Using a wildlife detection dog to locate freshwater turtles and nests for conservation: challenges and potential solutions

ABSTRACT Freshwater turtles are one of the most threatened vertebrate groups and face multiple threats including habitat loss, predation, and road mortality. Wildlife Detection Dogs (WDDs) have been used to aid in conservation globally. However, their use for freshwater turtle conservation has received minimal research attention. This descriptive study explores the efficacy of using a WDD to locate both turtles and nests, to protect them from mortal threats. A WDD was trained to detect turtle-related odours, specifically female turtles, eggs, and nests. Deployment at two wetland sites in Western Australia resulted in the successful location of 10 live turtles and 26 nests, with the WDD actively searching for 36.17 hours. Limitations during the odour learning and training phase, such as the absence of crucial nest odours and challenges during mass-nesting days, may have limited the number of nests detected. Other challenges that need to be considered include ground disturbance, contamination, and safety in snake habitats. Recommendations include obtaining soil plugs and lowering target odour thresholds for training, minimizing odour learning on live turtle odours, and optimizing deployment strategies to improve WDD efficiency with a focus on nest detection. The study provided insights into the potential use of WDDs in turtle detection and underscores the potential of WDDs as a tool in enhancing conservation efforts for freshwater turtles.