Dogs aren’t just man’s best friend, but rhinos’ too. Some animal conservancies in Africa and elsewhere have employed canine units to protect at-risk animals from poachers. The canines are highly trained to sniff out ammunition and detect and track suspects. Some attack potential poachers to detain them for arrest.
Why Dogs Are Great at Catching Poachers
Around the world, working dogs are invaluable in various facets of law enforcement, security, and first response. That’s partly because dogs’ incredible sense of smell – between 1,000 and 10,000 times stronger than humans’ – makes them unbeatable detectives. In wildlife conservation, dogs can get all the information they need to track a could-be-criminal by simply sniffing a footprint or discarded item belonging to the suspect. They can also detect illegal wildlife products.
As the Kenya Lewa Wildlife Conservancy website explains, the dogs can lead rangers and enforcement authorities to suspects and help them map out poachers’ routes. Canines can also sniff out rhino horns and ammunition at park gates and airports. The dogs can apprehend suspects as well. At the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the dogs’ presence has increased safety and led to four arrests. There have been no rhino poaching incidents since the canine unit’s arrival.
Why Rhinos Are in Danger
Places like the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya are safe havens for black and white rhinos. These animals are prime targets for poachers, who hunt them for their horns.
The horns contain keratin, the same substance that makes up turtle beaks and horse hooves. It is also in human hair, nails, and skin. Some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners believe rhino horns have medicinal properties and use them to treat conditions such as gout, fever, typhoid, rheumatism, and headaches. It is also a purported aphrodisiac.
There is no scientific evidence of any such claims. And the medicinal use of rhino horns has been illegal since 1993. Nonetheless, rhino horns are precious on the black market. According to a University of Copenhagen study, Asian rhino horns can sell for around $40,000 per kg, while African rhino horns can fetch about $20,0000 per kg.
