The Natural Resources Commission has called on detection dogs and drones to help it sniff out elusive Australian animals in NSW forests.
In a statement, the Commission said it had launched two new projects investigating novel techniques to improve the detection of ‘cryptic fauna’.
The Commission said cryptic species were animals that appeared identical, but were genetically distinct.
“The first includes training a detection dog, Miki, in a partnership with the NSW Saving our Species Program, to sniff out the Hastings River mouse,” the Commission said.
“The second is investigating the use of drones and thermal imaging technology to locate koalas and greater gliders to determine population density.”
It said it partnered with the NSW Saving our Species Program to test the use of detection dogs and camera traps for detecting the vulnerable mouse.
It said the use of detection dogs had been identified as a highly effective means of locating threatened, cryptic species, especially when traditional methods were unable to detect low‐density mammal populations.
“The first step in this project is to train a detection dog, as this will take up to 12 months before the research project can commence,” the Commission said.
“Miki (pictured), a six-month-old working cocker spaniel, started his training in April 2021 to become a Hasting River mouse detection dog.”
It said it had also partnered with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) to investigate the use of drones to improve detection for the koala and greater glider.
It said the drones were to be fitted with thermal imaging cameras and flown over Kalanteenee State Forest to provide information on the population density and distribution of koalas, with results to be compared to acoustic detection surveys undertaken in the same area.
“Working with Forestry Corporation for NSW, thermal imaging cameras will also be used in areas subject to spotlight surveys for the greater glider, with comparison of density estimates using the two techniques and ground validation in real time,” the Commission said.
