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Dogs sniff out endangered animals

Words by Abi Scaife

Two very special dogs are helping save endangered Pangolins.

Tell me more.

Pangolins are small, adorable, animals, that are covered in scales. You probably know them as the animals that curl up in a ball when they feel scared or threatened.

They are incredibly rare animals that have been hunted for generations. Many people believe their scales have medicinal properties, but excessive hunting has left them endangered.

How are dogs helping them?

Two lovely labradors Buster and Bess have just graduated from a training programme with the police. They will be flying out to Thailand in April, to help sniff out animals, just like the endangered pangolin.

Pangolins, and other endangered animals, are often smuggled out of their native countries - and Buster and Bess are just the crack team to stop them.

They even had special training at the London Zoo, and will now make their way to Thailand where they will patrol roads, airports and ports to prevent animal smugglers from taking these precious animals out of the country.

If you want to help endangered animals like Buster and Bess, you can do so by supporting the charity United for Wildlife.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Life on Land.

This article aligns with the following UN SDGs

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