The Aspinall Foundation, a leading conservation charity, has launched a fund raising appeal to support their team of three highly trained sniffer dogs, in their fight against poachers and wildlife crime in Africa. 

The conservation charity’s crime fighting team – PALF (Project for the Application of Law for Fauna) has been working with sniffer dogs to confiscate bush meat, ivory and live animals from traffickers in the republic of Congo.  Now, the charity is hoping to raise funds to purchase a secure vehicle, enabling the dogs and their handlers to travel safely between zones.

Sarah Tite, Fundraising Manager said: ‘We’ve had great success with our sniffer dog programme.  The handlers and dogs are on the front line in the fight against wildlife crime and we need help to keep them safe whilst travelling long distances, between known trafficking zones and airports.  They are currently relying on taxis and borrowing vehicles where they can.’

The appeal is being hosted on crowd funding site KriticalMass and supporters can donate an amount of their choice. Rewards for donations of £5.00 and upwards include digital photos, T shirts, day entry tickets to Port Lympne Reserve and Howletts Wild Animal Park, or even a trip to visit the sniffer dogs in Africa. The Aspinall Foundation has a target of £9044 to reach and so far, the appeal has raised just under £1,000. 

Sarah added: ‘Any support we can get to raise awareness of our appeal would be fantastic.  From financial donations to sharing our crowd funding page via social media channels, it all helps.’

The sniffer dog team, headed by PALF coordinator, Naftali Honig has been operating for just over 1 year.  Since the operation began the crime busting team have assisted in six arrests of traffickers including convictions, recovered more than a tonne of bush meat and rescued over 100 live tortoises, crocodiles, pangolins and African grey parrots.

Naftali Honig, PALF Coordinator commented: ‘You may not think it, but dogs are key to the survival of Africa’s endangered wildlife. We need your support to ensure specialist sniffer dogs continue to be trained and active on the front line.  With your help, we can stop illegal animal trade.’

For further information including ways to donate please visit https://kriticalmass.com/p/aspinallfoundation