Meet Lumi (right) and Cooper (left), Gabon's newest weapons in the fight against rampant poaching.
Gabon's sniffing detectives —
Meet Lumi (right) and Cooper (left), Gabon's newest weapons in the fight against rampant poaching.
RSTARKEY WCS/ANPN
The two dogs are trained to detect ivory, leopard skin, shark fin, bushmeat and other contraband.
Gabon's sniffing detectives —
The two dogs are trained to detect ivory, leopard skin, shark fin, bushmeat and other contraband.
RSTARKEY WCS/ANPN
Lumi, a highly energetic cocker spaniel, is "absolutely perfect for the job," according to his trainer Louise Wilson, of Wagtail UK. "He is very enthusiastic -- you could say to the point of obsessive -- for a tennis ball." Once they make a find, the dogs are given a ball as a reward.
Gabon's sniffing detectives —
Lumi, a highly energetic cocker spaniel, is "absolutely perfect for the job," according to his trainer Louise Wilson, of Wagtail UK. "He is very enthusiastic -- you could say to the point of obsessive -- for a tennis ball." Once they make a find, the dogs are given a ball as a reward.
RSTARKEY WCS/ANPN
Calmer than Lumi, Cooper is an intelligent red-colored labrador. Together, the two dogs form a "perfect team."
Gabon's sniffing detectives —
Calmer than Lumi, Cooper is an intelligent red-colored labrador. Together, the two dogs form a "perfect team."
RSTARKEY WCS/ANPN
The four-legged detectives are regularly deployed in a number of locations in and around Gabon's capital Libreville, including Owendo port.
Gabon's sniffing detectives —
The four-legged detectives are regularly deployed in a number of locations in and around Gabon's capital Libreville, including Owendo port.
RSTARKEY WCS/ANPN
Along with their handlers, they frequently search luggage at the international airport ...
Gabon's sniffing detectives —
Along with their handlers, they frequently search luggage at the international airport ...
RSTARKEY WCS/ANPN
... as well as passengers' bags at Libreville's train station.
Gabon's sniffing detectives —
... as well as passengers' bags at Libreville's train station.
RSTARKEY WCS/ANPN
"We train the dog to think that the tennis ball comes from where the scent is," says Wilson. The trainers start by hiding bits of ivory and putting a tennis ball with it; over time, the dog begins to associate finding the ball with smelling the ivory.
Gabon's sniffing detectives —
"We train the dog to think that the tennis ball comes from where the scent is," says Wilson. The trainers start by hiding bits of ivory and putting a tennis ball with it; over time, the dog begins to associate finding the ball with smelling the ivory.
RSTARKEY WCS/ANPN
Wilson says the sniffer dogs' biggest advantage is their ability to search fast and efficiently, without bias.
Gabon's sniffing detectives —
Wilson says the sniffer dogs' biggest advantage is their ability to search fast and efficiently, without bias.
RSTARKEY WCS/ANPN
Cooper searching passengers' bags at Libreville's train station.
Gabon's sniffing detectives —
Cooper searching passengers' bags at Libreville's train station.
RSTARKEY WCS/ANPN