Page 20 - KGR 2020 Review Book

K9 MAKOMBA-NDLELA

In April, counter poaching rangers from Karingani joined forces with rangers
from Kruger National Park, South Africa when poachers’ spoors were found
crossing the border. Kruger rangers tracked the spoor to a fresh lion carcass
which had its face and feet removed. There has been an alarming increase
in lion targeted poaching since 2014 with teeth and claws being the most
frequently harvested body parts. A recent study found that in the nearby
Limpopo National Park, Mozambique, targeted poaching of lions for body parts
accounted for 61% of human caused lion mortalities. This emerging threat puts
pressure on a species already threatened with human-wildlife conflict, loss of
habitat, dwindling prey densities, ceremonial killings and more and could have
devastating effects on lion populations. Lion populations have declined by
nearly half in the past 25 years from across all of Africa.
Karingani cold scent tracking K9 “Makomba-Ndlela” picked up the trail from the
Karingani side. The tracks led to abandoned supplies along with lion paws that
had the claws removed. Karingani’s skilled rangers continued on the trail led by
The Delta-1 Special Opeations Group and K9 Makomba-Ndela K9 Makomba, who was hot on the poachers’ scent. The team apprehended one
March 2020 suspect along with a firearm, backpacks, gear and the poached lion teeth and
claws.

The suspect stated that the poaching group was intending to poach rhinos in
Kruger National Park when they were confronted by a pride of seven plus lions.
Thanks to the fast responding, valiant rangers of the Karingani anti-poaching
team, K9 Makomba and with collaboration with Kruger National Park’s Anti-
Poaching Unit, one less poacher is on the loose and the poached lion parts will
never make it to the illegal black market.

K9 Makomba-Ndlela, a bloodhound/Doberman cross whose name means “the
one who shows us the way,” arrived at Karingani Game Reserve late November
2019 from South Africa after completing an intensive training course by dog-
trainer Gaven Holden-Smith of Holden-Smith Tracking and Conservation in
scent detection and tracking. He was matched up with his counter poaching
handlers, that form part of the Karingani Special Operations Group who have
received specialised training in handling sniffer dogs.
Hounds are renown for possessing strong natural scenting instincts which
along with the canines’ ability to navigate difficult terrain make them a valuable
K9 Makomba and handlers regularly practice tracking to improve and continue the team’s skills addition to counter poaching measures. They can “cold scent track” which
March 2020