DogExpress
Aaranyak’s vice-president Dilip Chetry felicitated this hound hero, the first member of the organization’s K9 unit, during the 75th Independence Day celebration.
An incredibly trained dog squad deployed in the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Assam has been tracking those involved in Rhino poaching activities.
One of India’s leading biodiversity conservation organizations, Aaranyak, set up the country’s first dog squad to check wildlife crimes in 2011 with one Belgian Malinois dog named Zorba.
Zorba was actively engaged in anti-poaching operations for over eight years in various Rhino protection areas in Assam, including Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, and Orang National Park. During this period, Zorba has assisted wildlife officials in tracking down more than 60 poachers in the state.
Speaking about Zorba’s invaluable contribution to preventing wildlife crime, the CEO of Aaranyak– Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar– said that this particular breed was preferred to set up Aaranyak’s K9 squad because of their extreme prey drive capability. Unfortunately, Zorba was relieved of its duty in December 2019 and is currently under intensive care.
The K9 dog squad of Aaranyak, comprising six Belgian Melinoise units and its handlers, has been actively assisting forest and police officials in Kaziranga and Manas National Park and other rhino-bearing areas in Assam, resulting in the arrest of a number of poachers by the law enforcement agencies.
The K9 unit has been operating with generous support from UK-based organizations, the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, since 2011 and NABU-Germany (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union) since 2017.
During the 76th Independence Day celebration, Aaranyak honored Zorba- the first member of the organization’s K9 unit, at its headquarters as part of its Independence Day celebration.
Aaranyak’s vice-president Dilip Chetry also felicitated this canine hero during the Independence Day celebration. (ANI)
in Chandigarh, India. 
