K9 Killer

K9 Killer was a Belgian Malinois dog that worked with the Kruger National Park's Special Operations team to apprehend rhinoceros poachers in South Africa. On 6 January 2016, he was awarded a PDSA Gold Medal for his anti-poaching work.[1][2][3][4] Amos Mzimba is the owner of K9 Killer.[5]

K9 Killer
SpeciesCanis familiaris
BreedBelgian Malinois
SexMale
DiedJune 5, 2020
Occupationanti-poaching work
OwnerAmos Mzimba
AwardsPDSA Gold Medal

K9 Killer died June 5, 2020, accompanied by Mzimba.[6]

Breed background

The Belgian Malinois, a working class dog, can be employed for personal protection and scent tracking. They must receive training so they can channel their high energy drive to tasks that their owners have given them. When Belgian Malinois are young, they require a lot of stimuli from their surroundings so that they can get used to them as they grow older.[7]

The Belgian Malinois is a Belgian herding breed that originated from a small town in Belgium called Malines. The other name for a Belgian Malinois is the Chien de Berger (Bair-zhai) Belge (Belzh). This lively and energetic breed can be family friendly with the proper training and care. It can suffer from health problems, like most other breeds, including diseases like retinal atrophy, and hip and elbow dysplasia. Because of its energy and intelligence, the breed was enlisted in World War I.

Origins

K9 Killer's lineage can be followed to the Iraq war and the Belgian Police. His father had parents that served for the United States in the Iraq War. His mother was bred from two Belgian police dogs and was entered into an exchange program and sent to South Africa.[8]

Canine duties in Kruger National Park

In Kruger National Park canines (trained dogs) are used for tracking and apprehending poachers. This work includes scent detection of firearms and illegal animal parts.[9] Once suspects have been detected in the park, K9 Killer is loaded into a helicopter and flown to a drop off location.[10] As of the last 4 years K9 Killer has led to the arrest of 115 poachers in Kruger National Park.[5] In order for K9 Killer to remain on the scent trails of humans he had to be introduced to the scents of animals in Kruger National Park at a young age. This two-year training program desensitized K9 Killer to the smells of animals.[8]

Kruger National Park suffers from rhinoceros poaching almost daily. Rhinoceros poaching has increased from 13 poached rhinos in 2007 to 1,215 in 2014. K9 Killer and Amos Mzimba have aided in the arrests of more than 115 rhinoceros poachers illegally hunting within the park grounds.[10]

Awards

The PDSA Gold Medal was awarded to K9 Killer in January 2016 for his fight against poaching in South Africa. Through the protection of human and animal life, animals must show dedication to their duties in order to receive the honour.

See also

References
  1. "Supreme honour for South Africa's most successful poacher-hunting dog". PDSA. 7 January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  2. Smith, Sam. "South Africa's K9 Killer receives highest PDSA honour for saving rhino". Traveller24. News24. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  3. Grant, Katie (7 January 2016). "K9 Killer: Dog receives PDSA Gold Medal for helping to save rhino from extinction". The Independent. The Independent.
  4. "Minister Edna Molewa highlights progress in the fight against rhino poaching". environmental affairs. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  5. "Rhino poacher- hunting dog from South Africa gets hero medal". BBC News. 8 January 2016.
  6. "Famous Anti-Poaching Hero Dog, K9 Killer, Sadly Passes Away After Long Illness". 5 June 2020.
  7. "FAQs – ABMC". www.malinoisclub.com. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  8. "Dog trainer testifies about Killer in court | Lowvelder". Lowvelder. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  9. Martin, Guy (28 March 2017). "Anti-poaching dogs a game-changer for Kruger | defenceWeb". www.defenceweb.co.za. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  10. "Poacher-hunting dog gets hero medal". BBC News. 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
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