Zorba, India's first dog to be deployed for tracking down poachers in the northeast, passed away last night due to age and health-related issues. The 12-year-old male Belgian Malinois was a member of Aaranyak's 'K9', the country's first dog squad for wildlife crimes. 

• Aaranyak is a leading wildlife NGO based in Guwahati. Its mission is to foster the conservation of biodiversity in Northeast India. 
• In a statement, Aaranyak said Zorba took his last breath at around 10 pm yesterday (Monday) in Guwahati. 
• Zorba, a Belgian Malinois, was the first dog deployed in the country to track down Rhino Poachers. 
• With an eight-year career covering several rhino protection areas in Assam's Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, and Orang National Park, Zorba was actively engaged in anti-poaching operations.