Bela: The New Sniffer Dog Joining Pench Tiger Reserve's Fight Against Wildlife Crimes

Bela, a 9-month-old Belgian Malinois, joins Pench Tiger Reserve's Rapid Rescue Team to assist in anti-snare and anti-electrocution operations. Trained at ITBP Basic Training Centre, Bela is the latest addition alongside Willy, a German Shepherd, to bolster wildlife crime detection efforts in Maharashtra.

Bela, a 9-month-old Belgian Malinois sniffer dog, has officially joined the Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, aiding the forest department in anti-snare and anti-electrocution operations.

According to a release by the reserve's deputy director Prabhu Nath Shukla on Saturday, Bela, after six months of rigorous training, joined the Rapid Rescue Team (RRT) alongside two handlers. The training was conducted at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Basic Training Centre in Panchkula. Bela is part of a group of 12 dogs trained for similar roles in other protected regions.

The centre's comprehensive training involves three phases: building trust between the dogs and their handlers, teaching detection skills for wildlife crimes, and honing investigative abilities for crime scenes. This initiative was spearheaded by TRAFFIC and WWF-India.

Bela joins an existing sniffer dog, Willy—a German Shepherd trained at the 23 Battalion Dog Training Centre in Bhopal. Willy, aged five, has played a critical role in uncovering evidence in poaching and wildlife death cases and is stationed at Umred Pauni Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary and Pench. Recognized as 'Super Sniffers On The Prowl' by TRAFFIC India in 2021, Willy continues his vital work alongside Bela, bolstering anti-wildlife crime initiatives.