Sawai Madhopur: In a major step toward strengthening wildlife protection, the first sniffer dog squad has been deployed in the renowned Ranthambore National Park, famous across India and globally for its tiger population and rich biodiversity.
The initiative, led by the Forest Department, aims to intensify the crackdown on wildlife crimes and poaching activities in and around the park.
Sniffer Dog ‘Lucy’ to Lead Wildlife Crime Investigations
At the heart of this newly deployed dog squad is Lucy, a highly trained female Belgian Malinois, sponsored by WWF India. Known for their exceptional intelligence and scent-tracking abilities, the Belgian Malinois breed is used globally in military, police, and conservation roles.
Rajasthan Forest Department’s first sniffer dog squad is ready for action at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve! 🐾 pic.twitter.com/khjTf8oN3s
— Rajasthan Forest Department (@ForestRajasthan) August 9, 2025
According to Ranthambhore DFO and 2014 batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Ramanand Bhakar, Lucy’s deployment marks a first in the park’s conservation history. He noted that the dog squad will play a vital role in detecting illegal activities, identifying culprits, and supporting real-time investigations.
“The forest department will now be able to monitor and investigate crimes in an active and scientific manner. The sniffer dog squad will be instrumental in identifying people involved in wildlife crimes,” said DFO Bhakar.
Trained by ITBP in Panchkula
Lucy’s training was conducted over seven months at the ITBP Dog Training Centre in Panchkula, under the guidance of handler Mukut Meena and assistant Rohit Meena. The team is now fully equipped to assist forest rangers in patrolling, evidence collection, and tracking offenders through scent trails.
A Timely Move Amid Rising Poaching Incidents
The deployment comes in response to a series of poaching incidents reported in various zones of the park, where wild animals were killed and meat was sold illegally. While forest officials had earlier carried out crackdowns, the inclusion of a sniffer dog squad is expected to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of investigations.
The dog squad will assist in tracking poachers, recovering animal parts, and providing support in prosecution cases by helping collect scent-based forensic evidence.
High Hopes for Lucy in the Wild
Lucy is expected to patrol sensitive areas and assist during joint raids and intelligence-based operations. Her keen sense of smell will help in detecting hidden contraband such as animal skins, bones, or traps.
Officials believe the initiative will act as a strong deterrent against poachers and encourage more scientific conservation enforcement mechanisms.
