Bhubaneswar: In a bid to curb wildlife poaching in Odisha, the state forest department has decided to deploy sniffer dogs in five specific wildlife divisions.
According to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Sushant Nanda, the sniffer dogs will be deployed in the Similipal, Satkosia, Debrigad, Hindol, and Athagarh wildlife divisions as part of measures to contain poaching of wild animals. The dogs will be imparted trainings to detect and track poachers, as well as sniff out traps and snares used for hunting.
The forest department will float a tender at the national and international levels to procure the sniffer dogs and provide training to them. National and international organizations will be involved in providing the dogs and training them.
This initiative is expected to boost the state’s efforts to combat wildlife poaching and protect its rich biodiversity.