Book a call with a safari expert

phone icon

Client reviews

5 star icon
safari experts, since 1991
Book a call with a safari expert Book a call
Client reviews Client reviews
×
SEARCH OUR STORIES
SEARCH OUR SAFARIS
Africa Geographic Travel

Written by Rosie Fletcher, Nkonzi Camp, South Luangwa National Park

At a time when the world is facing unprecedented levels of wildlife trafficking, it can be difficult to know how to counter these threats. But across Africa, conservationists have begun developing innovative approaches to help turn the tide on wildlife poaching.

In eastern Zambia, Conservation South Luangwa, in partnership with Working Dogs for Conservation and Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife has launched a fantastic initiative: Zambia’s first ever canine wildlife detection unit.

dog detection unit, Zambia
©CSL

Launched in 2014, Delta unit currently has three highly trained former rescue dogs from the US, with two more arriving this month, and six dedicated dog handlers all drawn from the local community. While detection dogs elsewhere in the world are trained to find drugs or explosives, Delta unit’s dogs are specially trained to sniff out ivory, firearms and ammunition, wire snares, pangolin and leopard skins, and certain types of bushmeat.

dog detection unit South Luangwa Zambia
©CSL

The scheme has already proven to be an enormous success. The team undertakes at least two daytime and two overnight operations each week, in and around South Luangwa. In 2016 alone, Delta unit searched 1,778 vehicles, 619 bicycles and 50 houses, recovering nine illegal firearms, four pairs of ivory and four pangolins, along with numerous snares, bush meat, and an entire truckload of illegal and extremely rare mukula logs. Over 30 suspects were also apprehended.

We had our own encounter with the dog detection unit last week while driving out of the South Luangwa National Park Gate. Here we were stopped by the team, who proceeded with a full inspection of our vehicle. Luckily the dogs weren’t interested in the shortbread biscuits leftover from our tea break. It was fantastic to witness this proactive anti-poaching work firsthand and to see the enthusiasm of the dogs and their handlers.

It can feel as though conservation success stories are hard to find these days, but in South Luangwa’s battle of pooches vs. poachers, the dogs are coming out on top!

To comment on this story: Login (or sign up) to our app here - it's a troll-free safe place 🙂.


Africa Geographic Travel
African safari

Why choose us to craft your safari?

Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.

Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?

African travel

Trust & Safety

Client safari payments remain in a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT until they return from safari - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part.

See what travellers say about us

Responsible safari

Make a difference

We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.

YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!

[wpforms id="152903"]
<div class="wpforms-container wpforms-container-full" id="wpforms-152903"><form id="wpforms-form-152903" class="wpforms-validate wpforms-form wpforms-ajax-form" data-formid="152903" method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data" action="/stories/south-luangwa-dog-detection-unit-poaching" data-token="d8f4c64380a4dad4ac56f5f0ef86195b"><noscript class="wpforms-error-noscript">Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.</noscript><div class="wpforms-field-container"><div id="wpforms-152903-field_1-container" class="wpforms-field wpforms-field-email" data-field-id="1"><label class="wpforms-field-label wpforms-label-hide" for="wpforms-152903-field_1">Email Address <span class="wpforms-required-label">*</span></label><input type="email" id="wpforms-152903-field_1" class="wpforms-field-medium wpforms-field-required" name="wpforms[fields][1]" placeholder="Email " required></div></div><div class="wpforms-submit-container"><input type="hidden" name="wpforms[id]" value="152903"><input type="hidden" name="wpforms[author]" value="3"><input type="hidden" name="wpforms[post_id]" value="86860"><button type="submit" name="wpforms[submit]" id="wpforms-submit-152903" class="wpforms-submit" data-alt-text="Sending..." data-submit-text="Subscribe" aria-live="assertive" value="wpforms-submit">Subscribe</button><img src="https://africageographic.com/wp-content/plugins/wpforms/assets/images/submit-spin.svg" class="wpforms-submit-spinner" style="display: none;" width="26" height="26" alt="Loading"></div></form></div> <!-- .wpforms-container -->