A brave anti-poaching dog is making news headlines after surviving a serious Lion attack in the Kruger National Park.
Akita, an eight-year-old Malinois dog, has been with the SANParks’ anti-poaching dog unit since 2012.
The Rhino Dogs Project was initiated in 2012 and has been aimed at strengthening the Kruger National Park’s anti-rhino poaching unit. These dogs were placed under the guidance of Field Rangers who were trained as dog handlers. They were deployed at Malelane, Letaba, Houtboschrand, Mahlangeni and Woodlands.
”We are doing everything in our ability as SANParks to stop this pandemic that we are currently facing as a country. The introduction of these dogs to our anti-rhino poaching unit is one of efforts that we are putting in place. We hope that our rangers will put them (the dogs) to good use” Mr William Mabasa, Head of Public Relations and Communication said.
And the pups have worked tirelessly over the past 6 years, helping to prevent many poaching incidents while also catching poachers in action, but the park is full of wild animals and sometimes the dogs get caught in dangerous situations.
Akita was recently chased down by a Lion and badly bitten but thanks to Dr Scheepers and the Lowveld Honoury Rangers she was back up and running in just 3 weeks!
According to Johan De Beer, the kennel master at the Kruger National Park canine unit, Akita is a “cheeky dog” that is fearless when it came to wild animals… making her perfect for the anti-poaching job!
This was not Akita’s first injury while on the job. She has come close to many “incidents” in the past with the worst one being in March last year when a Kudu charged and impaled her.
According to The Lowvelder, while out on patrol near Letaba, Akita was charged by a kudu, leaving her chest torn open by the horn. She was airlifted to Mbombela, where she was successfully treated.
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The Rhino Dogs Project, is a joint initiative driven by MECHEM, StopRhinoPoaching.com, Jacaranda FM, M-net’s The Wild and The Parlotones. These entities raised funds to cover the costs of this training and identified the KNP as a worthy beneficiary.
“To end this fight, it will take everybody in the country to stand up against rhino poaching. Let us all do something to assist the rangers” concluded Mabasa.
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