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Dogs Trained To Protect Wildlife Save 45 Rhinos From Poachers
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Dogs Trained To Protect Wildlife Save 45 Rhinos From Poachers

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There are many reasons dogs are called man’s best friends. They’re loyal and smart, but endlessly childish and sometimes dorky and, most importantly, they always have your back even in the hardest of times.

This K9 fast response unit operating in South Africa always has the backs of their humans when fighting poachers and protecting wildlife, and even do a much better job than their humans. Turns out, in the areas where the Southern African Wildlife College patrol, the success rate of the dogs is around 68 percent, compared to only between three to five percent success rate when there are no doggos around.

A group of dogs have been trained to protect wildlife since they were puppies

Image credits: Caters

Turns out, Southern African Wildlife College in Greater Kruger National Park has a K9 fast response unit that is trained to protect wildlife. All kinds of dogs, from beagles to bloodhounds, begin their training there when they’re still just small puppies and grow up to be a great help for park rangers.

They’ve already saved 45 rhinos in South Africa from being poached

Image credits: Caters

No breed is too small for the K9 fast response unit—the group of dogs range from beagles to bloodhounds

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Image credits: Caters

Johan van Straaten, a “K9 Master” at the college, said: “The data we collect for this applied learning project, aimed at informing best practice, shows we have prevented approximately 45 rhinos being killed since the free tracking dogs became operational in February 2018.”

“K9 Master” Johan van Straaten from Southern African Wildlife College in Greater Kruger National Park trains the dogs to handle all kinds of pressure

Image credits: Caters

Their mission is very important, since South Africa holds 80% of the world’s rhino population

Image credits: Caters

“In the areas where the Southern African Wildlife College patrol, the success rate of the dogs is around 68 percent using both on and off-leash free tracking dogs, compared to between three to five percent with no canine capacity,” van Straaten said. “The game-changer has been the free tracking dogs who are able to track at speeds much faster than a human can, in terrain where the best human trackers would lose spoor.”

“In the areas where the Southern African Wildlife College patrol, the success rate of the dogs is around 68 percent using both on and off leash free tracking dogs,” said van Straaten

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Image credits: Caters

He also stated that patrols with no canine capacity only have a success rate of three to five percent

Image credits: Caters

Van Straaten said they train Texan black-and-tan coonhounds, Belgian Malinois, foxhounds and blue ticks skills that benefit counter-poaching initiatives—free tracking, incursion, detection, patrol, and apprehension dogs. “They begin training from birth and are socialized from a very young age. They learn how to track, bay at a person in a tree, and follow basic obedience,” he explained.

“The game changer has been the free tracking dogs who are able to track at speeds much faster than a human can, in terrain where the best human trackers would lose spoor,” he said

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Image credits: Caters

Turns out, South Africa is the country hit hardest by rhino poachers, so there’s no better place for such a project to take place

Image credits: Caters

“At six months we put all that training together more formally—they do have the necessary skill set to do the work at a younger age, but are not mature enough to handle all the pressures of real operations. Depending on a number of factors, dogs become operational at around 18 months old.”

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m2crows avatar
iapetosdertitan avatar
Iapetos
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Death penalty - no. Incarceration and public service. Take their weapons and let them pick up trash and plant trees all day for the rest of their lives.

Load More Replies...
misstea2020 avatar
Moo Moo Futch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those are some good boi and good girl doggo's who deserve the whole world of treatos.

beebilicious avatar
monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@Jiriw, how come you chose to see one single dog? They are a pack of dogs working together. Your thinking is flawed on many levels.

Load More Replies...
sonicwim avatar
Wim Cossement
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

China is for a large part to blame for poaching rhinos with their b******t traditional medicine. And the government does nothing about it! https://www.dw.com/en/chinas-medicinal-tiger-bones-and-rhino-horns-tradition-or-travesty/a-46193315

jevais avatar
jevais
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not only China, there are other Asian countries that use all sorts of animals parts in their "medicine". This is so sad that these populations are incapable to move into the 20th century.

Load More Replies...
sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a very good news, these dogs not just save the rhinos, they also save the rangers as well.

kevincampphoto avatar
Kevin Camp
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bloodhounds and Beagles are relentless hunters. They will literally run themselves ragged in pursuit once the chase is on. And they are athletic enough a human on foot cannot get away from them and will work as a pack to corner their prey.

sharronlynnparsons avatar
sharron lynn parsons
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just a thought, could there be , a go fund me, to pay for the bullet proof vests ???

sharronlynnparsons avatar
sharron lynn parsons
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such a fantastic idea, too bad it did not start, many years ago, better late than never, God bless the trainer, and dogs, do the poachers have guns, if so then the dogs need the bullet proof vests, Please get them, the dogs are precious, and training takes time !!!

lgujsv avatar
Gipsy Kings fan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a great story! I hope other African nations and other countries worldwide that have a problem with these vicious criminals adopt this type of program.

3142322 avatar
Living_Shadow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those are amazing dogs! Their service could be used to protect other kinds of wildlife as well, because there are so many other endangered species as well.

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The true criminals are not the poachers but the mindless rich who buy the products of this trade. Punish them instead. Give the poachers a sentence of public service and education, education, education.

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poachers have chosen to do what they're doing, not better then those buyers and users. What's the difference between true criminals and criminals anyway? How does it matter to a victim? It does not.

Load More Replies...
kittyrox avatar
Julia Sankaran
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I clicked this bc I wanted to learn how exactly dogs help to catch poachers but I'm still wondering?

mandelgitty avatar
Rex the Rat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They chase the poacher up a tree and keep them up there until the rangers come, they have collars with trackers on it so the rangers can follow them.

Load More Replies...
ray55e avatar
Raymond Ewen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can see the ribs on these dogs. Are they being starved or is that just the breed?

ytterbiumyttrium avatar
monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the striped hyena could, but it is not endemic where there are rhinos, and besides, I find the thought of a hyena trained to pursue people absolutely nightmarish. The spotted hyena which belongs to Sub-Saharan Africa is larger and wilder.

Load More Replies...
howdylee avatar
howdylee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone else notice the sticker on the back of the truck? Release the Hounds, with the South African and Texas flags! Totally sounds like something a Texan would come up with!

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The dogs are Texan black-and-tan coonhounds. "Texas hounds chase down rhino poachers in South Africa" from the link posted by Rex the Rat.

Load More Replies...
stanflouride avatar
Stannous Flouride
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since they're poaching these majestic animals for the keratin that grows on the animals' faces can were just pull out all the keratin from their bodies? You know, their fingernails and toenails and hair?

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a joy to see dogs being trained to help people to protect animals instead being trained to chase them to exhaustion and help evil, sanguinary hunters to kill them which they enjoy so much doing. Human b********y at its worst.

m2crows avatar
iapetosdertitan avatar
Iapetos
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Death penalty - no. Incarceration and public service. Take their weapons and let them pick up trash and plant trees all day for the rest of their lives.

Load More Replies...
misstea2020 avatar
Moo Moo Futch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those are some good boi and good girl doggo's who deserve the whole world of treatos.

beebilicious avatar
monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@Jiriw, how come you chose to see one single dog? They are a pack of dogs working together. Your thinking is flawed on many levels.

Load More Replies...
sonicwim avatar
Wim Cossement
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

China is for a large part to blame for poaching rhinos with their b******t traditional medicine. And the government does nothing about it! https://www.dw.com/en/chinas-medicinal-tiger-bones-and-rhino-horns-tradition-or-travesty/a-46193315

jevais avatar
jevais
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not only China, there are other Asian countries that use all sorts of animals parts in their "medicine". This is so sad that these populations are incapable to move into the 20th century.

Load More Replies...
sassybooie avatar
Meeow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a very good news, these dogs not just save the rhinos, they also save the rangers as well.

kevincampphoto avatar
Kevin Camp
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bloodhounds and Beagles are relentless hunters. They will literally run themselves ragged in pursuit once the chase is on. And they are athletic enough a human on foot cannot get away from them and will work as a pack to corner their prey.

sharronlynnparsons avatar
sharron lynn parsons
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just a thought, could there be , a go fund me, to pay for the bullet proof vests ???

sharronlynnparsons avatar
sharron lynn parsons
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such a fantastic idea, too bad it did not start, many years ago, better late than never, God bless the trainer, and dogs, do the poachers have guns, if so then the dogs need the bullet proof vests, Please get them, the dogs are precious, and training takes time !!!

lgujsv avatar
Gipsy Kings fan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a great story! I hope other African nations and other countries worldwide that have a problem with these vicious criminals adopt this type of program.

3142322 avatar
Living_Shadow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those are amazing dogs! Their service could be used to protect other kinds of wildlife as well, because there are so many other endangered species as well.

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The true criminals are not the poachers but the mindless rich who buy the products of this trade. Punish them instead. Give the poachers a sentence of public service and education, education, education.

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poachers have chosen to do what they're doing, not better then those buyers and users. What's the difference between true criminals and criminals anyway? How does it matter to a victim? It does not.

Load More Replies...
kittyrox avatar
Julia Sankaran
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I clicked this bc I wanted to learn how exactly dogs help to catch poachers but I'm still wondering?

mandelgitty avatar
Rex the Rat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They chase the poacher up a tree and keep them up there until the rangers come, they have collars with trackers on it so the rangers can follow them.

Load More Replies...
ray55e avatar
Raymond Ewen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can see the ribs on these dogs. Are they being starved or is that just the breed?

ytterbiumyttrium avatar
monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the striped hyena could, but it is not endemic where there are rhinos, and besides, I find the thought of a hyena trained to pursue people absolutely nightmarish. The spotted hyena which belongs to Sub-Saharan Africa is larger and wilder.

Load More Replies...
howdylee avatar
howdylee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone else notice the sticker on the back of the truck? Release the Hounds, with the South African and Texas flags! Totally sounds like something a Texan would come up with!

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The dogs are Texan black-and-tan coonhounds. "Texas hounds chase down rhino poachers in South Africa" from the link posted by Rex the Rat.

Load More Replies...
stanflouride avatar
Stannous Flouride
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since they're poaching these majestic animals for the keratin that grows on the animals' faces can were just pull out all the keratin from their bodies? You know, their fingernails and toenails and hair?

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a joy to see dogs being trained to help people to protect animals instead being trained to chase them to exhaustion and help evil, sanguinary hunters to kill them which they enjoy so much doing. Human b********y at its worst.

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