deployments
Going above and beyond
Pit-Track is a well trained and specialized K9 Anti-Poaching Unit. Our field rangers are DH qualified in the art of human scent tracking and our DH 5 accredited substance detection handlers are all well equipped with knowledge and in field experience to be able to fulfill any function within a dangerous game area. Our unit is deployed in various high-risk key areas on the protection of endangered species and has a belief that there is strength in unity. We strive to provide additional support to various Anti-Poaching Units around Southern Africa by way of much needed equipment on the ground. We have contraband detection K9s, human scent tracking K9s who work as a pack, and patrol and protection K9s, making our unit one of the most diverse in industry. Our accredited wildlife contraband detection K9s assist in outside operational searches when the need arises.
Anti-Poaching
Feel good & leave something good behind
Mdluli Safari Lodge is a sustainable tourism initiative, and each guest’s stay leaves a lasting positive impact.
The lodge is founded on 4 core pillars, namely a partnership with the Mdluli Community, wildlife conservation and preservation, ecological design, and the storytelling guests to this special place will forever carry with them.
The lodge is a blueprint for best practice community development projects in South Africa. Mdluli Safari Lodge is the only lodge in South Africa to have achieved an AA+ ESG (environmental, social, governance) rating.
A story of land reform
After a long journey of land restitution, the Mdluli Community have freehold title of 850 hectares of land inside the borders of the iconic Kruger National Park. Our luxurious private safari lodge was developed with the purpose of sustainable uplifting the lives and infrastructure of the 45,000 strong Mdluli Community who live in villages adjacent to the Park who receive direct financial and indirect social and economic benefits from the lodge’s operations.
The vision has taken years of dedication towards the realisation of this project and a development like this is dependent on establishing a harmonious relationship between tourism, environment, and community.
“I am really excited about this project which was started 20 years ago by our late father, Inkhosi MZ Mdluli.
It was his vision to see the Royal Family and the entire Mdluli Community benefiting through education and community development. I took over where he left off and I am committed in ensuring that under my leadership and guidance, his vision becomes a reality.
Through this project, I undertake to bring stability and social cohesion in the Community, and I also remain convinced that the children of the royal family and the Mdluli Community shall go to universities. Schools, roads, and clinics shall be upgraded, and poverty shall be eradicated through the creation of skills and employment opportunities”.
– Inkhosi MI Mdluli
Senior Traditional Leader
Mdluli Royal Family & Mdluli Traditional Council
Pit-Track K9 Conservation and Anti-Poaching Unit are proud to have embarked on a collaboration with the Mdluli Conservation and Anti-Poaching NPC and NPPA (Noctaum Poaching Prevention Academy) to form a Mdluli K9 Anti-Poaching Unit.
Founded by Petronel Niewoudt in 2001, Care For Wild is the largest rhino orphanage & sanctuary in the world. Their vision is to secure free-ranging African Rhinoceros across Africa, to ensure the survival of the species for future generations. Baby rhino’s that are orphaned rarely survive. The aim of Care For Wild is to rescue every rhino that finds itself an orphan due to poaching. Pit-Track K9 Conservation is proud to provide the K9 protection on the greater meta-population as well as the bomas pre-release.
Detection & Research
An initiative in collaboration between Great Plains Foundation – Project Ranger initiative under Dereck and Beverly Joubert, alongside the Center for Environmental Forensic Science at the University of Washington under Professor Sam Wasser. Our team has been given a mandate to conduct pangolin scat collection to build up a database of pangolin DNA throughout Africa, commencing in South Africa. This process is being conducted in reserves that have populations of Ground Temmincks Pangolin, as well as reserves that fall into their historic natural habitat and home range.
In collaboration with teams on the ground, we conduct in-field research to obtain faecal matter reference samples from as many different individuals as we can within the reserve’s greater population. Our accredited substance detection and tracking K9s assist in overcoming the immense challenges of finding reference samples for this most elusive animal. The K9s are used to track pangolin scent trails and indicate on the faecal matter. This approach has the objective of being non-intrusive and all care is taken to ensure we do not interfere with the pangolins and their natural habitats in any way. The research teams consist of management, along with two to three K9 handlers, depending on the size of the reserve.
Through this DNA referencing, our team will be able to determine the key illicit wildlife product trafficking routes and identify the involvement of specific transnational organised crime syndicates. This research will determine the fastest and most effective intervention methods that can be applied in protected areas by various collaborative law enforcement agencies and anti-poaching units within countries throughout Africa. Given the alarming rate at which pangolins are poached, this is crucial. This same method was applied by Professor Sam Wasser with successful results achieved on elephant ivory, seeing arrests of major poaching syndicate members in Kenya.
The second initiative with Center for Environmental Forensic Science (CEFS) at the University of Washington under Professor Sam Wasser and championed by US Homeland Security Investigations, as well as with Great Plains Foundation – under Dereck and Beverly Joubert and is running in tandem with the pangolin referencing initiative. This innovative project involves the development of a high throughput, scent-detection method that combines remote air sampling and K9 detection to rapidly search for illicit contraband.
Pit-Track NPC has established a forwarding K9 operational and training base camp to support the initiative. All relevant authorizations and permits are in place for the possession of illicit biodiversity products for the K9 imprinting and training purposes in support of the project. Applications are underway for handling, possession, and transporting, as well as research permits to further support the project objectives. Pit-Track NPC in collaboration with the Braveheart Bio Dog Academy has access to world-class laboratory facilities with Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometers and Thermal Desorption units that are being used to isolate key components from illicit common biodiversity compounds to drastically improve K9 substance detection accuracy. This is game-changing research and development that will also support the RAS-K9 Initiative.
Training
We believe that in the volatile world of anti-poaching, there is constant need to make sure our operators and K9s are in top physical and mental shape to be able to perform the function necessary to keep our wildlife safe.
Our operators are trained to the highest possible standard by some of the best global organisations in the business. Infield training for combat situations is done by Poaching Prevention Academy, incorporated with European Security Academy. The training of our K9s is extensive as they perform many functions from patrol and protection to detection. Daily ‘in house’ training of our detection handlers and K9s takes place who are assessed and moderated regularly by Braveheart Bio Dog Academy.
Initiatives
Through mitigation, management, anti-poaching, wildlife rescues/relocations, security, professional handling & much more, this bold venture brings important, valuable security for both game reserves & wildlife management, including wild & captive animals which require protection with & through innovative conservation. Although their main mandate covers Rhino & Lion issues, all fauna & flora are taken into account.
One of the newest initiatives formed is the K9’s For Big Cats Initiative, which has been put in place to track & relocate at-risk Lions or other Big Cats that have found themselves on the wrong side of the fence so to speak, this is done by way of us using the skills of trained K9s in the field. The 3 K9 sisters, Charlie, Rogue & Misty are currently being trained on Lion specific scent. This initiative has already been called upon by various Nature Conservation & SAPS offices in Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State & North West to assist them in confirmation of tracks as well as to locate Lion in the various areas. Dealing with various organisations, we have come to realize that this service is much needed, not only in South Africa but throughout Africa.
Wild Lion numbers are on the decrease & we need to protect as many escapees as we can. Due to the lack of manpower & funding within Nature Conservation offices countrywide, the task they need to perform is a difficult one. What follows is a Lion on the loose that comes into contact with communities & either people are harassed or livestock killed which then makes the Lion a problem animal. Nature Conservation will then issue a permit for hunters to remove the animal.
We have offered communities as well as Nature Conservation a solution to a problem and it has been warmly welcomed.
Part of our mandate regarding this initiative is community education and awareness, engaging with them to find out exactly what their problems are & in turn trying to come up with solutions to help them. Involving them in the search is another way where they can feel like they are part of the solution & in turn, hopefully, a sense of pride & will to protect Africa’s most Iconic predator.
Pit-Track believes that there is power in the education of children & adults alike. Through visits to schools and the corporate fraternity, we are able to impart information regarding issues our wildlife face. With this knowledge, they are able to confidently make calculated decisions on how to incorporate this within their daily lives.
Schools:
- McAuley House
- Girls & Boys Town
- Christ Church School
- Mariepskop
- Kings Camp Community Kids
- Bairnsdale Primary School #754
- Orbost Secondary College
- Clifton Creek Primary School
- Paynesville Primary School