Rhinos everywhere are under siege from unscrupulous poachers and wildlife traffickers. We set up and support a dedicated and highly skilled anti-poaching sniffer dog unit in the Indian state of Assam, which sniffs out poachers, weapons, hideouts and contraband. Working as one in the Indian rhino's last stronghold, they help to keep rhinos, tigers and other wildlife from being harmed.
Under siege
The world is witnessing an unprecedented rise in poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking that is devastating species including rhinos, elephants, tigers, sharks, pangolins and many more. Illegal wildlife trade has become the fourth most lucrative global crime sector after drugs, humans and arms. It is linked to international criminal networks and, according to the UN and Interpol, is worth a staggering 7-23 billion US dollars a year. In combination with human population growth, poverty, corruption and threats such as climate change and habitat loss, wildlife trafficking is part of the perfect storm that is battering the natural world and driving species to oblivion.
There's a price on her head
Some of the most iconic animals, such as rhinos, elephants, tigers are hunted mercilessly and are the most sought after, high value species in illegal trade. Protecting them is as important as it is challengeing. Rhinos everywhere are under siege from poachers, illegal traffickers, national and international criminal networks, art collectors, status and pleasure seekers, medical patients and financial speculators intent on cashing in on their increasing rarity. |
|
|
Rhinos have been hit particularly hard by the illegal trade in their horns. The death of 1,700 rhinos over the past two years has brought the global population down from 29,000 to 27,300. That's equivalent to the loss of more than two rhinos every single day. |
Saving India's rhinos
There are roughly 3,600 Indian or Greater one-horned rhinos left in the wild. Home to 2,912 individuals, India accommodates over 80% of the global population. The majority - 2,413 to be exact - live in Kaziranga National Park in the Indian state of Assam. If we can protect them, the entire ecosystem of this World Heritage Site will be protected. |
Holding the line
Kaziranga's rhinos are a magnet for poachers who pose a constant threat. Protecting them is an enormous challenge. Sniffer dogs play an increasingly important role in wildlife crime investigation and prevention and significantly increase the success rate of anti-poaching efforts. |
Meet Bitu and Emy
We support a rhino protection dog unit in India's Kaziranga National Park, which works hand in hand with government rangers to protect India's rhinos. |
The work of an antipoaching dog
Wildlife protection dogs locate dead animals, as well as track, and if necessary apprehend fleeing poachers. The dog is also able to search for weapons and ammunition, as well as rhino horn or tiger parts in both urban and rural settings. This combination of skills make the dog a formidable assert in the fight against poachers. |
Skills that save livesEmy and handler Bitu, as well as the other teams in the unit have been trained by former army dog trainer and special forces escape and evasion instructor Daryll Pleasants. Daryll works alongside conservation organisations to prevent wildlife crime by providing and training anti-poaching dogs and rangers around the world. We are immensely grateful to him for his invaluable expertise and support, which has turned the unit into what it is today. |
|
The dog unit is embracing its difficult and dangerous work with determination, passion and courage. We are proud of them, grateful for their hard work and for putting themselves between poachers and rhinos. |
We need your help to keep them going!
None of this work is possible without your support. We depend on your help to ensure this K9 unit can continue to do its job. This includes dog handler salaries, dog food and veterinary care, as well as uniforms, field equipment, such as binoculars, medical kits and night vision goggles etc. We also need to regularly replace dog harnesses, collars, leads etc. as they wear out.
The team's work is dangerous. Although the training is designed to keep both man and dog safe, the dog team inevitably leads the way in the pursuit of poachers. This makes them a target. Rhino poachers carry knives, machetes and high caliber firearms. Unlike a ranger, a dog handler is unarmed. We therefore urgently need to buy bullet- and stab-proof vests to keep everyone safe.
The team's work is dangerous. Although the training is designed to keep both man and dog safe, the dog team inevitably leads the way in the pursuit of poachers. This makes them a target. Rhino poachers carry knives, machetes and high caliber firearms. Unlike a ranger, a dog handler is unarmed. We therefore urgently need to buy bullet- and stab-proof vests to keep everyone safe.
|
PLEASE support our
ANTIPOACHING DOG UNIT to THWART POACHERS and keep MEN, DOGS AND RHINOS SAFE! If we work together, we can make a difference! 
Thank you! |
A canine wildlife protection unit in pictures...
We work hand in hand with our Indian conservation partner, Aaranyak, Assam's Forest and police Department and
NABU International to protect India's precious rhinos, because we are stronger together!
NABU International to protect India's precious rhinos, because we are stronger together!
Latest news
|
MEDIA ARTICLE - 30 August 2020Seven people detained over rhino horn trading in Kaziranga
Source: Guwahati Plus
|
|
MEDIA ARTICLE - 30 August 2020Rhino poachers in North East have links with Manipur insurgents, police say
Source: Scroll.in
|
|
MEDIA ARTICLE - 9 August 2020Why is illegal rhino horn trade escalating in Assam?
Source: The Northeast Today
|
|
MEDIA ARTICLE - 8 August 2020Poachers kill rhino in Kaziranga, horn missing
Source: Deccan Herald
|
|
MEDIA ARTICLE - 7 August 2020Poachers kill rhino in Kaziranga, horn missing
Source: The New Indian Express
|
|
MEDIA ARTICLE - 4 June 2020Grenade, Kalashnikovs recovered from poachers point to extremist network links
Source: The New Indian Express
|
|
MEDIA ARTICLE - 10 May 2020Rhino killed in Kaziranaga National Park, poachers take away horn
Source: The Hindu
|
DISCOVER MORE...
Rare rhinos threatened by floods in India
India's Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve is home to two thirds of the world's 3,500 last greater one-horned rhinos. But every year between June and September the monsoon floods much of the park, putting the animals at risk from drowning, vehicle collisions, starvation and poaching. Twelve rhinos were among the the 151 animals who died as a result of the flood so far.
