Aaranyak, one of India’s biodiversity conservation organizations, on Tuesday, mourned the passing away of its first K9 unit member, Zorba.

 

Zorba is one of the Belgian Malinois tacking dogs of the Aaranyak K9 unit was immensely instrumental in hunting down anti-poachers in Assam. Due to age and current health issues, Zorba passed away.

 

Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, the CEO of Aaranyak, has expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of this K9 hero and said “Our K9 squad, including Zorba, helped forest officials locate poachers’ exit routes following rhino poaching incidents, resulting in arrests of the culprits by police and forest officials. Zorba’s contribution during his lifetime will always be remembered and we will always regard him as a conservation hero,” 

 

With an 8-year career covering several rhino protection areas in Assam – Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, and Orang National Park, Zorba was actively engaged in anti-poaching operations. 

 

In the last eight years, Zorba helped wildlife officials track down more than 60 poachers in the state and was ferociously involved in anti-poaching operations.

 

After being relieved from duty in December 2019, Zorba was in intensive care in Aaranyak’s K9 unit center.