Remember Part 1? The wildlife college recruits dogs of various breeds. The unit lineup has bloodhounds, greyhounds and even beagles. They train the dogs from their puppy days till they mature and are skilled enough to hunt the poachers.
According to one of the dog trainers, there is a vast improvement when the dogs accompany the park rangers on patrol. They can pick up trails and track down targets very fast. While some of these abilities are due to genetics, a lot of it can also be attributed to training. The training helps to harness the dogs’ natural tracking abilities. They are taught to follow instructions and know what to do in different situations.
Van Straaten, a K9 master who trains the dogs, pointed out that the dogs learn all they need to know within six months. However, the Wildlife College does not send them out so soon. They have to wait another 12 months. According to him, the dogs have the training required, but they still need some development over time to be mature enough.
These dogs are brave heroes who go into areas where the park rangers can’t, mostly because of their body build. According to statistics, South Africa is one of the countries that are most susceptible to poaching. Because these poachers make a lot of money, it has become a highly connected crime ring. Sometimes, they even have international affiliations. We have these dogs to thank for helping to stop this heinous crime.
Feature Image Source: Pixabay