Defence academy trains dogs in tracking and ivory detection
Dogs are being deployed in the fight against rhino and elephant poaching in South Africa. A new centre is training and breeding dogs for tracking suspects and detecting illegal wildlife products.
South African defence company, Paramount Group, has launched the training academy in Magaliesberg. It houses around 40 adult dogs and more than 50 puppies - mostly Belgian and German shepherds.
So far this year, more than 1,000 rhinos have been killed by poachers. Rhino horns are worth more than gold in weight and are used in traditional Asian medicine.
Dogs are trained to track suspects, abseil from helicopters and detect rhino horns, firearms and other contraband items. The academy also trains handlers and conservation officers
Eric Ichikowitz, director of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, said: “The last few years of involvement in the war against poaching has taught us that there is no better solution than well trained boots on the ground to effectively combat the wave of poachers that continue to flood into National Parks across the Continent…
“We are seeing great results in placing detection dogs at strategic access points where smugglers are moving contraband across borders".
Image courtesy of Paramount Group
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