With reference to Aaranyak's K9 unit, consider the following statements: 1. The unit assisted in tracking over 100 poachers in Assam. 2. The K9 unit is India's first dog squad dedicated to wildlife crime. 3. The unit was established in 2015 to protect wildlife habitats. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Belgian Malinois Zorba helped track 60+ poachers and 30 arrests in Assam wildlife habitats

GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Species, protected areas & wetlands· Prelims· 4 November 2026

Wildlife conservation strategies: a GS3 case study on specialized K9 units and anti-poaching operations.

Why in news

The death of Zorba, a Belgian Malinois and the first dog of Aaranyak’s K9 unit, was highlighted for his role in tracking over 60 poachers in Assam's wildlife habitats.

Background

Zorba was a Belgian Malinois who served in Aaranyak's K9 unit, India's first dog squad dedicated to wildlife crime. He assisted in 18 successful operations and nearly 30 arrests in Assam, including Kaziranga National Park.

Facts for Prelims

EnvironmentBelgian Malinois: A breed of dog used in India's first wildlife crime K9 unit.
BodyAaranyak: A biodiversity conservation organisation that established the K9 unit in 2011.
FactZorba assisted in tracking more than 60 poachers and nearly 30 arrests.

Prelims practice question

With reference to Aaranyak's K9 unit, consider the following statements:

The unit assisted in tracking over 100 poachers in Assam.
The K9 unit is India's first dog squad dedicated to wildlife crime.
The unit was established in 2015 to protect wildlife habitats.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)2 only
(b)1 and 2 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Show answer

Answer: (a) 2 only — Statement 2 is correct. Statement 1 is incorrect: The unit assisted in tracking over 60 poachers. Statement 3 is incorrect: The unit was established in 2011.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the role of specialized K9 units and community-led conservation models in combating organized wildlife poaching in India's protected areas.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Technological and biological synergy: Utilizing canine olfactory capabilities to overcome limitations of human tracking in dense vegetation.
Institutional collaboration: The role of NGOs like Aaranyak in augmenting state forest department capabilities for wildlife protection.

Keywords: Wildlife Crime · K9 Unit · Conservation Strategy · Anti-poaching · Biodiversity Protection

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note How notes are made Source: Times of India ↗Also: GS1 · Places in news / mapping

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