We are unabashed cat people — but we also love dogs, especially ones who help us protect our wild world. Meet Panthera Malaysia's favorite four-legged staff member: Phiri, an eight-year-old Belgian Malinois.
Along with his handlers Diyana Germani and Bickstor Gimil, Phiri is part of Panthera Malaysia’s first K9 tracking team for wildlife conservation — a groundbreaking initiative launched in 2017 by Rimba, the predecessor of the project to Panthera Malaysia. This pilot project marked the first concerted effort to study how tracking dogs could be deployed in Southeast Asia’s tropical forests to combat poaching and protect endangered wildlife.
For years, conservationists in Malaysia faced a critical knowledge gap: a lack of data on how well tracking dogs could perform in the region’s challenging terrain. Thick vegetation, heavy rains, and soaring humidity make traditional tracking methods difficult. The K9 project set out to change that by evaluating dogs’ effectiveness, refining training methods, and documenting best practices for field deployment.
The team’s mission is as ambitious as it is inspiring: to use scent-tracking dogs to find poachers, locate illegal camps, detect snares, and eventually help monitor wildlife populations and disease outbreaks.
Phiri hails from South Africa and is trained in both tracking and scent detection. His nose is so keen that he can follow a human scent trail that’s more than seven-days-old — cutting across rivers, jungle slopes and thick undergrowth. Phiri isn’t just a tracker of people; he’s also trained to detect signs of human activity, from snares and tools to concealed camps used by poachers. When he’s off duty, he enjoys shredding coconuts and is a beloved member of his local village community.
Phiri and his handlers undergo a rigorous training schedule to stay sharp. They practice tracking simulated poacher trails under different weather conditions and at varying times of day, reinforcing obedience, focus, and endurance. Eco-socialization walks help the dog adjust to the sounds and smells of the jungle, while extended patrols strengthen teamwork between Phiri and human trackers.
Diyana serves as the K9 Unit Officer, handling Phiri while also mentoring Bickstor as he grows into his role in the team. Diyana holds Level II certifications from the Netherlands’ Scent Imprint for Dogs (SIFD) and has completed the K9 Conservationist Online Handler Course, grounding her work in globally recognized scent-tracking standards. She also trained with Aaranyak in India, gaining deeper exposure to anti-poaching dog operations and strengthening the unit’s approach to counter-poaching.
The K9 unit’s primary role is tracking poachers and their camps using both ground and air scenting. Phiri can detect subtle signs missed by visual trackers, especially as poachers grow more discreet.
Phiri is also trained to detect and indicate snares from a safe distance, protecting trackers from injury. By following scent trails to traps, dogs can help rangers locate and remove snares — especially in dense terrain — disrupting poaching activity and enhancing ranger safety.
So far, the results have been extraordinary. During mock trials, Malaysia’s K9 team achieved a 97% success rate in tracking exercises. In similar global studies, detection dogs have shown remarkable accuracy — like in Benin, where K9 units detected trafficked ivory and pangolin products with over 95% success across 28,000 pieces of luggage.
The applications go far beyond counter-poaching. Future uses could include wildlife contraband detection, ecological research, species monitoring through scat detection, and disease surveillance. Dogs can locate hidden items like bushmeat, ivory, firearms, and even infected animal carcasses, providing critical evidence that supports law enforcement and early disease response.
Introducing K9s into conservation hasn’t been without challenges. Cultural perceptions, limited funding, and the demanding physical environment all pose hurdles. Heat and humidity can exhaust dogs quickly, requiring careful management of hydration and rest cycles. And building trust between K9 teams and traditional trackers takes time and communication.
Yet, every challenge brings progress. Each operation strengthens the bond between Phiri, his handlers and the rangers who rely on them to stay safe in the field.
The vision for the future is clear: expand Malaysia’s K9 program into a long-term, research-driven conservation initiative.
With a goal of $254,000, every contribution helps sustain these incredible dogs and their handlers:
Every dollar helps strengthen the frontline of conservation — protecting wild cats, their habitats, and the ecosystems they depend on.
Because sometimes, the most powerful weapon in the fight to protect wild cats is a dog.
Meet Phiri, an eight-year-old Belgian Malinois. Along with his handlers, Phiri is part of Panthera Malaysia’s first K9 tracking team for wildlife conservation. © Diyana Germani
The team’s mission is as ambitious as it is inspiring: to use scent-tracking dogs to find poachers, locate illegal camps, detect snares, and eventually help monitor wildlife populations and disease outbreaks. © Diyana Germani
Phiri hails from South Africa and is trained in both tracking and scent detection. His nose is so keen that he can follow a human scent trail that’s more than seven-days-old. © Diyana Germani
Phiri and his handlers undergo a rigorous training schedule to stay sharp. © Diyana Germani
So far, the results have been extraordinary. During mock trials, Malaysia’s K9 team achieved a 97% success rate in tracking exercises. © Diyana Germani
When he’s off duty, Phiri enjoys shredding coconuts and is a beloved member of his local village community. © Diyana Germani
This conservation dog is protecting wild cats in Malaysia.
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© Sebastian Kennerknecht
