A police dog named Killer risked his life to help arrest 115 poachers over the past four years, saving the lives of many rhinos. He was awarded a medal for helping to save South Africa’s rhinos from scheduled extinction.
This courageous Belgian shepherd from Mali now has many fans, including Prince Harry, who has come to meet him. He has become the most successful dog of all time among those who have worked for the special operations team at the Kruger National Park, South Africa’s largest wildlife reserve.
Alongside handler Amos Mzimba, Killer was dispatched by helicopter to track and arrest any armed poachers spotted. Together, they were deployed throughout the park several times a day. The dog’s work of tracking and detecting suspects early on was essential to keep Amos and the rest of his team out of harm’s way.
“It was an honor to have Killer by my side. It’s very important that he was recognized for his talents and assistance in tracking and apprehending poachers. Thanks to him, we are arresting more poachers but there is still a lot to do if we want to save the rhino from extinction. Killer is therefore invaluable to us in achieving this,” Amos Mzimba told the Daily Mirror.
The number of rhinos killed has risen dramatically in recent years, from 448 in 2011 to 1,215 in 2014. The dog’s efforts to stop this carnage earned him the PDSA gold medal (which can be translated as People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals), the highest distinction that can be awarded to a civilian animal for its courage and dedication. Since the creation of the award in 2001, Killer is only the 24th recipient.
