Two fourteen-week-old anti-poaching and detection puppies in training from not-for-profit organisation Dogs 4 Wildlife from Wales are headed to South Africa to help protect some of the world’s most endangered animals.
Nkosi and Thula were joined by Darren Priddle, Director of Dogs 4 Wildlife, who, along with Co-Founder Jacqui Law, are training the puppies to become human scent and detection dogs in the fight against rhino poaching in South Africa.
The puppies have been given Zulu names. Nkosi means “king” and Thula means “peace and tranquillity”. The names were chosen as Dogs 4 Wildlife has previously deployed dogs to KwaZulu-Natal, and recently launched a debut anti-poaching conservation programme in the province.
Although a reserve has not yet been decided for the Bavarian mountain hound puppies, fellow Dogs 4 Wildlife pup Kitapo, a fully trained anti-poaching dog has recently been deployed to Renosterpan Reserve in Limpopo.
Last year, a total of 451 rhino were poached in South Africa, 327 of those within government reserves and 124 on private property.
Anti-poaching dogs contribute to reducing incidents of poaching by as much as 75%, so the dogs will have a huge part to play in the conservation of rhinos and many other endangered species.
Deploying anti-poaching dogs and K9 units are a crucial part of conservation efforts in Africa.
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