An officer smiles with her sniffing dog.

Sniffer dogs and their handlers form a close bond.

Paul Joynson-Hicks/ African Wildlife Foundation

Dogs on Duty

In Africa, a team of specially trained dogs helps stop poachers in their tracks.

February 15, 2021

By Sarah Wells

As You Read, Think About: How are dogs helping to save elephants and rhinos?

Sniff . . . sniff . . . sniff. In December, a dog named Sassa was on duty at an airport in Africa. Her job was to sniff out illegal wildlife products hidden in luggage. Suddenly, Sassa sat down. She was alerting her human handler that she had found something suspicious.

Sure enough, the suitcase contained five pieces of rhino horn. It also held dozens of lion claws and teeth. The owner of the suitcase was trying to smuggle the animal parts to another country.

Sassa is one of more than 50 dogs in the African Wildlife Foundation’s Canines for Conservation (CFC) unit. The canines are trained to detect wildlife products hidden in cargo or luggage. This includes elephant tusks, rhino horns, and other animal parts.

Poachers kill animals to illegally trade (buy and sell) their parts. As a result, many species are close to becoming extinct. The goal of CFC is to use their dogs to help save Africa’s animals before it’s too late.

Sniff . . . sniff . . . sniff. In December, a dog named Sassa was on duty at an airport in Africa. Her job was to sniff out illegal wildlife products. They were hidden in luggage. Suddenly, Sassa sat down. She was alerting her human handler that she had found something suspicious.

Sassa was right. The suitcase contained five pieces of rhino horn. It also held dozens of lion claws and teeth. The owner of the suitcase was trying to smuggle the animal parts to another country.

Sassa is one of more than 50 dogs in a special program of the African Wildlife Foundation. They are part of the foundation’s Canines for Conservation (CFC) unit. The canines are trained to detect wildlife products hidden in cargo or luggage. These include elephant tusks, rhino horns, and other animal parts.

Poachers kill animals to illegally buy and sell their parts. As a result, many species are close to becoming extinct. The goal of CFC is to use their dogs to help save Africa’s animals before it’s too late.

Map It Out

CFC dogs are currently on duty in five countries in Africa, shown here. They are about to start work in the westernmost country labeled on the map, which is _________.

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Map It Out

CFC dogs are currently on duty in five countries in Africa, shown here. They are about to start work in the westernmost country labeled on the map, which is _________.

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

Poaching Problem

It is illegal to hunt rhinos for their horns and to trade most ivory taken from elephants. In recent years, countries have strengthened bans on the sale of some of these parts. Still, more than 50 elephants and about three rhinos are killed every day.

Poachers are willing to risk going to jail because rhino horns and ivory tusks are so 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 statues and jewelry. Some people crush tusks and horns to use in medicines. These people mistakenly believe the animal parts have healing powers.

It is illegal to hunt rhinos for their horns. It is also illegal to trade most ivory taken from elephants. In recent years, countries have taken steps to protect the animals. They’ve strengthened bans on the sale of some of these parts. Still, more than 50 elephants and about three rhinos are killed every day.

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

Super Sniffers

Thomas Mukoya/Reuters

A dog sniffs out a shipment of ivory tusks at an airport in Kenya.

One way that officials try to stop poaching is by taking the illegal wildlife products people are trying to sell. That’s where the dogs come in. But why dogs?

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

Some breeds have about 300 million sensors in their noses. Humans have about 6 million.

The CFC unit was formed in 2014. The dogs begin training when they are a year or two old. They are taught to sniff out different wildlife scents and to sit or freeze when they do.

After “graduation,” the pups are paired with human rangers from government wildlife agencies. Powell says it’s important for the pairs to trust each other.

“The dogs and their handlers must love each other,” he explains. “Once that bond is established, we can start work.”

One way that officials try to stop poaching is by finding illegal wildlife products. Then they take the products from the people trying to sell them. That’s where the dogs come in. But why dogs?

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

Some breeds have about 300 million sensors in their noses. Humans have about 6 million.

The CFC unit was formed in 2014. The dogs begin training when they are a year or two old. They are taught to sniff out different wildlife scents. They are trained to sit or freeze when they detect the scents.

After “graduation,” the pups are paired with human rangers from government wildlife agencies. Powell says it’s important for the pairs to trust each other.

“The dogs and their handlers must love each other,” he explains. “Once that bond is established, we can start work.”

On the Job

The CFC dogs check bags and shipments at airports, seaports, and border checkpoints. So far, the unit has sniffed out nearly 400 illegal wildlife products. Powell says this has caused poachers and smugglers to think twice.

“We make it more difficult and risky to move illegal wildlife products,” Powell says. “Hopefully this will stop poachers in their tracks—and save species from dying out.”

The CFC dogs check bags and shipments at many locations. They work at airports, seaports, and border checkpoints. So far, the unit has sniffed out nearly 400 illegal wildlife products. Poachers and smugglers need to think twice, says Powell.

“We make it more difficult and risky to move illegal wildlife products,” Powell says. “Hopefully this will stop poachers in their tracks. And save species from dying out.”