Bhubaneswar: In an effort to curb wildlife poaching in the state, the Forest department of Odisha has decided to deploy sniffer dogs to guard forests and sanctuaries.
To begin with, sniffer dogs will be engaged to protect wildlife against poachers and other threats on an experimental basis in five forest areas in the state, sources said.
At least ten sniffer dogs are proposed to be deployed in Similipal, Satkosia, Debrigarh, Hindol, and Athagarh wildlife areas as part of measures to contain poaching of wild animals, according to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF-Wildlife) Sushanta Nanda.
The dogs will be imparted training to detect and track poachers, as well as sniff out traps and snares used for hunting.
The forest department will float a tender at the national and international levels to procure the sniffer dogs and provide training to them. National and international organisations will be involved in providing the dogs and training them.
This initiative is expected to boost the state’s efforts to combat wildlife poaching and protect its rich biodiversity.
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