Tough tracker dog a friend to all
GERMAN shepherd dog Duma has bonded with rhinos, elephants, monkeys, jackals and even baby weaver birds.
In fact, the only animal he has not been able to win over is the stray cat that wanders around Fundimvelo Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Three-year-old Duma was reared alongside rhinos and has become an integral part of their healing process at the animal rehabilitation centre.
Originally trained to find orphaned baby rhinos whose parents had been killed by poachers, Duma has become more than just a tracking dog.
“Duma became a wonderful companion,” said Karen Trendler, operations manager at the orphanage. Trendler has worked with Duma since he was a puppy.
“Duma has also assisted with a vervet monkey, a jackal pup and, more recently, has taken to rescuing weaver birds who have fallen from their nests. He either stands next to the downed nest and indicates to us that there is something inside, or will gently bring the BUDDIES: Baby black rhino Nandi and her new BFF, trained tracker dog Duma, at their animal orphanage home baby bird to us,” she said.
As for the cat that is immune to Duma’s charms, said Trendler, “Duma tries repeatedly to make peace offerings, but to no avail. He gets chased by the cat, despite his best efforts.”
When Duma — who also has training as a sniffer dog at OR Tambo International Airport — is not trying to appease the cat, he can usually be found playing with his new bestie Nandi, a five-month-old black rhino whose mom was poached late last year.
A video of the best friends on the orphanage’s Facebook page shows Nandi stomping her feet, almost pouncing, before trying to get Duma to drop a toy. Duma, however, is too quick, and moves out of the way just before Nandi gets too close, taking the toy with him.
“Duma is very gentle and sweet with the rhinos and encourages them to play. He is sensitive to them not feeling well and is really good at knowing when they are going to charge, and jumps out of the way,” Trendler said.
The bond between the two animals “is a friendship that is still growing”, she said.