Saturday, 3 May 2008

First mine-detection puppies born in Cambodia

Agence France-Presse
Friday, May 02, 2008

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodian officials said Friday they hoped 10 puppies born in the kingdom in March would help combat deaths and injuries in the one of the most heavily-mined countries on Earth.

A female mine-detecting Malinois -- also known as a Belgian Shepherd -- was shipped over from Bosnia, and in early March she gave birth to six male and four female puppies fathered by Fronde, a mine-sniffing dog from Germany.

Cambodia has in the past bought all its 57 mine-detection dogs from overseas, spending up to 10,000 dollars on each one. The pups are the first dogs born in Cambodia destined for the life-saving work.

Khem Sophoan, director general of Cambodia Mine Action Centre, said they would begin training the puppies for mine-sniffing duties when they are eight months old.

"We are now taking good care of the 10 puppies . . . They will help us in demining efforts," he said.

Hundreds of people are killed or maimed every year by the millions of landmines and other unexploded ordnance still littering the countryside after decades of conflict.

Prime Minister Hun Sen warned last year that Cambodia would not be clear of the devices until at least 2020. Roughly 2,900 square kilometres of land remains covered with mines.

The Khmer Rouge regime was toppled in 1979 but remnants fought on until 1998, resulting in impoverished Cambodia becoming one of the world's most heavily mined countries along with Afghanistan and Angola.

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