Home / Environment / Hero Dog Zorba Sniffed Out 60+ Poachers in India
Hero Dog Zorba Sniffed Out 60+ Poachers in India
4 Nov
Summary
- Zorba, a Belgian Malinois, helped track over 60 poachers.
- He recovered crucial evidence like a camera trap from a pond.
- Zorba worked in Kaziranga National Park to protect rhinos.
Zorba, a Belgian Malinois who served as a crucial anti-poaching dog in Assam's Kaziranga National Park, died on November 21, 2022, at the age of 12. He was part of Aaranyak's K9 unit, India's pioneering squad for wildlife crime. His career, spanning from 2011, saw him assist in tracking down over 60 poachers, significantly aiding conservation efforts for rhinos and other wildlife.
Zorba's exceptional olfactory skills were vital in locating suspects who escaped into dense forests. He once recovered a camera trap containing evidence from a pond and tracked an injured poacher for nearly 1.5 km. His deployments extended beyond Kaziranga to other protected areas like Orang National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, helping secure numerous arrests.
Initially the sole dog in the unit, Zorba's success inspired the expansion of Aaranyak's K9 unit to seven dogs by August 2022. Relieved of active duty in December 2019, Zorba was honored for his service. His handler remembered him not just as a colleague but as a playful companion, underscoring the deep bond formed during their critical conservation work.
