The Colombian military remains hopeful that they will find Wilson, the two-year-old dog that helped locate four Indigenous children who survived 40 days in the Amazon jungle after their plane crashed.
Commanders pledged to stick around the site of the crash until Wilson is found, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. There are currently 70 soldiers in the area looking for the canine who was last seen on May 18 when he darted away from the search party after picking up a scent similar to the one on the clothes that belonged to the kids.
The military found multiple clues that led them to believe that Wilson found the children before they did. His paw prints were spotted next to the kids' footprints 10 days after his disappearance. Gen. Pedro Sanchez, who is leading the rescue effort, said on Colombia's W radio that the children told him they were accompanied by the dog for "two or three days."
One of the survivors, Lesly Mucutuy, drew a photo of the jungle, along with a dog bearing a similar black-and-coffee-colored coat to that of Wilson.
The military have flown in two female dogs in heat and scattered clothing owned by his handler in an attempt to lure Wilson back. Food has also been placed in various spots around the area where the soldiers are stationed.
Wilson, who was among five dogs sent to the rainforest to try and locate the missing children, was sent to try and find the kids two months after he graduated from the canine academy.
"For us it was an honor that our canine helped to find those children,” said Sgt. Luis Fernando Seña, commander of the canine academy that Wilson attended. “It would be great news for the country, and for our children, if he can be found.”
