THE CARMARTHEN PUPPIES BEING SPECIALLY TRAINED TO HELP TACKLE AFRICA’S RHINO POACHING PROBLEM

Two puppies are being specially trained in a bid to help in the fight against rhino poaching in Africa.

Bavarian Mountain Hounds Nkosi and Thula will soon be deployed as anti-poaching dogs as part of conservation efforts to protect the endangered species in South Africa.

The 14-week-old puppies were born and brought up in Carmarthen by Dogs 4 Wildlife, which helps train dogs to work in anti-poaching canine units.

Dogs 4 Wildlife already have 13 working canines in Africa helping with the effort.

Due to their excellent sense of smell, dogs have proven to be highly effective in tracking a poacher’s scent for miles.

In 2021 alone, a total of 451 rhinos were poached in South Africa – 327 within government reserves and 124 on private property.

A further 259 rhinos were illegal hunted or captured in the first six months of 2022.

The pair puppies recently visited Cumbria Zoo to get familiar with the mammals they will one day protect, including a young newborn rhino calf.

According to organisation Save The Rhino, “Beyond their physical skills, dogs have another positive attribute for anti-poaching units: they are not corruptible. If they find an illegal substance, they will indicate so, regardless of who the suspect is.”