K9 Leon, a Belgian Malinois who spent nearly eight years supporting anti-poaching operations and crime investigations in Assam, has retired from active service at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
Leon retired on August 15 after completing more than 200 patrols and over 30 specialised operations with the Assam Forest Department and Assam Police. He joined active service in November 2018 after completing a 12-month specialised training programme.
During the 2019 floods, Leon tracked a suspect’s scent for nearly 20 km across forest camps and security checkpoints, helping authorities identify and arrest a suspected rhino poacher. In 2023, he helped forest personnel locate evidence and track four suspects following the recovery of a poached deer carcass in Bokakhat.
His skills were also used in criminal investigations. In 2025, Leon assisted Assam Police in a gold theft case in Golaghat, helping investigators identify and arrest four suspects.
Leon worked alongside handlers Anil Kumar Das and Mrigen Das in challenging weather and terrain. He was supported by NABU International since 2017 as part of efforts to strengthen wildlife crime prevention.
The Aaranyak K9 Sniffer Dog Squad, Assam Forest Department and Assam Police expressed gratitude for Leon’s contribution to wildlife protection, particularly the conservation of the endangered greater one-horned rhinoceros. Aaranyak said he would continue to receive proper care during his retirement.
