It is with a heavy heart that CLZ report the death of Lego – one of our detection and tracking dogs in the CLZ/DNPW Dog Unit, who died on Saturday 22ndJune 2019 from poisoning. The case is being taken very seriously and samples are being analysed and investigations carried out to determine whether it was intentional or accidental.
Lego was an exceptional working dog and a big part of the CLZ team since 2016 and has contributed to about 108 operations and to the apprehension of 82 poachers and the confiscation of 12 pieces of ivory, 40 firearms and 960kgs of bushmeat.
CLZ would like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Liza Oparaocha and her assistants for their tireless efforts giving Lego the best chance of survival that he could have gotten and to Dr. Ian Parsons for his expert opinions and support.
It is a great loss for CLZ, DNPW and our efforts within the Lower Zambezi and for the handlers who have spent three years with Lego, taking care of him and working alongside him.