Zorba -India’s first dog on anti poacher duty has died of old age in Guwahati. The dog aged 12 was a male Belgian Malinois and was a member of ‘K9’, the nation’s first dog squad to fight wildlife crime and track down poachers .
The K9 dog squad, comprising six Belgian Malinois dogs along with their handlers, has been actively assisting forest and police officials in Kaziranga and Manas National Parks as well as other rhino-inhabited areas in Assam resulting in the arrest of many poachers by law enforcement agencies.
According to reports , Zorba was the first dog of the squad and during his service had been actively helping the law enforcement authorities to nab over 60 poachers.
In 2019 Zorba retired from service and earlier this year on Independence Day ,he was honoured with a traditional Assamese ‘gamosa’ and a citation.
During his service from 2012 till his retirement he mostly assisted in the Kaziranga National Park to nab rhino poachers. Zorba was also deployed in other national parks on several occasions.
According to reports during one operation at the Orang National Park, Zorba was credited for giving vital clues from a crime scene leading to the identification of the suspect’s house outside the park, following which the suspect was arrested later.
Retired from active duty, Zorba was under the care of his handler for the last few years.
In 2011, India’s first dog squad for wildlife crimes was set up in Assam under the initiative of biodiversity organisation ‘Aaranyak’.
The chief executive officer of Aaranyak Bibhab Talukdar ,said, ”Zorba’s contribution during his lifetime will always be remembered and we will always regard him as a conservation hero,”
Moreover while addressing zorba as an inspiration ,Anil Kumar Das who was zorba’s handler mentioned about having rich memories with him.
After his death he was given a teary farewell by wildlife activists and was buried here on Tuesday.
Zorba , one of first Belgian Malinois tracking dogs to be pressed into anti poaching operations in the rhino bearing areas of Assam, breathed his last this evening.
Zorba was not only instrumental in apprehending many poachers but also had thwarted many poaching attempts. pic.twitter.com/5EZv5Hol7Z
— Assam Forest Department (@assamforest) November 21, 2022
