Sniffer Dogs Help Clear Deadly Minefields in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan's former front line, sniffer dogs like Rocky are helping to clear deadly minefields, allowing displaced families to return to their abandoned villages. Afsana Bayramova, one of the few female sappers in the profession, works with Rocky, a Belgian Malinois born in 2023, to locate buried explosives. The land in and around Karabakh, a breakaway region that was run by pro-Armenian separatists, is heavily contaminated with landmines.

The war between Azerbaijan and Armenia that erupted at the end of the Soviet Union forced hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from their homes as Armenia seized the area. Azerbaijan retook Karabakh and seven surrounding regions in wars and offensives between 2020 and 2023, causing over 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee. According to Azerbaijan's mine action agency ANAMA, teams have cleared over 309,000 hectares since 2020, neutralizing around 69,000 mines and nearly 200,000 unexploded munitions.

Mine blasts have killed 73 people and wounded 370 since the 2020 war, according to Azerbaijani authorities. The area of Ashaghi Abdurrahmanli is considered "heavily contaminated" due to mines along former Armenian defensive positions and unexploded munitions from Azerbaijani bombardment. Before heading into the minefields, dogs must find sample explosives in a test area to ensure they are effective.

Handlers use long leads to let the dogs explore, and when a suspected explosive is detected, a second dog checks the approach before a deminer investigates. The dogs are rewarded with a ball only after confirmation of a positive find, as rewarding false indications could encourage them to repeat them. However, the hot, dry summers of Azerbaijan's lowlands can hamper the dogs' work, and illness and injuries to paws can keep them from the field.

Some of those affected by landmines now volunteer to help clean up the area. Asif Ahmadov, who fled the area in 1992, survived the war but lost his brother and a leg four days after the fighting ended. He now volunteers with ANAMA, warning villagers and schoolchildren against entering dangerous ground. Ahmadov's experience has given him a deeper understanding of the risks associated with landmines.

For Bayramova, the reward is seeing homes rise on land she helped clear. She recently returned to the Agdam district, where she had helped clear three villages, and saw houses being constructed. "We see settlements being rebuilt, people returning, farming," she said. "That makes us proud." The work of Bayramova and her team is crucial in helping to rebuild the region and allow people to return to their homes.

The use of sniffer dogs in mine clearance is a vital part of the effort to make the region safe. With the help of dogs like Rocky, teams can locate and clear mines more efficiently, allowing for the safe return of displaced families. As the region continues to recover from the devastating effects of war, the work of Bayramova and her team will be essential in helping to rebuild and restore communities.

Key points

• Over 309,000 hectares have been cleared of mines and unexploded munitions since 2020.
• 73 people have been killed and 370 wounded by mine blasts since the 2020 war.
• Trained dogs are being used to locate buried explosives in heavily contaminated areas.