Bujang, a 35-year-old male orangutan rescued from a circus in Sumatra, washes his face on a sanctuary island surrounded by a river where non-releasable orangutans are protected for life at the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Rehabilitation Center run by the non-profit Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation in Samboja, East Kalimantan, on July 12, 2024. (Photo by Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP Photo)

A member of the Gumatj clan performs a ceremonial welcome during the Garma Festival at the Gulkula ceremonial in the Gove Peninsula of the Northern Territory, Australia 03 August 2024. The Garma Festival is Australia’s largest Indigenous gathering, a 4-day celebration of Yolngu life and culture held in remote northeast Arnhem Land. (Photo by Mick Tsikas/EPA)

A protester attends a rally against the government and to show support for the hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel on September 1, 2024. (Photo by Florion Goga/Reuters)

Throughout the course of the long war in Afghanistan, Coalition troops have relied on thousands of military working dogs to help keep them safe, and make their jobs easier. The dogs are trained to detect explosives, to find illegal drugs, to search for missing comrades, or target enemy combatants. Not only are they active on the front lines, but behind the lines they serve as therapy dogs, service dogs, and loyal companions. They also share the same risks as the ground troops, suffering injuries and sometimes death on the battlefields. Gathered here are images of these dogs and their handlers in Afghanistan and back home, from over the past several years, part of the ongoing series here on Afghanistan.

A boy rides on a snow wagon towed by a robot dressed as a Teddy bear, which only moves forward by moving its legs, during the Ice and snow carnival at Taoranting park in Beijing February 9, 2015. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Russian marines attached to the anti- submarine ship Admiral Tributs show their skills during a demonstration at a park in Manila on January 5, 2017, as part of their five- day port- of- call activities in the country' s capital. (Photo by Ted Aljibe/AFP Photo)

Ferencvaros's David Siger lies on the ground to defend a free kick during the UEFA Champions League Group Stage match between Ferencvarosi TC and Juventus at Puskas Arena on November 4, 2020 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Bernadett Szabo/Reuters)

Police officers arrest a protester during an anti-lockdown march in Liverpool, United Kingdom on November 21, 2020. The StandUpX movement organised a protest under the banner March for Freedom, Save Our City. (Photo by Mercury Press)