Norfolk-trained dogs to help save endangered animals in Africa

Daryll Pleasants, right, of the Norfolk charity Animals Saving Animals, and James Wozencroft, trainer, encouraging the two Belgian Malinois dogs being trained as anti-poaching dogs, to get on the helicopter despite the downdraft from the rotor blades during their training at Norwich Airport. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Luna and Savas, two Belgian Malinois, recently passed a critical phase in their training ahead of their deployment to Botswana later in the year when they undertook a helicopter flight from the SaxonAir hangar at Norwich International Airport.

The dogs were accompanied by handlers Giles Clark, a patron of Animals Saving Animals (ASA), and trainer James Wozencroft while project head Daryll Pleasants looked on.

Mr Pleasants said the training session had been a huge success.

'The training and environmental experience the two dogs obtained is really invaluable to their future roles as anti-poaching dogs,' he said.

Six-month-old Luna, one of the Belgian Malinois dogs being trained as an anti-poaching dogs by the Norfolk charity Animals Saving Animals ready for the training at Norwich Airport to get her used to helicopters. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

'With ever evolving poaching practises the helicopter allows anti-poaching teams fast deployment to an incident, but for a young dog facing both downdraft and rotor noise this is initially a scary experience.

'To be given helicopter time by SaxonAir allows us to de-sensitise them to this.'

ASA has already trained and delivered 23 anti-poaching dogs to Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Luna and Savas will be the first deployed in Botswana and will work in the Okavango Delta.

Savas, one of the Belgian Malinois dogs being trained by the Norfolk charity Animals Saving Animals as an anti-poaching dog, at Norwich Airport ready for the training to get him used to helicopters. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Neil Aldridge of Rhino Conservation Botswana said the dogs would be based in Maun in the north of the country.

'The anti-poaching work going on in Botswana is excellent at the moment and there isn't really a poaching problem in the country,' he said.

'The dogs will give us another means to keep up the good work.'

Mr Pleasants said once they arrived in the country the dogs would be introduced to their new handlers.

Daryll Pleasants, left, of the Norfolk charity Animals Saving Animals, and James Wozencroft, trainer, with six-month-old Luna, left, and Savas, both Belgian Malinois dogs being trained as anti-poaching dogs, during training getting them used to helicopters at Norwich Airport. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

'The dogs adapt quickly to the change in climate and are given a minimum of 10 days to settle in,' he said.

'They will then go through a six month training period in the field in Botswana and once ready their primary use will be for tracking and searching out weapons, ammunition and associated items.'

• Anti-poaching dog sections have become an essential part of conservation work but are expensive to maintain. If you would like to help sponsor a dog visit: Animals Saving Animals

Daryll Pleasants of the Norfolk charity Animals Saving Animals, with six-month-old Luna, one of the Belgian Malinois dogs being trained as an anti-poaching dog, ready for training to get her used to helicopters at Norwich Airport. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

A breed apart

Belgian Malinois dogs are used by police and special forces around the world.

James Wozencroft, trainer, holds Savas, one of the Belgian Malinois dogs being trained as anti-poaching dogs by Norfolk charity Animals Saving Animals, with Daryll Pleasants, left, during training getting the dogs used to helicopters at Norwich Airport. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

The breed is similar to German shepherds but smaller, more compact an more athletic said dog trainer James Wozencroft.

'They are a tough, hardy dog with a high 'prey drive' (predatory instincts) making them ideal for this sort of work,' he said.

Daryll Pleasants of Animals Saving Animals said a lot of care went in to choosing the right dog for the project.

'Generally we will select one pup from a litter to start training with us.

James Wozencroft, trainer for the Norfolk charity Animals Saving Animals, encourages Savas, one of the Belgian Malinois dogs being trained as an anti-poaching dog safely away from a helicopter despite the downdraft from the rotor blades during his training at Norwich Airport. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

'They are initially selected at 10 weeks and through puppy tests we are looking for certain character traits including being friendly - approachable but suspicious - courageous and to have high prey drive.

'Our service dogs our will encounter live situations on a regular basis so throughout their foundation course we are looking for continuity of character. The training is designed to place them in a wide variety of scenarios that tests this.'

James Wozencroft, trainer for the Norfolk charity Animals Saving Animals, encourages Savas, one of the Belgian Malinois dogs being trained as an anti-poaching dog, safely away from a helicopter despite the downdraft from the rotor blades during his training at Norwich Airport. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2018)

Daryll Pleasants of the Norfolk charity Animals Saving Animals, carries Luna, one of the Belgian Malinois dogs being trained as an anti-poaching dog, safely away from a helicopter despite the downdraft from the rotor blades during her training at Norwich Airport. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)