08/10/2022
🐕🦺 North Luangwa is known for their black rhino population within Zambia, amazing scenery, as well as their newer tourist community self-catering campsites. But within North Luangwa lies a shining initiative that is little known to the outside world, the Canine Unit. The highly effective detection unit started in late 2015 with 5 handlers and is currently on 5 dogs and 16 handlers. They have facilitated over 800 apprehensions with illegal wildlife products and aided in removing over 600 illegal fi****ms from the criminal system that were for poaching across the northern part of Zambia. North Luangwa Canine Unit proudly promotes gender equality, with currently with 10 women and 6 men, highly trained and extremely effective in the field. The NLCP links livelihoods and landscapes by selecting handlers directly from the communities around the national park, which gives rangers a sense of ownership and pride.
Over the past 6 years, several instances of Certification on the canine unit have been completed, allowing the unit to get outside opinions from some of the best canine practices in the world. American Society for Canine Trainers has been a big part of our growth and knowledge during every certification. During the last couple of months, we had a visit from Dr. Chris Aycock, the President of ASCT, for the certification of all 16 handlers and we are pleased to announce that all 7 newly trained handlers have passed the certification with some exceeding expectations.
Frankfurt Zoological Society wysscampaign
