Canines in conservation

From providing companionship to the elderly and helping people with vision impairment to navigate life, dogs are known for supporting humans in many incredible ways. Now, some extraordinary canines are lending a paw to help some of Victoria’s most threatened wildlife species.

Rescue dogs Kip (a kelpie-cross) and Finn (a border collie) have passed Healesville Sanctuary’s detection-dog training program with flying colours and are now doing their bit to help fight extinction by using their noses to sniff out Critically Endangered Baw Baw Frogs in the wild.

For a special mission that requires patience, stamina and focus, it takes a special type of canine to do this important work. Chris, Zoos Victoria’s Threatened Species Program Coordinator, describes the key qualities that make for an effective detection dog:

“What we’re looking for in detection dogs is a rare combination of high energy and sharp focus. Not all high-energy dogs will have that focus, but a lot of working dogs will. These attributes contribute to a good work ethic, so you have a dog that doesn’t tire easily and can remain highly motivated for several hours.”

Tracking and observing the Baw Baw Frog in the wild can be particularly challenging, as detection involves listening for the males calling (which only happens during a small window of the year). Since juvenile and female Baw Baw Frogs don’t call at all, the team didn’t have the ability to detect them – until Kip and Finn’s incredible noses came into the picture.

“In conservation, there are many methods for monitoring different species. But there are also big gaps. The dogs are another tool in our toolbox that may fill some of those gaps,” says Chris. “Working with the dogs opens up that opportunity to detect all the frogs, regardless of whether they’re male, young or female. It also broadens the time of the year that the teams can be out there monitoring,” says Chris.

When it comes to fighting extinction, monitoring of vulnerable species in the wild is a crucial part of the process.

“We’re working with threatened species that are rare and quite cryptic. If we don’t know the condition of their populations, the outcomes of releases, or if we can’t collect individuals for captive breeding, then we find that the prospects for recovery of the species are diminished,” Chris says.

Beyond finding Baw Baw Frogs in the wild, detection dogs may end up with three or four other species in their repertoire.

“Once you’ve got all the training in place, adding the scent that you want them to find is relatively easy, provided you can find enough scent samples,” explains Chris, who adds that the bulk of training is spent reinforcing safety protocols and building a strong, trusting relationship between the handler and dog.

In many ways, a dog’s superior ability to detect scent is a form of innovation that’s more advanced than various forms of technology.

“Evidence from local and global conservation actions shows that dogs surpass much of the current technology and survey methods. Dogs are efficient and can cover a lot of terrain. Think of the ability of their nose as a form of technology. It’s very high-tech and better than many other technologies we have available to us as conservationists,” says Chris.

The possibilities for using detection dogs in the field are endless. Chris contends that most species on the Fighting Extinction list would likely benefit from additional survey methods, such as detection dogs.

“The scope is huge. We’re still just scratching the surface of how dogs can support conservation work,” says Chris.

Support the good work of the Fighting Extinction Wildlife Detection Dog Program by adopting a canine team member: zoo.org.au/animal-adopters