First skydiving anti-poaching dog

On 17 September 2016, two-and-a-half-year-old German shepherd Arrow and his handler, Henry Holsthyzen (both South Africa), jumped from a helicopter flying 6,000 feet (1,828 metres) above Air Force Base Waterkloof, near Pretoria, South Africa, as part of an air show demonstration. While Arrow isn't the first dog to tandem-skydive, he is the first to make the leap as part of a pioneering programme to apprehend poachers from the sky.

Dogs have been a key weapon in the war against poaching for decades, both on the ground and in the air. While dogs such as Arrow have been strapped to their handlers and rappelling out of low-flying aircraft for some time, this is the first time they have made their descent via parachute from much higher altitudes.

Henry Holsthyzen is the head instructor at the Anti-Poaching and Canine Training Academy in Magaliesberg, South Africa – part of the Paramount Group defence company – which is behind the groundbreaking initiative.