K9 Unit

The SAWC’s K9 Unit was established in 2015, supported by the WWF Nedbank Green Trust, as a result of increasing demand for well-trained dogs and handlers to help combat wildlife crime. The introduction of these specially trained dogs into the counter poaching arsenal has proved to be highly effective, both as tracking dogs with handlers and as free-running packs with the ability to track and apprehend. They are a force multiplier, which allows field rangers to be more effective when trying to combat wildlife crime.

The SAWC’s K9 Unit, which includes three rows of specially designed kennels for the dogs being trained as well as housing for the Dog Master and Dog Handler, continues to make really good progress. In 2016 three operational free running packs utilising Fox Hounds and Blue Tic breeds were trained to track at high speeds.

It is further envisaged that the project will help ensure best practice by helping develop and train dogs and their handlers to be operationally competent whilst at the same time ensuring that field rangers are exposed to this capability. This will in turn enhance exit/entry point detection of poachers, given advance warning of poachers to ranger patrols, and enable rangers to swiftly locate and apprehend fleeing poachers in the shortest possible time.