Working Detection Dogs Help Conservation Researchers Sniff Out Data

Conservation researchers are using working dogs to gather data in the field. Learn what detection dogs do and why they are needed for conservation efforts.

By Anna Nordseth
Aug 23, 2023 1:00 PM
Working detection dog for conservation
Detection dog named Niffler (Credit: Holly Cook, K9 Conservationists)

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In a dense Salvadoran rainforest, a conservation detection dog named Niffler was engrossed in a peculiar training exercise. Like a determined scavenger hunt participant, his mission was clear: locate carnivore scat samples that his handler, Kayla Fratt, co-founder of K9 Conservationists, had hidden along a trail.

Niffler searched tirelessly for his target, signaling his find by laying in front of the sample, paws and nose framing it on three sides. This critical exercise was not just a game – it was Niffler's final test to prove he was ready to join Fratt and her team in their upcoming large-scale research effort.

In the fight to save Earth’s flora and fauna, some researchers have found an unexpected, but effective ally: dogs. Equipped with keen noses and unparalleled tracking skills, these four-legged research assistants are revolutionizing data collection.

The Origins of Detection Dogs

(Credit: Kayla Fratt, K9 Conservationists)
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