Fourteen service dogs searched the entire zoo grounds for dummy explosives and weapons - a particular challenge, as the exercise took place in the dark and on unfamiliar terrain for the animals. The visit was a special experience for both the two-legged and four-legged members of the EDD unit. As part of the exercise, the handlers and their dogs were required to check the entire zoo grounds for potential dangers. The scenario: On the eve of an important event, the team are deployed to check whether explosives and weapons have been placed in the zoo. The German army are assisting the police in searching the area.
Equipped with a zoo map and their professional sniffer dogs, who are capable of detecting a variety of illegal substances even under the intense smell of zoo animals, the German and Austrian army dog units began their work with their German shepherds and Labradors.
Before the exercise, the dummy weapons and explosives were hidden in four places in the zoo and marked with specific scents that the dogs were trained to recognise. What may have been found by humans during the day was only found by the dogs in the dark - and even then it was quite challenging due to the additional smells and noises of the zoo animals.
During the five-hour exercise, both humans and animals needed to be extremely focused. The German army soldiers worked in teams to systematically search the zoo. Instead of several dogs sniffing at the same time, only one dog at a time would sniff a specific, predetermined area - for example, a thick bush, the area behind a bench or a garbage bin. A complete search of every nook and cranny of the zoo would have been virtually impossible. The layout of the grounds was also a special feature of the exercise: While an area such as an airport or an exhibition hall can be searched relatively quickly, the zoo has numerous paths and winding areas. The EDD teams were accompanied by Hellabrunn staff to ensure that no one got lost or sensitive animals were disturbed.
The first success was recorded after about an hour into the exercise at the Hellabrunn Aquarium: a sniffer dog discovered a dummy pistol under a fire extinguisher. The weapon was secured and removed under realistic conditions. Both dog and handler were delighted with this success. The search then continued - from the Flamingo entrance over the bridge on the Auer Mühlbach river to the South America enclosure and on to the wolf facility. While the wolves watched the action with interest, the service dogs remained focused and did not allow themselves to be distracted - and eventually found the second hiding place. After hours of intensive training, both for the dogs and their handlers, the mission was finally completed around midnight. All of the dummy weapons and explosives were found. In the end, the handlers provided a hint for the last hiding place in the zoo’s Mühlendorf village.
For the animals living at the zoo, the exercise was less exciting. Many fell asleep in their enclosures during the training session or were used to dogs as visitors. Besides, the sniffer dogs reported their find without making a sound, as loud barking would attract unnecessary attention - an important aspect even in realistic danger situations.
The German army's service dogs undergo around twelve months of training and are used as tracking and guard dogs. Service dogs form a permanent team with their assigned handler throughout the entire period of their service and beyond.
"The visit to Hellabrunn Zoo was certainly a special experience for the dogs. The zoo has a wide range of smells that are not found at any other training location," said zoo director Rasem Baban. "We are pleased to offer the German army the opportunity to train their animals here. We know how important thorough training is for working with animals."
For those interested in learning more about the German army's EDD unit’s visit to Hellabrunn Zoo, the exercise was exclusively covered by the zoo’s Mia San Tier podcast. Episode 121 is now available wherever podcasts are available.