DOGGY-PADDLING FOR GOOD: CONSERVATION DOGS SAVE ELUSIVE, ENDANGERED PLATYPUSES VIA PADDLEBOARD

Ask any dog owner, and they’ll agree: Dogs have a remarkable nose for everything—from the tiniest lunch crumb clinging to jeans to the unmistakable scent of another dog their human dared to pet.

Lately, though, scientists and canine behaviorists have been putting those powerful sniffers to work for a more noble cause: Protecting endangered wildlife.

At Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria, Australia, a specially trained team of detection dogs is on a mission to help save one of the country’s most elusive creatures—the platypus.

In Victoria, wild platypuses are considered vulnerable, and in South Australia, they’re officially endangered. These shy, nocturnal animals are notoriously difficult for scientists to track, and their survival is further threatened by habitat destruction and illegal fishing.

Although platypuses are one of Australia’s most iconic animals, surprisingly little is known about them, according to Healesville Sanctuary platypus specialist Jessica Thomas.

“It sounds simple, but there are still major gaps in our knowledge,” Thomas told ABC News Australia. “One of the main reasons is that platypuses are extremely elusive.” Despite more than a century of research, no scientist has ever observed a platypus laying an egg.

“They spend most of their lives underwater, underground, and they’re nocturnal—so just seeing one in the wild is difficult, let alone studying them,” she explained.

But while humans struggle to observe these secretive creatures, dogs are proving to be unexpectedly valuable allies in the field.

Building on previous success using detection dogs to locate endangered Baw Baw frogs, researchers have now deployed dogs like Moss, a yellow Labrador, and Pip, a Kelpie mix, to help track wild platypuses.

“Thanks to our dogs’ extraordinary sense of smell, we’re learning more about how platypuses live and interact with their environment,” said Dr. La Toya Jamieson, a wildlife detection dog officer at Healesville Sanctuary.

“And the beauty of it is, the dogs can do this safely, efficiently, and without ever needing to physically see or handle a platypus,” she added. “That means far less stress for the animals.”

Because platypuses are primarily nocturnal and spend their days sleeping in burrows, using dogs during daylight hours helps researchers study them with minimal disruption.

“Our dogs are an incredible tool for our biologists,” Jamieson said in a video from Zoos Victoria. “By locating platypus burrows, the dogs help us understand how the animals are using the landscape.”

To reach difficult areas, the dogs wear safety vests and ride on paddleboards through Victoria’s creeks. While the human handlers often struggle to stay balanced, the dogs took to the water with ease. The only real challenge, Thomas joked, was “keeping them from doing zoomies on the paddleboard.”

Once trained to remain calm and focused, the dogs were able to point researchers toward platypus burrows simply by sniffing the air—no splashing or chasing required.

“The paddleboard has been a game changer,” said Jamieson. “In high-rainfall years, many burrows become inaccessible to people. Before, we couldn’t survey entire stretches of creek. Now, the dogs can help us reach those areas.”

Dr. Nick Rutter, another detection dog officer, added on TODAY Australia, “The dogs have been able to pinpoint exact burrow entrances. That gives us crucial insight into how platypuses are using their habitat—and how we can better protect it.”

Before the dogs can set paw on a paddleboard, they undergo intensive training. Along with building the core strength needed to balance while sniffing from stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), they also learn how to detect platypuses in natural settings.

“We pair the scent of the platypus with a reward—like a ball or a treat—and turn it into a game,” explained Dr. Nick Rutter. “When they find the scent, they get their prize. It’s all about making the process fun and engaging for them.”

Soon, Healesville Sanctuary will open the Australian Platypus Conservation Centre, a dedicated facility focused on rehabilitating injured or sick platypuses and returning them safely to the wild.

To do that effectively, the centre must replicate the animals’ natural habitat as closely as possible. The detection dogs play a key role in helping researchers better understand platypus behaviour and habitat use—critical knowledge for building a space where the animals can recover and thrive.

“Platypuses are such a unique species, and it’s absolutely essential we protect not only them, but also the environments they rely on,” said Dr. La Toya Jamieson. “Our detection dogs give us the ability to do just that.”

Moss and Pip aren’t the only canine conservation heroes at Healesville. Other dogs, like Daisy and Sugar, are trained to sniff out the critically endangered Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon, while Finn specializes in tracking down rare frog species.

Together, this talented team of dogs is proving just how powerful a pup’s nose can be in the fight to save Australia’s most vulnerable wildlife.

“[Finn] might eventually join our Platypus Detection Project,” Dr. Nick Rutter told TODAY Australia. “But for now, he’s helping us survey for the critically endangered grassland earless dragon and the Baw Baw frog. Keep an eye out—you might see Finn on a paddleboard sooner than you think.”

As the detection dog program continues to expand, it’s not only making a meaningful difference for several endangered species—it’s also a joy for the team.

“It’s a lot of fun getting the dogs out on the paddleboards,” Dr. La Toya Jamieson said in a video from the sanctuary. “And honestly, it’s wonderful to see that they enjoy it just as much as we do.”