Support APOPO's Minefield Survey HeroDOGs

Hello and welcome to your latest update on APOPO’s HeroDOGs, which comes on International Dog Day!

In the last quarter, your support has helped our HeroDOGs to find 67 unexploded remnants of war, 73 landmines, and 41 cluster munitions – a total of 181 items in the last quarter, which equates to literally hundreds, if not thousands of people who can now live free from the threat of injury, or even death. Thank you.

In other news, the APOPO team is moving out of South Sudan, and we will take this opportunity to retire several dogs, including Cyklon. Mannes and Gizmo (our HeroDOGs available for adoption on our website) who will also retire later this year.

Our HeroDOGs are usually retired when their work sessions become shorter - beyond a threshold where there is a considerable difference between their productivity and that of a younger dog.

When retiring, all of our HeroDOGs are treated with the same level of care and attention as they are given during their active service. We look forward to finding them their perfect retirement homes in due course and bringing on some new HeroDOG recruits.

Some of our retired HeroDOGs do remain with us to aid in the training of the new HeroDOGs, in which case they enjoy all the same care and attention as our working dogs. 

The exciting news is that we can now introduce our new HeroDOG for adoption, Khai! You can read more about him here: https://apopo.org/herodogs/ 

As you may know, even before the outbreak of war with Russia in 2022, Ukraine grappled with landmine and Explosive Remnant of War (ERW) contamination from previous wars and conflicts in the eastern region of Donbas since 2014. This contamination has increased significantly since war broke out, particularly in areas once occupied by Russian forces, making regions like Mikolaiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy high-priority targets for mine action.

New HeroDOG, Khai, and his handler are now fully trained and ready to begin habituation and the essential task of demining in Ukraine.

Khai is now available for adoption on our website and we would love for you to learn more about them this International Dog Day. Indeed, any support you can show our HeroDOGs today will help save lives.

Here at APOPO, we all wish you a great International Dog Day, and if you have a dog in your life, give them some extra love from us!

You can certainly celebrate that your support of our HeroDOGs thus far, has helped us achieve so much – thank you, and we can’t wait to update you next time! 

Links:

• HeroDOGs website

Welcome to your latest update on our incredible HeroDOGs!  

We're excited to be sending you our latest update on the progress of your support and across the world, the HeroDOGs have excelled in their crucial role of landmine detection. 

In Cambodia, the team's work now involves landmine survey and clearance near the Koh Ker temple complex, a Cambodian site of architectural and cultural value that UNESCO recognized as a World Heritage Site in September 2023.

Thanks to your support, this recognition has led to more visitors to the area, positively impacting the local economy by offering the community new sources of income. Your support of the HeroDOGs’ work in Preah Vihear is important for maintaining the safety of both tourists and locals alike, as well as aiding in the conservation of Cambodia’s cultural heritage. Your support is instrumental in providing safe access to these significant sites and supporting the economic health of the communities around them.  

In January APOPO's HeroDOGs in Cambodia started the year with rigorous training sessions in Kampong Chhang, in preparation for the 2024 external accreditation processes. All the dogs passed the test conducted by the Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC) meaning they could be deployed to active mine clearance areas for another year. Following their successful accreditation the dog teams were assigned to Ratanakiri Province to conduct Technical Surveys for Cluster Munitions, and to Preah Vihear Province focusing on landmine survey and clearance operations in and around the historic Koh Ker temple complex.

In Turkey, thanks to you, we have already managed to clear 455,181 square meters of land since operations began. The HeroDOGs team there has found 67 landmines and 4 explosive remnants of war as well. This amounts to a significant amount of lives saved from injury and harm. 

In South Sudan, as the heat intensifies, the well-being of the HeroDOGs remains our top priority. With temperatures soaring to around 45°C (113°C), we have adapted our routine to ensure the dogs' health and comfort. In March, the team received their scheduled deworming treatment, crucial to maintaining their health during this challenging period.

In response to the extreme weather, we have significantly adjusted our activities with the dogs and we have moved the dogs to state-of-the-art facilities for their wellbeing. These include kennels equipped with air conditioning, offer a much-needed respite from the heat. These kennels ensure that the HeroDOGs can rest and recuperate in a comfortable environment, readying them for their important duties. The HeroDOGs are also not working in any harsh temperatures at all.

As we plan to move to another location, the health and safety of the HeroDOGs and the team continue to guide our decisions. The adjustments to our routine and the use of advanced kennelling solutions demonstrate APOPO's constant commitment to their welfare, ensuring they can continue their valuable work under the best possible conditions. 

Next, as you may know, South Sudan has faced enduring challenges due to decades of conflict, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis and the widespread presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance. As of the end of 2021, the Mine Action Review identified approximately 11.1 km² of land affected by landmines and cluster munitions requiring clearance. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has emphasized the need for enhanced landmine clearance capabilities, including the deployment of mine detection dogs, to expedite the clearing of critical roads throughout the nation.

Since 2017, APOPO has been actively involved in South Sudan, working in partnership with The Development Initiative (TDI) to contribute trained canine teams and personnel for mine detection. These teams operate in various locations, focusing on detecting landmines along key roads and around villages affected by cluster munitions.

In 2023, APOPO's operations expanded through a collaboration with mine clearance company G4S, forming part of the UNMAS Road Clearance Capacity initiative. This effort resulted in the HeroDOG teams surveying and clearing 360,890 m² of mine-contaminated land, significantly improving the safety and accessibility of roads for the movement of people and essential goods across South Sudan. The kennel updates and clearance success would not have been possible without your contributions.

Your support has been instrumental in enabling the HeroDOGs to save lives and restore safety to communities around the world. We are deeply grateful for your continued trust and generosity, our teams cannot continue to work without it.

We look forward to sharing more updates and information about the HeroDOGs achievements with you in the future. Until then, thank you for being a part of our journey towards a safer world.

Links:

• HeroDOGs website