Rita Ora helps Slovak police protect raptors

Although this dog cannot sing Poison, it can detect it.

Rita Ora joins the Slovak police. Rita Ora joins the Slovak police. (Source: Interior Ministry)

A Standard Schnauzer named Rita Ora has joined the Slovak police to help save raptors.

"We regard the killing of animals, using poisoned bait, as one of the most serious forms of environmental crime," said Mário Kern, head of the department of detection of dangerous substances and environmental crime, as quoted on the Interior Ministry's website.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

The dog, which has been trained to find chemical substances used for the production of poisons, is the first specially trained dog in this area within the police, the ministry informed.

SkryťTurn off ads
Read also: Poison that killed birds of prey found in hunter’s house Read more 

A German Shepherd called Nero will join Rita Ora soon.

71 poisoned birds of prey

Although Rita Ora, named after the successful British artist, cannot sing the famous song Poison, she can search for poisoned bait such as meat and help to save raptors in Slovakia.

"We are convinced we will be able to reduce bird crime to the lowest possible level with the help of these dogs," said Jozef Chavko, head of the Raptor Protection Slovakia organisation, as quoted on the website.

To make bait, poisoners usually use carbofuran, which has been prohibited in the European Union since 2008 as it can also kill a human being.

"Last year, a total of 71 raptors were poisoned, including rare species – two royal eagles and nine white-tailed sea eagles," Chavko added.

SkryťTurn off ads

The total social value of poisoned birds of prey is €136,740.

Raptor Protection Slovakia bought the Standard Schnauzer for the Interior Ministry from the Czech Republic.

Top stories

Stock image.

Twice as many Ukrainians work in Slovakia now than before the Russian invasion.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad