Wildlife Conservation Dogs
My name is Simon Mallin, I am a dog handler trainer and managing director of my own training academy Malpeet K9 Academy based in South Wales. In 2015 we received an enquiry from a wildlife conservancy for anti-poaching training and delivery. Although I have been training mainly detection and security dogs for UK companies in the recent years, my knowledge in tracking came from my experience in the army dog unit. I was very excited about the opportunity to apply my tracker dog skills to protecting endangered species.
During my trips to Kenya working with and visiting a number of wildlife conservancies, I came to realise that more support and help are urgently needed for not just the animals but the rangers. Wildlife rangers endure similar ordeals to soldiers in combat. Heavily armed poachers if caught will face severe consequences so they will do whatever it takes to escape.
"Worldwide, about two rangers are killed every week." said Sean Willmore, president of the International Ranger Federation *
With every ranger I meet, I ask myself the question: ‘Why are they willing to risk their lives for their job?’ The answer became clear to me very quickly. The care. The rangers care about the animals, the land and their local community. Many rangers think it’s not a career choice but a calling. It’s their dedication to keeping the animals and the community safe make them go out everyday facing the life-threatening dangers that await them.
The long term and immediate dangers that the anti-poaching dog teams face:
Local wildlife such as venous snakes or the animals they are protecting.
Death and injury caused by heavily-armed poachers.
With the massive rise in poaching since 2006, they urgently need specialist training and advice.
Anti-poaching (tracker dogs) training and advice provided can greatly improve their work preformance as well as keeping them safe. You can read the case study following this link.
http://malpeetk9academy.co.uk/lewa-wildlife-conservancy-project-in-association-with-northern-rangelands-trust-zacks-journey/
http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2016-03-01/dogs-trained-in-wales-head-to-kenya-to-join-anti-poaching-unit/
I would like to ask for donation specifically going towards the training and the equipment.
- Secure kennels built to last in extreme climate and keep the dogs safe and healthy.
- Vet support, regular check ups and care at the vet to make sure the dog is physically fit. The only protection the rangers have while out tracking is their K9 partners.
- Training - Animal welfare and dog handler training to help rangers “read” their K9 partners better.
- QA / QC visits
Every penny donated will be accounted for and used exactly for what we have listed above and nothing less.
A NUMBER OF CONSERVANCIES HAS REQUESTED OUR SUPPORT, PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TO HELP RANGERS PROTECT THE ENDANGERED SPECIES TODAY.
*Source: National Geographic
