India has inaugurated its first-ever tracker dog training centre at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in the Gudlupet taluk, marking a significant step in the fight against poaching and the protection of forest resources. The centre was officially opened on Monday by Mysore Circle Forest Conservator Malathi Priya and Ramesh Kumar.
The new facility will train Belgian Shepherds, a breed renowned for their intelligence and aptitude in dense forest environments. These dogs, which have previously been used in anti-insurgency operations, are now being adapted for forest surveillance, poacher detection, and explosives detection. This marks a significant expansion of their role in India’s conservation efforts.
Currently, the centre houses 12 dogs, with a dedicated team of 20 staff members. Eight dogs have already been brought in, with training slated to continue until October 2025. Once trained, these dogs will be deployed in key wildlife reserves across the region, including Bandipur, Nagarhole, Bhadra, Biligiri Ranganath Temple (BRT), and Kali Tiger reserves. The Forest Department plans to train and deploy 10 new dogs annually to strengthen forest security and combat poaching.
In a major shift, the Forest Department is now overseeing the training of these tracker dogs, a responsibility previously held by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Haryana. This move is expected to streamline training efforts and improve the effectiveness of dog-handler teams in addressing crimes within forested areas.
The establishment of the centre highlights the Forest Department’s commitment to innovative wildlife conservation strategies, combining modern canine expertise with traditional conservation efforts to safeguard India’s rich biodiversity.
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