Sniffer dogs
In Kawal Tiger Reserve, a new frontline against poaching has been deployed: sniffer dogs. Fourteen dogs and 28 handlers are being trained to detect contraband, track poachers, and intercept trafficking routes. Other reserves—including Kuno, Pench, Sanjay, Ranthambore, and Dalma—will also receive units once training is complete.
The urgency is clear. Already this year, 122 tiger deaths have been recorded in India—40 from confirmed poaching cases. That surpasses last year’s totals, proof that trafficking is escalating, not declining. The illegal wildlife trade now operates on an organized scale, with networks stretching across borders and into black markets.
Sniffer dogs can change the game, but only if their work is backed by real enforcement. Corruption and weak penalties still shield wildlife criminals. Without stronger laws, funding, and accountability, India’s frontline defenders are left to fight crime with limited support. Dogs can expose the truth. Now humans must act.
The fight against tiger poaching cannot wait.
The sniffer dogs article:
Based on The Cool Down, India.
Photo via The Cool Down.
