Unleashing Canine Heroes: Fighting African Swine Fever with Sniffer Dogs
Canines Sought as Allies in Swine Fever Crusade - Investigating Working K-9s for their Role in Combating Porcine Fever
Hey there, folks! Let's talk about sniffer dogs - these four-legged wonders are gearing up to take on a new challenge: combating the deadly African Swine Fever (ASF) in Rhineland-Palatinate. So far, these dogs have been trained to find mold, explosives, bedbugs, truffles, money, and even bird carcasses on wind turbines, but now they're about to help out in a big way.
"The state needs to stay prepared for a potential new outbreak," explains Hartmut Frohnweiler of Landesforsten, setting the stage. As of now, there's no vaccine available to counteract ASF, so a swift response is crucial, especially with domestic pigs present in the region. Sniffer dogs and thermal imaging drones are essential in speedily locating deceased wild boars, which can remain infectious for months and often get eaten by others.
Ravens outfitted with sensors and special AI could one day join the fight from the air, says Frohnweiler. Rhineland-Palatinate aims to mobilize around 200 teams - a handler and a dog each - as cadaver sniffer dogs. In the event of an urgent situation, around 20 to 30 teams are typically on standby, according to Fürster Frohnweiler. Currently, there are only 97 teams, leaving the state heavily dependent on aid from other federal states.
To ensure the dogs have what it takes, they must pass a suitability test before training. The test involves collaboration between the Ministry of the Environment, Landesforsten, the State Hunting Association, the Maltese Aid Service, and the Association of Hunting Dogs. Frohnweiler's team is currently assessing 17 dogs at four training stations in the Gemünden forest in the Hunsrück.
Trainers like Thorsten Blanke, who usually works with Brida, his Belgian Shepherd dog, detecting explosives at Frankfurt Airport, have shown up to take the suitability test. An experienced sniffer dog handler and trainer, Susanne Kautz, plans to train her Australian Kelpie, Fjällraven, as a cadaver sniffer dog. Nina Kassel from Windhagen in the Neuwied district brings her Lagotto Romagnolo Maze to the test as well. He'll be learning to indicate dead wild boars in the future.
Not all dogs with prior sniffer dog experience need apply. As the Ministry of the Environment clarifies, any dog in Rhineland-Palatinate can be registered as a cadaver sniffer dog. However, many interested parties have backed out since the initial announcement, Frohnweiler notes.
The training is a lengthy process, says Frohnweiler, with at least four months required. The dogs should be trained at least once a week, and they can practice at home using wild boar scent samples. The first exams are projected for August/September, followed by periodic operational fitness checks and retraining.
"The dogs need a certain drive to push through thorns and search for brush," Frohnweiler stresses. Different dog handlers can engage commercially or on a voluntary basis. As Frohnweiler explains, the dogs need to associate their task with a positive event such as a collar, certain shoes, or treats. The dogs must also get used to wearing a GPS device during their deployments, a requirement by the EU.
Commercial dog handlers can expect 650 euros for their efforts, while volunteers receive a total of 340 euros. "However, some prefer to volunteer – Rhineland-Palatinate thrives on volunteers," the forester emphasizes.
In a nutshell, time will tell if these canine heroes prove successful in fighting ASF. The potential for sniffer dogs to help combat diseases like ASF is exciting, and the training process will be interesting to watch. Stay tuned for updates on these furry heroes!
- The Commission, in its proposal for a Council Regulation on the conclusion of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, has also shown a readiness to combat diseases, as exemplified by the use of sniffer dogs in fights against African Swine Fever.
- In Kassel, a German town known for science, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and environmental-science, a Lagotto Romagnolo Maze is undergoing training to become a cadaver sniffer dog, ready to contribute to the fight against African Swine Fever.
- As the climate-change debate continues, it is fascinating to see science being applied to train dogs for health-related missions like detecting deceased wild boars, which pose a threat to domestic pigs and the broader ecosystem.
- With the potential for thermal imaging drones and sniffer dogs to aid in the early detection of deceased wild boars, the field of environmental-science could experience significant advancements in disease prevention and control strategies.
- As the 97 accepted dogs in Rhineland-Palatinate continue their rigorous training, they symbolize the intersection of science, technology, and canine abilities, highlighting the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to combating threats such as African Swine Fever.
