Establishment of new canine units which typically follow this sequence of events:
- Preliminary site, risk and needs assessment (~1 week)
- Advice on kennel construction (as needed)
- Procurement of canines from Trusted Vendors in Holland (~1 week)
- Transport canines to location (~1 week after procurement)
- Canine acclimation & Pre-training (~1 month)
- Start of Handler course (~ 2 – 3 months depending on which capabilities are trained)
- Optional refresher training packages (~ 2 weeks per course)
We have a proven track record in Central and Southern Africa. Some recent projects include:
- Establishment of tracking and detection dog unit for Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia
- Assessment and advanced training of David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust tracker dog unit, Kenya.
- Detection dog unit in the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Zambia.
- Establishment of tracking and detection dog unit in Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia.
- Establishment of tracking and detection dog unit in Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe.
The instructors, having been born and raised in Zimbabwe are:
- Familiar with local cultures.
- Familiar working in remote locations around wildlife.
- Familiar working in Tryps environments.
- Understand types of poaching threat and problems they pose.
The handlers and dogs are trained with the following capabilities to a high standard:
- Tracking human scent.
- Detection of wildlife products (ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales ad bushmeat), firearms and ammunition and other Β odours subject to requirement.
- Bite/Apprehension/Patrol.
- Combinations of the above.
Have a unique and comprehensive handler-selection process:
- Background checks, integrity and character tests.
- Assessment of mental and physical ability.
- Multi-tasking ability assessment.
- Empathy and natural handling ability assessment.