The Amur Tiger Center took part in an extended meeting of the service for the organization of cynological activities of the Far Eastern Operational Customs, where the results for the first half of 2015 were summed up.
As reported in the Far Eastern Customs Administration, the meeting, which was held by the Acting Roman Spivakov, Deputy Head of the Far Eastern Operational Customs, was attended by the heads of the operational-search units of the Customs and Canine departments of the Far Eastern Federal District Customs, and a representative of the Amur Tiger Center. The management of the operational customs highly appreciated the work of canine specialists, who, together with their four-legged assistants, stopped 189 crimes and offenses in the first half of 2015. The highest results were shown by dog handlers and their wards to identify the illegal export of flora and fauna objects, many of which are subject to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. A total of 89 such attempts were suppressed. About three tons of crab, shrimp, sea cucumber, as well as bear paws, reproductive organs of sika deer and red deer, "musk deer" jet, etc. were seized.
“Dog trainers make an invaluable contribution to the preservation of our unique nature. According to statistics, using sniffer dogs detected half of the attempts of cross-border movements of parts of animals and plants. The figures for the past six months has doubled compared to the same period last year. This happened not only because of higher efficiency, but primarily due to the increase in smuggling. Due to exchange rate difference of currencies China and Russia increased pros on body parts of animals and plants, including rare and endangered species. This, of course, add work to customs officers. At the last meeting had developed a set of effective measures that, in my opinion, will be an unpleasant "surprise" for dealers, who used to earn on the trading of our nature. Unfortunately, much of what happened at the meeting, it is impossible to tell, but believe me: the four-legged conservationists knowingly eat their own bread.” – comment Sergey Aramilev, the Director of the Primorsky branch of the Amur Tiger Center.
Canine Far Eastern Customs Administration among the top three among dog training services of the Federal Customs Service of Russia. But they do not intend to stop at the achieved results. At the extended meeting, the objectives for the second half of the year were identified, aimed at raising the level of training of dogs and effectively fighting smuggling. According to estimates, the dog breeding service of the Far Eastern customs administration is the best among countries in the tiger range.