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The two-day training camp, held in Thames, saw five dedicated handlers and their furry companions completing a series of activities to see if they and

Date Time Conservation dogs sniff out trouble as yachting fans flock to islands The potential risk more America’s Cup spectators bring to pest free islands in the Hauraki Gulf is being tackled head-on by conservation dogs from DOC and Auckland Council with the support of Kiwibank. The Hauraki Gulf has 47 pest-free islands which are home to threatened native species including takahē, Coromandel brown kiwi, tīeke/saddleback, pōpokotea/whitehead, tūturuatu/shore plover and pāteke/brown teal. Rats getting established on these islands would be devastating to the vulnerable bird populations....

New Zealand's leading dog detective was unleashed in Wairarapa's wetlands on Tuesday as part of the fight against invasive toxic weeds. Bailey, a sniffer dog and part of the Conservation Dogs Programme, at Okorewa Lagoon, South Wairarapa. Photo: Wairarapa Times-Age / Grace Prior Bailey is part of the Department of Conservation's [DOC] Conservation Dogs Programme. The seven-year-old boxer-short haired pincer cross, and her pal Wink, are trained by Graeme Miller, a 38-year DOC veteran and canine specialist based in Invercargill. The age-old partnership of man and dog is augmented by high-speed...

Stoats pose a significant risk to threatened native birds and lizards. During its time on Motukorea, it killed several kererū. While on Motutapu and Rangitoto, it killed pūkeko and several kākāriki, a New Zealand parakeet. Department of Conservation/Supplied Casual ranger Tash Drury retrieved the stoat after it was finally caught. Senior ranger David Wilson said it cost DOC $47,000 for its role in the operation to catch the elusive pest. The bulk of that was spent on contractors checking a network of traps twice a week throughout the stoat’s time on the islands. Money was also spe...