Guwahati: After eight years of tracking suspects and protecting Kaziranga’s wildlife, K9 Leon has retired from duty.The Belgian Malinois joined Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve’s sniffer-dog squad on Nov 1, 2018. He took part in more than 30 specialised operations and over 200 patrols, park DFO Arun Vignesh said.“After retirement, Leon has been handed over to the environmental conservation NGO Aaranyak, which had given Leon to the park,” he added.Aaranyak secretary general Bibhab Kr Talukdar said Leon worked with handlers Anil Kumar Das and Mrigen Das, supporting forest and police teams in anti-poaching operations.During the 2019 floods, Leon followed a suspect’s scent trail for nearly 20 km across camps and checkpoints, helping identify and apprehend a rhino poacher, Talukdar said.In 2023, he helped forest personnel track evidence and apprehend four suspected poachers after a deer carcass was found. In 2025, he assisted Assam Police in a gold theft case in Golaghat, helping identify and arrest four people.“Through extreme weather, challenging riverine terrain and complex operational conditions, the super sniffer consistently displayed exceptional discipline, sharp instincts and unwavering loyalty,” Talukdar said.Kaziranga has three Belgian Malinois dogs, while Manas, Pobitora, Orang and Burhachapuri each have one. All were provided by Aaranyak.“Leon may no longer be heading out on patrol, but the trails he followed, the cases he helped crack and the wildlife he helped protect leave behind a lasting legacy in Kaziranga and Assam’s conservation landscape,” Talukdar said.Leon will stay with Aaranyak.
