Dogs On Duty

Sniff, sniff, sniff. A dog named Sassa is on duty at an airport in Africa. Her job is to sniff the luggage. Suddenly, Sassa sits down. She’s alerting her human handler that she has found something suspicious.

Sure enough, the suitcase contains five pieces of rhino horn. It also holds dozens of lion claws and teeth. The owner of the suitcase had been trying to smuggle the animal parts to another country.

Sassa is one of 50 dogs in a group called Canines for Conservation (CFC). These dogs are trained to detect illegal wildlife products hidden in luggage. This includes elephant tusks, rhino horns, and other animal parts.

Why is this important? People called poachers often kill animals in Africa to illegally sell their parts. As a result, many species are at risk of dying out. The goal of CFC is to use its dogs to help save Africa’s animals before it’s too late.

Sniff, sniff, sniff. A dog named Sassa is on duty at an airport in Africa. Her job is to sniff the luggage. Suddenly, Sassa sits down. She’s alerting her human handler that she has found something suspicious.

Sure enough, the suitcase contains five pieces of rhino horn. It also holds dozens of lion claws and teeth. The owner of the suitcase had been trying to smuggle the animal parts to another country.

Sassa is one of 50 dogs in a special group. Their group is called Canines for Conservation (CFC). These dogs are trained to detect illegal wildlife products hidden in luggage. This includes elephant tusks, rhino horns, and other animal parts.

Why is this important? People called poachers often kill animals in Africa. Then, they illegally sell the animals’ parts. As a result, many species are at risk of dying out. The goal of CFC is to use its dogs to help save Africa’s animals before it’s too late.

EcoPrint/Shutterstock.com

Rhinos: Fewer than 27,000 are left in the world, down from 500,000 a century ago.

It is against the law to hunt rhinos for their horns and to buy or sell most ivory taken from elephants. Even so, more than 50 elephants and about 2 rhinos are killed every day.

Poachers are willing to risk going to jail because rhino horns and ivory tusks are valuable. A rhino horn can sell for as much as $300,000!

In some Asian countries, these animal parts are a symbol of wealth. Ivory is carved into items like jewelry. And some people crush tusks and horns to use in medicines. These people believe the animal parts have special healing powers. But there is no proof of that.

It is against the law to hunt rhinos for their horns. It is also illegal to buy or sell most ivory taken from elephants. Even so, more than 50 elephants and about two rhinos are killed every day.

Poachers are willing to risk going to jail for the chance to make money. Rhino horns and ivory tusks are valuable. A rhino horn can sell for as much as $300,000!

In some Asian countries, these animal parts are a symbol of wealth. Ivory is carved into items like jewelry. And some people crush tusks and horns to use in medicines. These people believe the animal parts have special healing powers. But there is no proof of that.

One way that officials fight poaching is by taking the illegal wildlife products people try to sell. Dogs can help find those products by using their powerful sense of smell.

“Dogs have amazing noses,” says Will Powell, the director of CFC.

The CFC dogs begin training when they are a year or two old. They are taught to sniff out different wildlife scents. After “graduation,” the dogs are paired with humans in wildlife conservation groups.

One way that officials fight poaching is by taking the illegal products people try to sell. Dogs can help find those wildlife products. The pups use their powerful sense of smell.

“Dogs have amazing noses,” says Will Powell, the director of CFC.

The CFC dogs begin training when they are very young. They start training at just a year or two old. They are taught to sniff out different wildlife scents. After “graduation,” the dogs go to work. They are paired with humans in wildlife conservation groups.

The CFC dogs check bags and shipments at airports, seaports, and borders between countries. Since 2014, they have found nearly 400 illegal wildlife products.

“Hopefully this will stop poachers in their tracks—and save species from dying out,” Powell says.

The CFC dogs check bags and shipments at many locations. They work at airports, seaports, and borders between countries. Since 2014, they have found nearly 400 illegal wildlife products.

“Hopefully this will stop poachers in their tracks. And save species from dying out,” Powell says.