This dog tracked a poacher for 20 km. Meet K9 Leon, Kaziranga's super sniffer

K9 Leon spent nearly eight years protecting Kaziranga as a wildlife sniffer dog. From tracking a suspected rhino poacher through floodwaters to cracking a gold theft case, his nose helped solve cases across Assam.K9 Leon, a Belgian Malinois, spent nearly eight years helping protect Kaziranga from wildlife crime. He completed over 200 patrols and 30 specialised operations. (Image: X/@aaranyak)In the floodwaters of Kaziranga in 2019, a trail was nearly impossible for humans to follow. But K9 Leon had another advantage: his nose. The Belgian Malinois followed the scent of a suspected rhino poacher for nearly 20 km, moving through forest camps and security checkpoints. His tracking helped investigators identify and apprehend the suspect. It was one of the most memorable moments in Leon’s nearly eight-year career as a wildlife sniffer dog in Assam.On August 15, 2026, the four-legged crime-fighter retired from active service, leaving behind more than 200 patrols and over 30 specialised operations. Screengrab of the X post by @@aaranyak LEON’S EIGHT YEARS ON THE FRONTLINELeon joined active field duty in November 2018 after completing a 12-month specialised training programme in scent tracking and anti-poaching operations.He worked with his handlers, Anil Kumar Das and Mrigen Das, alongside the Assam Forest Department, Assam Police, Kaziranga authorities and Aaranyak’s K9 Sniffer Dog Squad. Over the years, the Kaziranga sniffer dog became an important part of wildlife crime investigations. Leon was not only deployed to track poachers. In 2023, he helped forest personnel track evidence after a deer carcass was found, leading to the apprehension of four suspected poachers.FROM RHINO POACHING TO A GOLD THEFT CASELeon’s remarkable nose also proved useful outside wildlife crime. In 2025, he assisted Assam Police in a gold theft investigation in Golaghat. His scent-tracking work helped investigators identify and arrest four people in the case.His career shows why trained sniffer dogs have become useful tools for forest and police teams. They can follow scent trails and locate evidence in terrain where conventional searches can be difficult.KAZIRANGA BIDS FAREWELL TO LEONAfter nearly eight years of service, Leon retired on August 15 during an Independence Day ceremony at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.He will now stay with Aaranyak, the organisation that provided him to the park. Kaziranga currently has three Belgian Malinois dogs supporting its wildlife protection efforts, while other protected areas in Assam also have K9 teams.For a dog whose career began with a nose trained to find hidden trails, Leon leaves behind a long list of them, including the 20-km trail that once led investigators to a suspected rhino poacher.- EndsPublished By: vaishnavi parasharPublished On: Aug 29, 2026 15:43 IST