As a dog lover – dogs are not called ‘people’s best friend’ for nothing – I’m interested in how dogs are used to help us humans in many different ways. They ( dogs) are intelligent, can be trained for very particular purposes …. Here are two examples of dogs skills being applied to help with nature conservation especially endangered species.
Australia
Detection Dog Research Team
In addition to the Fighting Extinction Dog Squad, Zoos Victoria employ the skills of dogs in the Zoos Victoria Detection Dog Research Team. This team of pet dogs has a diverse range of backgrounds, skills and experiences, and as a result can be trained for a variety of research purposes and field applications. “Our research projects aim to explore novel uses for detection dogs that will advance the methodology and aid conservation efforts, both in captivity and the field. Our projects occur in collaboration with multiple partners, including universities, conservation organisations and detection dog groups.”
( source – https://www.zoo.org.au/fighting-extinction/fighting-extinction-dog-squad/ )
New Zealand
“The Conservation Dog programme uses highly trained dogs and their handlers to detect New Zealand’s protected species or unwanted pests.
Well trained dog-handler teams have successfully been used for conservation for more than 40 years. New Zealand was the first country to use dogs to benefit conservation as far back as the 1890s.
Today, conservation dogs are used all over New Zealand, for example:
- protecting the Hauraki Gulf and other pest-free islands from introduced pests
- helping monitor kiwi, blue duck/whio and kea on the West Coast.
The dog-handler teams are trained to sniff out either:
- protected species (mainly birds) for survey, to be monitored and/or moved to another place, or
- pest species (eg rodents, mustelids, Argentine ants, weeds) that would destroy our native wildlife in pest-free areas.
Certain dog breeds are more suited for this work – indicators (setters and pointers) are often used to find protected species, while terriers are usually used to find pests. Dogs can pose a serious risk to protected species if they are not trained and handled correctly.
In September 2016, Kiwibank joined forces with DOC to support the Conservation Dogs Programme. In its first year, the partnership funded two full-time dog-handlers and an advocacy programme.
Now into its fourth year, the partnership has added four permanent full-time dog handlers and recruited some puppies which will strengthen our biosecurity programme via enhanced quarantine and surveillance of our pest-free islands and high-risk biodiversity locations and one full-time Senior Advisor, Species Detection Dogs.
The ongoing investment by Kiwibank continues to streamline and enhance the Programme Management of the Conservations Dogs Programme. Kiwibank’s funding is also helping to will support the transition of the Programme from its pilot phase to a stronger, more strategic footing. It will also significantly boost the advocacy programme, leading to greater awareness and protection of our pest-free islands and predator-free sanctuaries. “
( source- https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/conservation-education/resources/conservation-dogs-programme/ ; https://www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/conservation-dog-programme/ )
