Astonishing moment troops airlift army sniffer dog to hospital after it is bitten by a snake while searching for explosives in a Colombian coca field
- Luna was checking for mines and explosives in the rural municipality of Tumaco
- Hercules task force troops carried dog to Huey II chopper on makeshift stretcher
- Dog, now recovering at barracks, was bitten on hind leg by a venomous snake
A Colombian Army sniffer dog was rushed to a waiting helicopter after being bitten by a venomous snake while checking a coca crop in the jungle for explosives.
Footage shows Luna the sniffer dog being carried on a makeshift stretcher by soldiers in the rural municipality of Tumaco in the western department of Narino.
The brave animal is then seen resting on the Huey II chopper, with one of its hind legs bandaged, and is flown to safety.
Luna the sniffer dog is carried by Colombian Army troops to a helicopter after being bitten by a venomous snake while checking a coca crop in the jungle for explosives
One of Luna’s hind legs was bitten, and can be seen bandaged above, as the animal rests in the chopper in the rural municipality of Tumaco, Narino
The troops, from the Hercules task force, had been investigating a coca crop and Luna was there to detect any mines or explosives set up by a drug gang to deter the authorities, according to local reports.
Luna was sniffing around the coca plants when the snake bit her hind leg. The exact species of snake was not reported.
Luckily, a soldier saw the incident and immediately notified his superiors, who requested air backup for the injured canine.
Troops created a makeshift stretcher to carry the injured dog to the waiting Huey II chopper
The Huey II helicopter was mobilised after troops sent their jungle coordinates to colleagues.
Three soldiers are believed to have fashioned the stretcher to carry Luna through the jungle to the helicopter’s landing position.
In less than an hour, the sniffer dog was in the port city of Tumaco where it was treated by an army vet.
Thanks to the soldiers’ quick actions, Luna survived the snake bite and is currently recovering at the barracks in Tumaco.
One of the soldiers takes Luna from the aircraft to be treated by an army vet – and the dog is now recuperating at barracks