Conservationists are turning to dogs trained to sniff out the droppings of elusive nocturnal animals like black-footed cats and pangolins. These canine companions dramatically boost the ability to study species that are otherwise nearly impossible to track in the wild.
- Dogs find rare animal scat with high precision in hard-to-reach places.
- Non-invasive scat analysis helps track genetics and population health.
- Pangolin feeding sites reveal fresh biological traces despite rapid scat decay.
What happened
In the semi-arid shrublands of South Africa’s Karoo, conservation biologist Michelle Marie Schroeder employs German Shorthaired Pointers Lyka and Sebala to detect the feces of black-footed cats. These wild cats are incredibly secretive and mainly active at night, making direct observation and traditional tracking methods difficult and ineffective.
With the dogs’ assistance, Schroeder has located hundreds of scat samples in just months—an achievement far beyond her solitary efforts. This strategy also extended to Temminck’s pangolin, another species hard to follow due to its camouflaged, nocturnal nature and rapidly degrading droppings. The dogs help find fresh biological evidence around pangolin feeding sites to support genetic research.
Why it feels good
Using detection dogs enables non-invasive monitoring, avoiding stressful or harmful methods like trapping or collaring, which are usually required to study these small carnivores. This approach respects the animals’ natural behavior and habitat while still providing important data for conservation.
Preliminary findings indicate relatively healthy genetic diversity and ongoing movement between black-footed cat populations in parts of the Karoo, offering hope that these species maintain connectivity despite environmental pressures. The innovative methodology paves the way for enhanced protection and deeper understanding of elusive wildlife.
What to enjoy or watch next
Researchers and conservation enthusiasts can look forward to expanded use of detection dogs across more species and regions. Monitoring genetic health and migration patterns can guide targeted conservation strategies and anti-poaching efforts.
Keeping an eye on developments in pangolin research will also be interesting, particularly as the genetic databases grow and aid law enforcement in tracing the origin of trafficked scales. This promising integration of science and canine assistance encourages optimism for protecting some of Africa’s most mysterious animals.