An organization in Bozeman, Montana, is training shelter dogs to help African law enforcement save endangered animals from poachers and enforce other laws.
Mike Edlinger, a Madison East Rotary member, presented a video and talked about the work at the Feb. 15 Waunakee Rotary meeting.
For the PBS documentary, several biologists with Working Dogs for Conservation were interviewed. They recognized the value of the dogs for sniffing out contraband. The hope is their work will protect rhinos and elephants, whose populations are facing extinction.
Right now, Africa is facing the greatest poaching crisis in decades and fighting a war driven by an insatiable demand for ivory.
Around 23 dogs have been trained and more are in training, according to Dr. Megan Parker, director of research who was interviewed for the PBS special on Working Dogs for Conservation. She said there’s nothing better than a dog for searching a building or vehicle for contraband such ivory or firearms. The dogs learn to ignore all other scents other than the one targeted. They’ve been used in other conservation projects in the United States, as well.
The dogs are usually difficult to adopt out because they are so active and require a great deal of work.
The dogs train for four months before going to Zambia where they work with handlers who are law enforcement officers. Their trainers in the U.S. visit once a year.
There they help search vehicle at road blocks where law enforcement can arrest poachers with ivory or illegal weapons.
Once the dogs are ready to retire, they either are adopted by their Zambian handlers or sent back to Working Dogs for Conservation.
Michael said the dogs are also used in Chile to protect panthers, and in the U.S., but funding is needed to support the training. He and another Madison East Club member plan to apply for a matching grant from Rotary, and will ask the club to partner with project.

 

Other news:
–The club inducted Jim FitzPatrick as a new member. Welcome, Jim!
–The club donated $5,000 to the Waunakee sculpture project at the high school. That brings the club’s contribution to the project to $7,500. Nick Mischler, who is helping to lead the project, announced that it has raised $83,525.
-The Whitetails Dinner is Feb. 20 If you are helping out, show up at 5 p.m.

Guests: Guy Stratton, guest of Mark McFarland.  

Visiting Rotarians: Mike Edlinger (speaker), Madison West.

 

Birthdays: Feb. 24, Danny Paul.

 

Anniversaries: None.

 

Greeters: Feb. 22, Scott Biba and Connie Blau; March 1, Michael Blodgett and Jonny Buroker; March 8, Kathy Cefalu and Tasha Chambers.