*Identifying details withheld to protect dogs and handlers.

Our Canines for Conservation program is a powerful defense in the fight against poaching. These highly trained dogs have been deployed to sniff out wildlife contraband, track poachers, and catch traffickers — and the arrests and convictions are piling up.

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We need even more canine heroes urgently!

Illegal wildlife trafficking generates:

Up to $19 billion per year

Species:

Elephants

Key Fact:

8% of population poached per year — an unsustainable rate

Species:

Black Rhinos

Key Fact:

About 5,000 individuals remain — down from an estimated 100,000 in 1960

Species:

Pangolins

Key Fact:

The world's most trafficked animal

  • Highly trained and expertly handled, our sniffer dogs are deployed in airports, seaports, and at border checkpoints to detect wildlife contraband.
  • Our dogs are also working in the field, tracking poachers from their kill sites directly to their hideouts.

Key Fact:

A dog’s nose can detect scents up to 100,000 times better than a human’s.

KEY FACT:

Sniffer dogs are fast and efficient. At [redacted] Airport in [redacted], they search about 700,000 pieces of cargo every day.

Key Fact:

Canines for Conservation is responsible for 90% of the larger ivory busts made by all agencies in [redacted].

WELL TRAINED DOGS ARE...

  • INCORRUPTIBLE
  • ACCURATE, EFFICIENT, & FAST
  • A POWERFUL DETERRENT TO POACHERS & TRAFFICKERS
  • AN ELEPHANT’S BEST FRIEND
AWF NEEDS YOUR HELP TO EXPAND CANINES FOR CONSERVATION SO WE CAN RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND DEPLOY MORE SNIFFER DOGS.
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Code Name:

The Super Sleuth

Canine ID#: 00135

Breed:

Pointer x Vizsla

Age:

6 Years

In Field:

[Redacted]

Fact:

Don’t be fooled by his happy-go-lucky playful antics. This agent’s sharp focus on sniffing out contraband has made many poachers in the [redacted] region fearful of him.

Field Location:

NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS:

These dogs not only detect ivory and rhino horn, they’re also sniffing out other wildlife contraband including pangolin scales, live tortoises, and bushmeat.

Code Name:

The Master Inspector

Canine ID#: 00041

Breed:

German Shorthaired Pointer

Age:

5 YEARS

In Field:

[Redacted]

FACT:

The agent works tirelessly, and her methods are relentless. No matter how carefully poachers think they’ve hidden their contraband, she’ll be sure to get to it — and alert authorities at [redacted] immediately!

Field Location:

NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS:

Since the program was established in 2014, the dogs are responsible for almost 300 busts. Around that same period, AWF’s law enforcement trainings have raised conviction rates from about 45% to more than 90%.

Code Name:

The Stalwart

Canine ID#: 00025

Breed:

Malinois

Age:

6 YEARS

In Field:

[Redacted]

FACT:

This tough guy from Holland secretly loves hugs — but he likes to keep that from poachers who fear his spot-on instinct and drive!

Field Location:

NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS:

Sniffer dogs check luggage at airports, cargo at seaports, and cars at checkpoints — with a 90% accuracy rate. They can detect contraband hidden in a car in less than 12 seconds and hidden in luggage in mere seconds.

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Help deploy the next unit of canine heroes.

Defend Africa’s beloved wildlife from poaching.