Over the last ten years, more than 2,800 wild creatures have been hunted illegally, and almost 7,000 poachers have been caught in Odisha.
The Odisha administration is set to station detection dogs across multiple reserves to enhance its ability to detect and investigate crimes while discouraging poaching.
“We have issued an international tender to procure highly-skilled dogs, particularly Belgian Malinois, with verified lineage that can quickly detect rudimentary explosives and other traps. Beyond assisting in investigations, these dogs will be crucial during routine patrols,” said Susanta Nanda, Principal Chief Conservation Officer (Wildlife). The Odisha Forest Department’s wildlife division is considering dogs aged between 12 to 18 months.