Kaziranga’s Top Sniffer Dog Retires After Elite Anti-Poaching Career

Guwahati: K9 Leon hung up his vest on August 15. The Belgian Malinois, famously dubbed Kaziranga’s super sniffer, spent eight years hunting down criminals. He joined the force in November 2018 after a year of specialized training.

Leon logged over 200 patrols and 30 major operations. He served alongside the Assam Forest Department and Assam Police. His work took him through harsh terrain and unpredictable weather. Handlers Anil Kumar Das and Mrigen Das guided him throughout his long, decorated career.

During the 2019 floods, Leon tracked a suspect for 20 kilometers through forest camps and checkpoints. That pursuit ended with the capture of a rhino poacher. In 2023, he led forest staff to evidence near a deer carcass in Bokakhat, which led to the arrest of four suspects. He also branched into human crime. By 2025, he helped police track down four suspects involved in a Golaghat gold theft.

NABU International provided support for the dog since 2017. The organization, alongside the Aaranyak K9 Sniffer Dog Squad, praised the animal for his work. Aaranyak confirmed the dog remains in good hands. They noted, "Leon would continue to receive proper care during his retirement," ending his service to the greater one-horned rhinoceros and his home state.