Scientist’sTrained Dogs Detect Platypuses from Paddleboards

Some conservation efforts spark curiosity. Others, like this one, turn heads and warm hearts at once. In a quiet corner of Australia, scientists are teaming up with dogs—real ones—to locate one of nature’s shyest creatures: the platypus. The twist? These dogs are riding paddleboards to get the job done.

Dogs Helping Science Float Forward

At Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria, two dogs, Kip the kelpie and Moss the Labrador, have been trained to detect platypuses from the scent they leave near burrows. These aren’t your average scent dogs. They’re now paddling through waterways, calmly riding alongside their handlers, sniffing out clues on rivers where researchers once struggled to reach.

The move to paddleboards wasn’t just for looks. High-rainfall areas in the region often block foot access to creeks. Getting detection dogs into position without damaging fragile habitats called for an inventive solution. That solution floated.

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Paddle Pups on a Mission

Dubbed the “paddle pups,” Kip and Moss are not new to fieldwork. They previously helped find elusive Baw Baw frogs in Gippsland. Their ability to adapt from land to board surprised even their trainers. According to wildlife dog handler La Toya Jamieson, keeping them calm on paddleboards turned out to be the only real challenge, especially when one got the zoomies mid-survey.

Despite the novelty, this method has real scientific value. Platypuses are notoriously hard to study. They’re nocturnal, live underground, and rarely come out. In over a century of research, scientists still haven’t observed one laying an egg in the wild. Their shy nature makes traditional monitoring methods both intrusive and ineffective.

The scent-tracking dogs have changed that. Without ever touching or seeing the platypuses, researchers can now map out burrows, understand their movements, and gather data with less stress to the animals.

A Bigger Goal Than Just Discovery

Platypuses aren’t just rare, they’re in danger. The species is listed as vulnerable in Victoria and endangered in South Australia. Habitat loss and illegal fishing practices continue to shrink their numbers. That’s where the new Australian Platypus Conservation Centre comes in.

This recently opened $1 million facility at Healesville Sanctuary simulates real-world habitat conditions. It includes nine interlinked ponds with flowing water, burrow banks, and earth walls that allow rescued platypuses to behave naturally. It’s part hospital, part research hub, and completely focused on survival.

Millsom, a 23-year-old male platypus raised at the sanctuary, has already tested the ponds. If the center succeeds, future generations of wild platypuses may stand a better chance.

Why This Matters Right Now

Australia has spent decades trying to understand this cryptic animal. With climate shifts affecting waterways and new human developments stretching into wild zones, the time to act is now. This paddleboard approach does more than collect data; it opens new ground for how animals can be studied without trauma or disruption.

Using dogs is smart. Using paddleboards is even smarter. But combining both to protect an endangered species? That’s what makes this story stand out.

My Thoughts: the DogsAndCatsy Desk

The sight of a dog floating on a paddleboard might make you smile, but what these pups are doing is far from play. This kind of teamwork between humans and animals is powerful. It reminds us that with creativity and compassion, we can protect even the most mysterious creatures.