Mudhol hounds Chandra and Kala safeguard sandalwood trees in Shikaripura forests

Four-year-old Chandra and three-year-old Kala have a significant role in the Chandrakala State Forest, known for the cultivation of sandalwood (Sandalum album) in Shikaripura taluk of Shivamogga district.

The Mudhol hounds, brought from the Canine Research and Information Centre in Bagalkot district, have been assisting the Forest Department in guarding the forest produce from poachers and other illegal activities.

Named after forest

The staff named them Chandra and Kala to match the name of the forest. They are under the care of forest watchers Beerappa and Gurunath. The dogs respond to signals and orders given by their caretakers. They are also friendly with the other staff in the department. They have been trained to detect any unusual activity that the staff might miss in the thick forests.

“A few days ago, a group of people attempted to cut sandalwood. Due to the timely response by the staff, the poachers fled the place. The staff reached the place with the hounds, and they sniffed out liquor the poachers had left behind. We could trace where it was purchased from and were able to identify the suspects,” said Revanasiddaiah B. Hiremath, Range Forest Officer of Shikaripur.

Fast and fierce

Chandrakala State Forest, a dry deciduous forest spread over 3,169 hectares (7,832 acres), is rich with diverse vegetation. It is known for sandalwood cultivation. Several patches of the forest area are so dense that human beings find it difficult to enter. “The very presence of Mudhol hounds adds extra strength to the team entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the forest. The dogs sense any suspicious activity, smell the presence of a foreign element and run fast. This helps the staff in a big way,” said Mr. Hiremath.

The watchers take care of the two hounds. They have separate shelter homes, next to the residence of forest watcher Beerappa, at Suragihalli in Shikaripur taluk. They are provided with rice, egg, milk, chicken and meat. “They consult veterinarians for vaccination and treatment whenever necessary,” the officer said.

Replicable model

The officers and staff feel that the very presence of Mudhol hounds in the forests deters poachers. Besides Shikaripur, the department has a hound in Shiralakoppa range as well. “Senior officers who visited Chandrakala forest recently appreciated the role being played by the hounds in protecting the forests. A similar experiment could be implemented in other areas,” Mr. Hiremath added.