Sniffer Dogs Revolutionize Nature Conservation
Sniffer dogs, traditionally used by police and rescue teams, are now proving invaluable in environmental conservation. Dr. Annegret Grimm, a population ecologist at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), leads this innovative approach, using dogs to map species for conservation and management.
Grimm's company, Monitoring-Dogs, detects hidden species like otters, salamanders, and common frogs in open-cast mines. The Lower Saxony State Office for Nature, Coastal Protection and Species Conservation (NLWKN) sees great potential in this method, complementing classic monitoring techniques.
The Wildlife Detection Dogs association, with over 220 members from eight European countries, works on quality assurance and certifications. Svenja Kremling, the first person at the Lower Saxony State Forests (NLF) to lead a dog search, trained her Irish terrier bitch Tilda to detect the beetle species Anoplophora. Their work was featured in the NNA's digital Impuls series, attracting several hundred viewers.
Targeted searches using sniffer dogs can save time and cost compared to classic methods. However, it requires well-trained dogs and handlers, suitable search strategies, and effective teamwork. Dogs' keen sense of smell, ranging from 1100 to 2000 cubic millimeters compared to humans' 2.4 to 3 cubic millimeters, makes them excellent for detecting various scents imperceptible to humans.
The use of sniffer dogs in environmental conservation is gaining traction, with Grimm and Kremling leading the way. Their work, along with the Wildlife Detection Dogs association, is setting standards and certifications for this innovative approach. As the potential of this method becomes clearer, it is expected to play a significant role in future conservation efforts.
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