From flood-hit areas to crime scenes, Nepal’s police dogs sniff out vital clues

Leo was one of the trained police dogs sent to help search flood-hit areas. His work mattered because thousands of people were missing, and families needed help finding their loved ones. Dogs can locate bodies by detecting odours released by the human body after death.

During 20 days of searching, Leo found two bodies, a human skeleton, and several body parts at different locations in Nuwakot. He worked alongside search-and-rescue teams after the August 26 floods, which left nearly 1,500 people dead and more than 5,000 missing.

The Nepal Police recognised Leo’s performance by selecting him for the year’s outstanding police dog award. He was scheduled to receive a medal during Kukur Tihar, when dogs are honoured. His results also showed why trained dogs remain important during difficult disaster searches.

A police canine unit is a specialised police team that trains and deploys dogs for several kinds of work. It matters because dogs can detect scents and substances that officers may not easily find. Nepal’s Canine Office supports criminal investigations, airport security, border checks, special operations, and search-and-rescue missions.

The dogs are trained in four main areas: tracking suspects, detecting firearms and explosives, detecting narcotics, and search and rescue. Dogs trained to detect drugs and explosives work at Nepal’s three international airports and at border crossings. Each province has its own canine unit.

Some dogs are trained in Nepal, while others come from India, the United States, and Thailand. Breed affects training. Labradors are suited to firearms and explosives detection, while German shepherds can work across all four areas. Handlers match each dog’s skills to the assignment.

The Nepal Police currently has 107 trained dogs. This sizeable force matters because the dogs support many police duties, from solving serious crimes to protecting airports and helping disaster teams. Their work is organised around four main training areas.

The four areas are tracking suspects for criminal investigations, detecting firearms and explosives, detecting narcotics, and search and rescue. For example, Leo worked in disaster search and rescue, while other dogs check for drugs and explosives at Tribhuvan International Airport, Pokhara International Airport, and Gautam Buddha International Airport.

The dogs are distributed through provincial canine units and are also used at border crossings, during special security operations, and for VIP protection. Training varies by breed. German shepherds can work in all four areas, while Labradors are especially suited to locating firearms and explosives.

A tracking dog uses scent as a trail connecting a person, an object, and a place. This matters because dogs can follow traces that people cannot see. Police handlers say human skin sheds dead cells every minute, leaving scent that trained dogs may track during an investigation.

In the murder investigation of Bhola Sahani, police gave a dog a black hoodie found at the crime scene. The dog then led officers about two kilometres north-west to Subodh Ram’s house, where it stopped. Investigators later arrested Ram on suspicion of murder, citing other evidence as well.

The hoodie served as a scent source for the dog to examine before tracking. The result was an investigative lead, not the only proof of guilt. Conditions still matter. Heavy rain, crowds at the scene, or a trail ending at a river can prevent a dog from following scent effectively.

Police dogs extend what officers can detect. They can locate bodies, narcotics, firearms, explosives, or scent trails linked to suspects. This matters because their findings can help rescue teams, secure public places, and move criminal investigations forward.

After the Bhotekoshi floods, Leo found two bodies, a skeleton, and body parts. In another case, a dog followed the scent of a black hoodie from a murder scene to Subodh Ram’s house. Dogs also check airports and border crossings for drugs and explosives, and they support special security operations and VIP protection.

These abilities have made dogs a regular part of serious-crime investigations. Requests increased after criticism over the handling of Nirmala Panta’s murder investigation, when no sniffer dog was deployed. Still, handlers warn that rain, crowds, rivers, and delayed deployment can limit results.

The first 24 hours after a crime are considered the most effective period for deploying a tracking dog. This matters because investigators need to preserve and follow scent before circumstances make the trail harder to detect. The Canine Office says success becomes less consistent after that window.

A dog may start with an item from the scene, such as clothing, or follow scent left by a person. In the Sahani investigation, a dog sniffed a black hoodie and led police roughly two kilometres to a house. That rapid use of a scent source helped produce an investigative direction.

Time is not the only issue. Heavy rain, many people entering the scene, or a route ending at a river can also disrupt tracking. Police therefore need to secure scenes and request dogs quickly, while recognising that a dog’s result is not guaranteed in every case.

Tracking dogs cannot work effectively in every situation. Their success depends on whether a usable scent trail remains available and whether the trail continues clearly from the scene. This matters because public expectations can exceed what dogs are physically able to do.

Heavy rain can make it difficult for a dog to pick up a scent. A crime scene visited by many people may contain too many competing scents. If a route ends at a river, the trail may stop rather than lead the dog onward. These conditions can make a dog’s work ineffective.

The case of Nirmala Panta illustrates the problem. A Central Investigation Bureau officer said other people had entered the scene before investigators could consider using a dog. Officials also say the first 24 hours are the best deployment period. Police must therefore use dogs quickly and according to the circumstances.