New Sniffer Dog Project Launched to Fortify Mauritius’ Border Security

A new initiative backed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will see sniffer dogs deployed to tighten border security in Mauritius. The project, led by the Veterinary Services Division, aims to use specially trained dogs to detect live animals and animal products at entry points, bolstering the country’s biosecurity measures.

The move is part of a broader effort to modernise veterinary and border protection infrastructure.

A delegation from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service recently visited Mauritius to assess the project’s progress and discuss further strengthening the country’s veterinary services.

During a meeting, the Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy, and Fisheries, Arvin Boolell, highlighted the unique challenges faced by Mauritius as a net food importer.

While the island nation lacks land borders, it regularly imports livestock and other animals, including horses.

Mr. Boolell emphasised the need to professionalise border control to “ensure that protection, monitoring, and surveillance are carried out rigorously.”

He added that the country is currently updating its Animal Diseases Act to make it more comprehensive and better suited to modern needs.

Beyond the sniffer dog initiative, a number of other projects are also under discussion.

These include the potential introduction of the KIFCO device, a tool for the safe culling of poultry during a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak, as outlined in the national contingency plan.

Study trips to the US are also planned to train Mauritian agents in best practices for border surveillance, particularly in detecting illegal meat imports and threats like the Asian hornet.

Mauritius also hopes to leverage its disease-free island status to become a regional hub for exporting genetic material, such as Boer goat embryos.

A bilateral meeting between Mauritius and the US is on the horizon to explore further commercial cooperation in the agricultural and animal sectors.

Source: Le Mauricien