A total of 27 handlers from various SAR offices across Indonesia have completed the inaugural K9 training program. The training, conducted in collaboration with instructors from SAR Dog Indonesia (SDI), was held at the Basarnas Human Resource Training Center in Bogor, West Java, from May 15 to 27, 2025.
"This is the first batch. It marks a milestone in the establishment of trained K9 units within Basarnas. They will become part of a more responsive and modern SAR operation system," Heru Suhartanto, Head of BPSDMPP Basarnas, stated when contacted from Jakarta on Tuesday.
The K9 units are trained to perform various search functions, including tracking human scent on land, in the air, and in water; sweeping large areas; and detecting buried or submerged bodies. The dogs’ keen sense of smell is considered highly effective in accelerating the victim search process.
Suhartanto emphasized that the training not only developed the handlers' technical skills but also fostered sensitivity, synergy, and emotional bonds between the handlers and the SAR dogs, which are key to the success of rescue missions.
Going forward, Basarnas’ K9 units will be stationed in several strategic regions and will be ready for deployment at any time during SAR operations. This initiative aligns with Basarnas’ commitment to enhancing its rescue capacity and innovating services through biologically based technologies.
With the establishment of these trained K9 units, Basarnas hopes to significantly improve response times and operational effectiveness in the field, particularly during disasters or extraordinary events that require rapid and accurate victim searches.
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Translator: M. Riezko Bima Elko Prasetyo, Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Primayanti
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