Karnataka's tiger reserves now have an extra edge in fighting wildlife crime. Ten specially trained dogs have completed a year of tough training at Bandipur Tiger Reserve. These canine squads will be deployed across five tiger reserves in the state, with two dogs assigned to each reserve. Their job is to help forest staff track scents, detect poachers, and alert teams to any dangers. S. Prabhakaran, director of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, said the dogs and their handlers underwent an intensive training program led by canine behaviour expert Amrut S. Hiranya. “The trained canine squads have now returned to their respective reserves, ready to contribute to the protection of Karnataka’s rich wildlife and natural heritage. This achievement is a testament to the Karnataka government’s commitment to innovative and effective conservation strategies,” he added. Certificates were handed out on December 1 in a graduation-style ceremony, marking the beginning of the dogs’ important work. Forest officials including Naveen Kumar and M. Mallesh joined the event to celebrate this new chapter in wildlife protection.