky, Sheela, Jubi (all female) and Leon (male) were earlier trained around the Deepor Beel area here to acclimatise them with the flood plains and thereafter taken to the hills on the Assam-Meghalaya border.
While Jubi has been stationed in Kaziranga recently, the other three are currently undergoing training.
“The K-9 squad now has strength of six Belgian Malinois. The four canines were initially trained by Susan, a dog trainer from Germany. Now, we have an in-house trainer doing duty before they are deployed in the rhino bearing areas of Assam and Bengal this winter.” Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, the secretary general and CEO of Aaranyak, told The Shillong Times on Monday.
Misky, Sheela and Leon are supported by the Germany-based Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) International, while Jubi is sponsored by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF).
“The collaboration between NABU International and Aaranyak has bolstered our wildlife conservation activities. On Saturday, NABU provided a new vehicle (a Gypsy) here for field work. The organisation had provided field gear to Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary last year,” Talukdar informed.
Belgian Malinois dogs are mostly deployed during search and rescue operations because of their ability to detect explosives, narcotics and even humans. Once they pick up a scent, they can outrun and bring the suspect down.
Jorba is currently stationed in Kaziranga National Park while Babli is being kept in Guwahati.
Asked about the specific location the four dogs will be deployed, he said. “Their services will be utilised in the rhino bearing areas in accordance with the requirement. We are in consultation with the forest department in this regard.”
The K-9 dog unit has provided vital clues to officials and police from a scene of crime at Kaziranga National Park, leading to the hideout sites.
Sources say the squad has achieved over 50 per cent success rate in giving vital clues. Since 2013, more than 40 poachers were arrested by enforcement agencies in Kaziranga alone on the basis of the clues provided by these dogs.
Known for its extreme prey-drive capability, Belgian Malinois dogs are used by the US and European military, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and National Security Guard (NSG) commando unit.
Asked about Aaranyak’s activities in Meghalaya, Talukdar said that occasionally expeditions and surveys are carried out. “But wildlife in Meghalaya is yet to be explored,” he said.
