A bomb detection dog of the Colombian military has died after saving 30 soldiers from an anti-personnel mine in a rural area in the country's southwest.
Azabache, a trained canine taking part in various operations of the Third Army Division over the past three years, was severely injured by the explosion of the mine on Wednesday while moving alongside a group of soldiers in the small village Patio Bonito.
The explosion alerted the soldiers, who immediately rushed to provide first-aid before he was taken by helicopter to a veterinary centre.
According to veterinarians of the Third Army Division, the explosion caused internal injuries which led to the death of the dog, who was two years short of reaching his retirement and ending his military career.
"As for any of our soldiers, we feel great remorse over the death of Azabache, who had managed to locate a great quantity of explosives during his three years of work in the institution," said the commander of the Third Division, General Luis Rojas.
The general noted that the team which Azabache belonged to was in an area where drug gangs have influence.
Azabache's funeral on Thursday was held with a military ceremony and he was buried by the soldiers he protected in the vicinity of the command post of the Apolo Task Force in Cauca.
