Where humans fail: A dog helps with species conservation

RTÉ News · RTÉ News · 2026-10-26 09:39 UTC

Species detection dogs - these are dogs that can sniff out endangered species. According to scientists, the potential for this is huge. However, the method is still new and there are currently few trained dogs. BR24 has accompanied one of them.

Species detection dogs - these are dogs that can sniff out endangered species. According to scientists, the potential for this is huge. However, the method is still new and there are currently few trained dogs. BR24 has accompanied one of them.

Arnie has an important task today: The species detection dog is to find the endangered freshwater mussel in a stream near Landshut (Bavaria). His owner Irene Wagensonner has a scent sample in a plastic bag. Then Arnie sniffs along the water's edge. Wagensonner knows what to watch for: If Arnie sits down, it's a sign that he has found the mussels.

And it works: The dog of the Berger de Picardie breed eventually discovers a whole series of bivalves. Without Arnie, Wagensonner would have had to walk through the streambed to find mussels. The danger of accidentally stepping on some would have been great.

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