By Alienor Brassine (Professional Scientist & Wildlife Ecologist), supported by Soldiers for Wildlife
Short term goal: To conduct a targeted pilot study that evaluates the accuracy and reliability of trained tracking dogs in detecting fresh leopard spoor and identifying specific crossing locations along the road.
Long term goal: To validate a specialized, canine-led monitoring methodology that can be used to identify high-frequency movement corridors and inform the strategic placement of road-mitigation infrastructure.
Our pilot study utilizes the superior olfactory capabilities of conservation dogs to bridge the data gap in leopard movement research. The project is divided into two distinct phases: specialized training and systematic field surveys.
Phase 1: Canine Training & Calibration
Targeted Scent-Detection: Dogs are trained to identify and "indicate" (signal) on specific biological markers, including fresh leopard scat, hair, and urine.
Tactical Tracking: Beyond simple scent-pointing, the dogs are trained to source and follow a leopard’s "spoor" (trail). This allows the team to determine the animal's direction of travel and specific path of approach toward the road.
Phase 2: R40 Field Surveys
Once calibrated, the team transitions to an 18km stretch of the R40, divided into six 3km segments.
Survey Protocol: The dog team patrols road verges and focus points during early morning hours. When a dog indicates a scent line, GPS coordinates and sign types (scat, urine, or spoor) are recorded.
Verification: Camera traps are deployed at sites with high activity levels to visually confirm crossing events.
Frequency: Each 3km segment is surveyed once per week, totaling three repeat surveys per segment to ensure data reliability.
Field Update:
Training a conservation dog is as much about the science of scent as it is about the bond between dog and handler.
The K9 Team in Action
We are currently working with two incredible dogs:
Scout: Handled by Ali, Scout is currently mastering scent-detection using Getxent tubes. These tubes absorb "odor signatures" from where leopards sleep (sourced from Moholoholo), allowing us to train even when fresh wild scent is hard to find.
Shadow: Belonging to John from Soldiers for Wildlife, Shadow is a vital part of this pilot study. You can see her impressive focus in the latest training videos as she navigates the complexities of the African bush.
Testing the "Blind" Search
To ensure Scout is truly following his nose and not just reading his handler’s body language, the team conducted blind searches.
The Result: Even when Ali didn't know where the samples were hidden, Scout successfully located three scats in a single session!
The Motivation: Scout is officially "ball-obsessed." Every successful find is rewarded with his favorite ball, keeping his drive and focus high during long training days.
We are now working with Karongwe Private Game Reserve, allowing the team to take the dogs where leopards had just been! This takes the training to the next level.
About this Project
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