Rhino Dog!!! A new weapon has been launched in the fight against poaching in South Africa’s game reserves – a specially trained dog. Russell the Belgian Malinois recently ‘graduated’ from the Mechem Training Centre in Pretoria and will use his super sense of smell to help track down poachers.will use his super sense of smell to help track down poachers. He and his handler are based at the Pilanesberg National Park Game Reserve where they will strive to protect the dwindling numbers of Black Rhino. This year alone 282 Rhinos have been killed – decimating the already highly endangered population. According to Russell’s handler – who has not been named due to fear of retribution – it takes 36 hours for a person’s scent to disappear from the scene of a rhino killing. He adds: “When we hear gunshots or suspect that there are poachers in the reserve, Russell will track them down easily”. Russell’s year long intensive training covered weapon detection, horn detection, tracking and hot scene intervention. by Michelly Rall
“Never, never, be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way”. !! Marthur Luther King (jnr)
