Good Girl Shinga: The canine hero fighting wildlif...

Good Girl Shinga: The canine hero fighting wildlife crime

When it comes to good dogs, this girl might just be the very best. Shinga, a Belgian Malinois bred and trained in the UK, tracked a poacher 4.5km to his own front door after an illegal warthog killing in Zimbabwe

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

In a remarkable display of canine prowess, Shinga, a Belgian Malinois, has proven herself a true hero in the fight against wildlife crime. This four-legged detective, trained in the UK, recently tracked a poacher for a staggering 4.5 kilometers, leading to the arrest of the culprit.

Shinga, deployed to Zimbabwe’s Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy, is part of a specialized conservation dog unit. When a recent radio call alerted the team to poachers targeting warthogs, Shinga was immediately dispatched. The poachers had managed to kill a warthog and flee back to their community, but Shinga’s keen sense of smell and unwavering determination led her straight to the poacher’s doorstep.

Darren Priddle, founder of Dogs 4 Wildlife, praised Shinga’s incredible work: "This incident highlights the invaluable role of our conservation dogs in combating wildlife crime. Shinga's dedication and skill are truly inspiring."

Jacqui Law, co-founder of Dogs 4 Wildlife, emphasized the devastating impact of snare poaching: "Snare poaching is a cruel and indiscriminate practice that causes immense suffering to countless animals. We're grateful for the hard work of our teams and dogs in protecting wildlife and holding poachers accountab