Why in news?

India’s elite protection force, the Special Protection Group, which guards very very important persons (VVIPs), including the Prime Minister and Central Ministers, is the latest entrant in the list of agencies trying to induct the Mudhol hounds.

Highlights:

• The Canine Research and Information Centre (CRIC) of the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU) handed over two pups to the SPG authorities who visited the centre a few weeks ago.
• The SPG will raise and train the litter and induct them on an experimental basis.
• With this, the CRIC has supplied puppies to the remount veterinary corps of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Seema Suraksha Bal, and Central Industrial Security Force, apart from several State government agencies.
• Outposts and vigilance squads of the Police and Forest departments in Karnataka are also engaging Mudhols.

About Mudhols

• Unlike other popular breeds of dogs, the Mudhols are sighthounds. They can notice the minutest movement from 2 km away. The CRIC issues pups after verifying the genealogy and after implanting a microchip under the collar of each dog. This lets the handlers track the animal’s movements and health.
• Mudhol dogs have broken the national testing standards set by the government for induction into various security agencies. Our native breeds have higher tenacity, and disease resistance than exotic breeds. Their adaptability to changing environmental conditions is also larger than others.
• Known for their hunting and guarding skills, the characteristically lanky Mudhol hounds get their name from the erstwhile kingdom of Mudhol (in present-day Bagalkot), whose rulers first began to breed them. The dogs are fast runners, with excellent stamina and agility, and have a sharp vision and a keen sense of smell.
• The Mudhol hounds are believed to have been bred first by Raja Malojirao Ghorpade of the erstwhile Deccan kingdom of Mudhol who, after seeing the qualities of the dogs that the tribals of his territory kept, decided to breed them selectively. The Raja is said to have presented a couple of these dogs to King George V on a visit to England, whereafter the breed got the name of Mudhol hound.

About CRIC

• “The CRIC was the first agency in the State to win the Make In India award for indigenising the process of induction of dogs into security agencies
• The experience of the Indian Army was so successful that it created awareness among other agencies about the unique native breed and the contribution of the CRIC.

From SC/ST funds

• Suresh Honnappagol, the former Vice-Chancellor of the KVAFSU, established the CRIC using funds meant for SC/ST welfare in 2011. This was because most of the breeders were from these communities. “We ensured that the revenue earned through the CRIC activities such as certification and procurement were shared with the breeders.