Tennis Star Andy Murray Fights Poaching in Nepal

Having played tennis all of my life, I’m a fan of the professional men’s and women’s tour and follow tennis news regularly online and via the Tennis Channel. Learning that a sports star uses his/her celebrity to draw attention to humane causes instead of going the route of excessively spending on cars, bling, and bars is certainly refreshing.

Andy Murray recently teamed with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to bring awareness to poachers in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park. Regarding his spokesperson role with WWF, Murray stated “I’ve followed WWF’s work on the illegal wildlife trade for a while now and been looking for a way to support their work. I think it’s incredibly important that this trade is prevented and the sniffer dog program seemed like the perfect venture for me to get behind. I know from my own dogs how clever they can be and it’s fascinating how these sniffer dogs communicate with their handlers. I’m also really looking forward to going to see Murray at work at some point in the near future.” By the way, Murray is also the name of a puppy that will join the team of sniffer dogs focusing their noses on Nepal.

What is the Sniffer Dog Program?

The sniffer dog program uses canines’ keen olfactory senses to track contraband. According to the WWF “sniffer dogs—with their remarkable sense of smell—are increasingly part of a global effort to intercept illegal wildlife and wildlife products like ivory, rhino horns, sea turtles and pangolins smuggled through airports, shipping ports and public transportation centers.”

Sniffer dogs have a natural knack for service, but they also must be highly trained to perceive the scent of contraband while ignoring other smells.  Additionally, “sniffer dogs are trained to identify illegal wildlife products through incentive programs which reinforce positive behavior. After a successful scent, sniffer dogs are rewarded with food or play, ultimately increasing their eagerness to discover contraband and making customs more effective.”

Why Is Murray Focusing on Nepal?

Reportedly, Nepal has been a route for illegal transport of wildlife between India and China.  The country has succeeded at reducing the volume of wildlife being poached and in March 2014 announced its milestone of achieving two consecutive years being poaching-free.

According to Megh Bahadur Pandey, Director General of Nepal’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, “the success of achieving zero poaching throughout the year is a huge achievement and a result of prioritizing a national need to curb wildlife crimes in the country.  A national level commitment is key to encouraging complementing efforts, right down to the grassroots level, in order to address this biggest threat to wildlife not just in Nepal but across the world.”

Chitwan National Park is provides a safe haven for Bengal tigers, rhinos and leopards, among other wildlife species that also call Nepal home, including:

Nepalese snow leopard- A big cat weighing between 50 to 150 pounds that readily adapts to cold environments due to its coat of thick fur.

Bengal monitor- A large lizard measuring approximately 175 cm (over six feet) from nose to tail

Himalayan monal- Also known as the danphe, it is the Nepalese national bird that’s in the pheasant family.

Asiatic elephant- This sociable giant weighs in at around 11,000 pounds and can reach heights put to nearly 12 feet.

Wild yak-  A dweller of high elevations, the yak’s thick undercoat helps to provide protection from the elements.

Striped hyena- A nocturnal scavenger that is a monogamous creature where both males and females help raise their cubs.

Why Andy Murray?

Besides being a wildlife advocate, Murray is a noted canine aficionado. His two lovable Border Terriers, Maggie May and Rusty are very popular in social media.  Maggy May (@MaggieMay_hem ) has over 27,000 followers and Rusty is highly featured in Maggie May’s tweets.

After winning the gold in men’s singles and silver in mixed doubles (with fellow Brit Laura Robson) at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Maggie May tweeted this photo of she and Rusty modeling their dad’s Olympic medals.

Being partial to terriers, the Border Terrier is a favorite dog breed of mine. The Border Terrier is an intelligent, working breed that also can be a great house pet when properly trained and behaviorally stimulated.

How Can I Get Involved to Save Wildlife?

You can be involved by spreading the word on social media and financially contributing to the training, feeding, and provision of veterinary care for sniffer dogs.

Follow this link to see the available options to donate: http://www.wwf.org.uk/donate/andy/