Anti-Poaching Working Dogs
Poaching is threatening wildlife conservation in Africa. Many species are killed for by-product, whether being horns, tusks or simply meat. Nearly every wild species is challenged by this terrible and illegal act. Particularly, elephant as well as black and white rhino populations have been devastated across most of Africa.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations estimated that one million plant and animal species were at risk of dying out, many within the next 50 years1. Now, poaching is on the rise across Africa as the tourism industry plummets due to the pandemic, emptying protected areas and cutting the income of regions, reserves and villages that are already experiencing economic stress. This threatens to undo past progress that governments have made to mitigate poaching. Positive change needs to be implemented in order to protect species from extinction.
Poaching is threatening wildlife conservation in Africa
Jager-K9 and MSAR have teamed up to use combined resources and working dog knowledge to protect endangered species, enhance conservation and empower local communities. One of the main focuses of these efforts is using highly skilled Anti-Poaching Working Dogs, who have proven to be extremely effective in reducing poaching via human tracking and detecting illegal weapons as well as wildlife products. These dogs are a direct solution to the pressure poachers put on African wildlife. Harnessing the human animal bond, the Anti-Poaching Working Dogs are paired with a certified Ranger/Handler who has been trained via a vigorous selection program to be fitted to join the Anti-Poaching K9 unit, protecting the respective region, reserve or community.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We are dedicated to our goal of preventing poaching and are exceedingly humbled that we can utilize the incredible skills dogs possess to facilitate this goal. Our trainers have direct experience training Anti-Poaching Working Dogs for real-world reserves and organizations who are assisting with constant protection and support of African wildlife.
- Search vast acreage to precisely identify and notify their Handler regarding poaching equipment such as snares, wildlife contraband, firearms and ammunition as well as poachers themselves
- Being utilized in difficult terrain areas where human trackers are less effective
- Protecting our valuable Conservation Rangers by acting as an alarm system and companion in the dangerous bush environment
Anti-Poaching Working Dogs are capable of preforming but not limited to the following tasks:
- Search vast acreage to precisely identify and notify their Handler regarding poaching equipment such as snares, wildlife contraband, firearms and ammunition as well as poachers themselves
- Being utilized in difficult terrain areas where human trackers are less effective
- Protecting our valuable Conservation Rangers by acting as an alarm system and companion in the dangerous bush environment
Scat Detection Working Dogs
Poaching re-enforcement, although extremely important, can be considered a “short term” solution to the overall, complex topic of wildlife conservation. Jager K9 and MSAR recognize that conservation is a multi-faceted topic and requires a solution and support that is also multi-layered.
Science-based solutions are growing in momentum and are vital to supporting wildlife conservation as a whole. Jager K9 and MSAR understand the need for a science based approached to ensure sustainability of our conservation efforts. One method we are capable of assisting is through Scat Detection Working Dogs.
Scat, also known as feces, provides researchers with a vast amount of information on a multitude of species, all through the least invasive collection method possible with no stress or direct contact with the wild animal. Genetic monitoring, hormone detection, physiological health, as well as species distribution and abundance are just a few of the factors scientists can identify through scat. The highly trained Working Dogs who locate and provide scientists with valuable samples, are able to simplify and streamline the sample collection process. Scat detection dogs are also skilled at searching for multiple species at once, allowing researchers to survey several species of interest at a time. Our trainers have direct experience training Scat Detection Working Dogs for real-world conservation organizations and assisting with numerous published research papers.
Scat Detection Working Dogs are capable of but not limited to preforming the following tasks:
- Searching vast landscapes to find specifically selected animal scat
- Directly indicating when a sample of interest is found
- Covering roughly 40 times larger areas than the human researcher can
- Being comfortable wearing a GPS collar to record the dog’s precise movement and locations of scat in a research area, adding another layer of information to be gained for scientific study and conservation