Animal Care learners in Haverfordwest had a unique opportunity to hear first-hand about the use of trained dogs in Africa to combat poaching.

Pembrokeshire College’s Animal Care department welcomed Dogs 4 Wildlife co-founders and the Head of Anti-Poaching at Imire Rhino & Wildlife Conservation to deliver an engaging presentation on canine training practices to tackle poaching in Africa.

Head of Anti-Poaching, Tinashe Chandiwana travelled to the UK from Zimbabwe to help promote Dogs 4 Wildlife’s dedication to wildlife conservation and protection. In their pursuit of raising awareness of poaching in Africa, the Dogs 4 Wildlife team recently featured on ITV’s This Morning show with Dermot O’Learey and Alison Hammond and are currently filming with Channel 5 for a new series of ‘Super Dogs.’

Dogs 4 Wildlife co-founders, Jacqui Law and Darren Priddle have established the supply and training of dogs to support anti-poaching units in catching poachers of ivory and rhino horn, but also those hunting bush meat. They have provided dogs to units in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa and recently to Gabon as there is now a huge market in poaching forest elephants for their ivory.

To support the Dogs 4 Wildlife organisation, Jacqui and Darren also train dogs for the police, the military and security firms whilst also working with the public to help train problematic domestic dogs.

Animal Care Lecturer, Phil Beckett said:"The event was both inspirational and informative, providing our learners with first-hand insight into the training of dogs to assist anti-poaching teams. The learners were also provided with the unique opportunity to listen to the Head Ranger, Tinashe Chandiwana, about the everyday struggle to maintain the wild animal population for our future generations.

“As a fairly local organisation, the teaching team and learners, will be looking to further develop industrial and educational links between Dogs 4 Wildlife and Pembrokeshire College. These links will provide opportunities for our learners to see dog training in action, plus unique opportunities to travel to the African continent.

“What an amazing life experience for our future conservationists".

Dogs 4 Wildlife co-founders, Jacqui and Darren commented:“It was an absolute pleasure to visit Pembrokeshire College with Dogs 4 Wildlife and Tinashe who is visiting us for his first UK trip from Imire Rhino and

Wildlife Conservation in Zimbabwe, thank you to everyone for your time and the opportunity to visit the college.

“Working with younger generations to spread our message and highlight our work is so important to us. The pressing need to protect and restore our planet has never been more urgent.

“The good news is that environmental issues are now at the top of the global agenda and what is so inspiring is that this cause is now being spearheaded by an amazing and united generation of young people across the world. Young people ARE the future of conservation.

“We have the power to make a change. Together, if we harness the very best of humankind, and restore our planet, we will protect it for our children, for our grandchildren and for future generations to come.”