Flying Abroad for Intensive Training: K9 “Sinuan–Nari” Gains Invaluable Experience in Slovenia,

A cute banner image of the K9 duo, Si Nuan and Naree, features a message of gratitude to the Khao Yai Tourism Association and PenLaos Restaurant. Supported by the Environmental and Social Foundation, these sponsors covered various travel fees for their training journey to and from Slovenia. The sight of their determined yet adorable expressions has deeply touched the hearts of their dedicated followers (FCs).

Anyone following news on various disasters is likely familiar with the four-legged heroes Si Nuan and Naree. These K9 members of USAR Thailand and the Thai RDA (Thailand Rescue Dog Association), under the Environmental and Social Foundation, have been assigned to numerous critical missions. These include an 11-day search for survivors following the collapse of the State Audit Office building in March 2025, the mudslides and flash floods at Ban Pang Ung, Mae Suek Subdistrict, Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province in August 2025, and most recently, the crane collapse onto a train in Si Khiu District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province in January 2026.

On the occasion of K9 USAR Thailand’s 20th anniversary on April 24, the Khaoyai Connect team had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Alongkot Chukaew, Director of the Environmental and Social Foundation, Deputy Director of the Thailand Rescue Dog Association (K9 USAR Thailand), and Director of the Thai Elephant Conservation Center Khao Yai. We discussed the current roles and abilities of Si Nuan and Naree, including their recent training experience in Slovenia.

For those who are not yet acquainted, "Si Nuan" is a female white Labrador Retriever, aged 3 years and 5 months. "Naree" is a female Belgian Malinois of a similar age.

“Both have been in training for no less than two years and are fully prepared to operate under command when disasters strike. Their mission is to locate victims, both living and deceased. They are trained in the Search and Rescue (SAR) category,” Dr. Alongkot explained regarding their scope of duty.

The term "K9" is derived from the Latin word "Canine," referring to animals in the dog family. It is commonly used for dogs trained for special missions. K9 units are divided into various groups, such as military K9s, narcotics detection, explosives detection, and food inspection. K9 USAR Thailand falls under the SAR (Search and Rescue) group, which requires training and operational methods distinct from the other groups.

“If you ask whether Thailand has many Search and Rescue K9s, we were the first organization established for this specific mission. Today marks exactly our 20th year (April 24, 2006). We count this as our founding day because it was when we traveled to South Korea for training and returned with our first set of two dogs. I remember clearly that upon our return, we faced a disaster in Uttaradit Province—the Nam Ta-Nam Lee mudslides. Houses were destroyed, and many residents were dead or missing. We took a Chinook helicopter to search for victims. We located five people, who were all of the missing individuals. This was after hundreds of people had searched but failed to find them. The K9s found all the bodies. Many missions followed, and in the last 3-4 years, about two other private organizations with similar missions have emerged.”

A key strength of K9 USAR Thailand, under the Environmental and Social Foundation (ESF), is its collaboration with four other organizations through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). These include the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (Ministry of Interior), the Department of Medical Services (Ministry of Public Health), the Engineering Institute of Thailand under H.M. The King's Patronage, and NPC. Together, these five organizations are registered with the United Nations (UN) as part of Thailand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team. If a disaster occurs and the UN calls for the team, they must reach Suvarnabhumi Airport within six hours to deploy anywhere in the world.

Furthermore, K9 USAR Thailand has received certification from the International Rescue Dog Organisation (IRO), which is the body that tests the competence and efficiency of search dogs.

“We hold exams once a year and invite international judges. The next one will be in October for new members who haven't passed yet to test again. Once they pass the IRO evaluation, it signifies that their standards are recognized globally.”

Currently, the USAR Thailand team has 27 K9s, consisting of a mix of certified dogs and those still in training, including "rookies" and those already operational.

“Si Nuan and Naree are currently at Level A, preparing to advance to Level B, with the highest being MRT. To put it simply, these two have completed a Master’s degree and have yet to finish their PhD and Post-doc. They are in the process, but we aren't rushing because they are already capable of leading operations worldwide on behalf of Thailand. That was one reason for the journey to the sub-zero temperatures of Slovenia, which required a flight of over 10 hours.”

Si Nuan and Naree: Signs of Excellence

Not every dog possesses the qualities required to be a search dog. These traits only become apparent through training, and it turns out both Si Nuan and Naree fully possess all necessary search dog qualifications.

These qualifications include: 1. The ability to operate independently without the handler's constant supervision, meaning once "switched on," the dog can perform its duties for a long duration without repeated commands. 2. Intelligence, the ability to learn, and systematic adaptation to various lessons. 3. Agility in movement—jumping, leaping—and the composure to work safely. 4. The ability to complete missions successfully while ensuring their own safety.

“Breed also plays a significant role. Actually, many breeds can be developed for Search and Rescue, with considerations for body size and coat type to match the terrain. However, for USAR Thailand, through four generations, we have learned that high-performance dogs should be medium-sized—neither too small nor too large—with an appropriate body mass that isn't too heavy. From experience, breeds that work quickly, efficiently, don't tire easily, and can be upskilled include Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Belgian Malinois, and Weimaraners.”

K9 Khao Yai Training Center: International Standards

Many people are unaware that there is an international-standard K9 training center in Khao Yai, located at Rai Phaya Yen.

“We have a training center at Khao Yai that we are very proud of, managed by Mr. Suthikiati Sophonik, Chairman of the Foundation and Director of the Thailand Rescue Dog Association. This is our fifth year as an established organization. We were able to build this through the advice of foreign experts, specifically Mr. Dusan Weber, currently the Lead Instructor of the IRO. He has worked with us for no less than 15 years, and the center's standards are high enough to host exams.”

In addition to underground tunnels, containers, simulated building collapses, and obstacles of various levels, the center features a vast search area that meets international standards for testing.

“We train our K9s here 2-3 days a week. We treat them as smart animals; every day involves play, exercise, and fun. They aren't left to be lethargic. We have a systematic training routine. We train continuously so our dogs are always ready for deployment. Our philosophy is that the dogs must be ready at all times. We don't know when an event will occur, but the dogs must be ready to go immediately. As for our volunteer K9 members, we schedule training once every two weeks.”

Nuan and Naree: Braving Obstacles in Slovenia—A Priceless Experience for K9 USAR Thailand

Traveling to a country with sub-zero temperatures, enduring a flight of many hours, and training in an unfamiliar environment for a total of 26 days was a truly priceless experience. The team just returned to Thailand on April 18.

Dr. Alongkot stated that elevating K9 Search and Rescue to international standards requires training in many areas. Choosing an unfamiliar location, particularly a world-class K9 training facility, provides experiences that cannot be found elsewhere.

The objectives for choosing to train in Slovenia this time were:

1. To elevate the K9s' capabilities through an organization trusted by the world, the IRO, and with the highest-ranking trainer still active today, Mr. Dusan Weber. He is one of the world's top trainers, and people from all over the globe travel to train with him.

2. To elevate the capabilities of our personnel in various aspects, including working with dogs, dog handling, and team management.

3. To provide the dogs with experience operating in terrain entirely different from Thailand, including weather conditions, altitude, flora, and much larger-scale simulated building collapses. It also provided experience in long-duration international air travel.

“We prepared for a year before going—obtaining health clearances from the Department of Livestock Development, preparing documents, and coordinating with airlines. The dogs must be in good health and receive full care during travel. The 26-day training and travel period achieved every objective. We gained a massive amount of new techniques to develop our two K9s and others in the team. We didn't just go to train; we brought back the entire methodology. This is very important and highly worthwhile. Now, several countries have contacted us, such as the Philippines and Malaysia, and we believe it is our duty to share this knowledge with rescue colleagues in other nations.”

The experiences Si Nuan and Naree gained this time included walking on snow, working and moving at high altitudes, and operating in unfamiliar areas with rubble 20 times larger than the State Audit Office site. The areas were full of obstacles, dangers, and challenges, but both dogs passed everything safely because they were under the systematic care of experts.

Si Nuan: The Pillar of K9 USAR Thailand (Being Everything for Everyone)

Beyond search missions, among all the K9s, Si Nuan is truly the "pillar" who takes care of everyone. When free from her primary duties, Si Nuan must perform many social roles.

“Regarding the question of what she does when not on duty—for Naree, it might not be much, but for Nuan, it’s a lot. Nuan is also the foundation’s presenter. You could say Nuan is the main pillar in raising funds to support our USAR unit. Nuan has been selling shirts for 11 months now. Nuan earns money for her own studies, for other dogs' vaccines, to help people, and for her own medical bills. She has a huge fan base—it must be admitted she has massive 'Mae Yok' (patrons). So, Nuan has to attend events. She gets along with everyone. When the foundation has events, such as visiting schools, Nuan has to go and entertain. Next month (May), there will be a meeting; they asked to buy 300 of Nuan’s shirts and invited her to appear at a hotel and go on a Chao Phraya River cruise where they will donate money.”

Rescue Dogs: Performing Duties with Pride

While rescue dogs have been used globally for a long time, in Thailand, awareness and acceptance have only grown over the past 20 years. However, today, people are increasingly interested in and recognize the importance of K9s.

“From our various missions, people have started to follow and take more interest in us. Social awareness has increased significantly compared to the past. Meanwhile, we continue to develop—whether in technology, breed development, or teaching and training techniques. We train with many expert agencies. Our dogs can perform tasks like rappelling. Additionally, the knowledge gained by both the dogs and handlers has increased. Training in various locations and real-life situations has helped us grow and improve our skills. Regular exchanges with international rescue organizations ensure we stay up to date with global developments.”

In a world at peace, few may know that in a small corner of Khao Yai, these four-legged special operators continue to train diligently, always ready for humanitarian missions they perform with immense pride.

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