Individuals and populations student winner. Limbing in the Tropics, photographed in Manaus, Brazil. While walking in the Amazon rainforest looking for bat roosts to set up mist nets to capture bats for scientific research, a faint and almost imperceptible noise suddenly caught this photographer’s attention. An anteater was climbing with exceptional ability in a tangled mess of branches and lianas. (Photo by Adrià López Baucells/University of Lisbon/British Ecological Society)

Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel, back to camera, is hugged by other contestants after being crowned Miss Universe at the 71st Miss Universe pageant, in New Orleans on Saturday, January 14, 2023. (Photo by Gerald Herbert/AP Photo)

Palmeiras' Gustavo Scarpa celebrates with the trophy after winning the Paulista Championship in Sao Paulo, Brazil, April 3, 2022. (Photo by Amanda Perobelli/Reuters)

American singer-songwriter Madonna performs during opening night of The Celebration Tour at The O2 Arena on October 14, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Live Nation)

A bucket of water is splashed on a woman during the Songkran water festival to celebrate the Thai New Year, in Prachinburi Province, Thailand, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Wason Wanichakorn/AP Photo)

The geese in March, Cambs, UK on August 25, 2025. The family of around 20 white waterfowl have been a fixture in March, Cambs, for years and have made their mark by regularly waddling to the high street. (Photo by South West News Service)

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 combination photo shows Fata Kovacevic reacting near her flood-damaged house during floods May 20, 2014 (top) and the same place after floods October 8, 2014 in Topcic Polje. (Photo by Dado Ruvic/Reuters)