讀後心得

Due to climate change, the Alps may face more frequent avalanches, making mountain rescue increasingly critical. In Cortina d'Ampezzo, the host city for the 2026 Winter Olympics, rescue experts are conducting drills with search and rescue dog Zen, showcasing its remarkable search capabilities. The risk of avalanches is heightened, especially in the high-risk areas of 1,500 to 2,000 meters, and while Zen's mission may seem like a game, it is fraught with challenges. For example, during one rescue, when Zen arrived at the scene, two skiers had already sadly lost their lives. According to data from the Italian avalanche monitoring agency, the chance of survival for avalanche victims is about 50%. In 2023, over 12,000 search and rescue missions were conducted in the Italian mountains, with search and rescue dogs deployed 168 times, primarily for avalanche incident responses.

Due to climate change, the Alps, which are the highest and most widely distributed mountains in Europe, may face more frequent avalanche events, making mountain rescues increasingly important. Recently, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, one of the host cities for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, rescue experts have been training with the mountain rescue dog Zen, who agilely identifies trapped individuals, demonstrating exceptional search and rescue capabilities.

The relationship between climate change and avalanches is quite complex, as increased snowfall and more people entering relatively dangerous altitudes, specifically between 1500 meters and 2000 meters, lead to heavy and dense snow layers. For dogs, rescue operations feel like a game, but these missions are not simple. For instance, Zen recently participated in an avalanche rescue operation, and when they arrived on the scene, two skiers had unfortunately already lost their lives.

• According to relevant monitoring agencies, the survival chance for individuals encountering avalanches worldwide is approximately 50%.
• Based on data from the Italian Alpine Rescue Team, over 12,000 search and rescue missions were conducted in the Italian mountains in 2023, during which rescue dogs were deployed 168 times, primarily for avalanche incidents.