Scent Detectives: Extraordinary Partners in the Quest to Find Saola in the Wild of Laos
Meet Aimee Hurt and Paul Bunker, two dedicated individuals who work with dogs to make a significant impact on wildlife conservation. In this article, we delve into an engaging conversation with Paul and Aimee, learning more about them, scent detection dogs and exploring their experiences during an expedition in Lao in late 2022 alongside the Saola Foundation and dog handler candidates. You can listen to the whole conversation in the link at the bottom.
Aimee Hurt, Working Dogs for Conservation
Paul Bunker, Chiron K9
Aimee is one of four co-founders of Working Dogs for Conservation (WD4C), based near Missoula, Montana, USA. WD4C works globally, leveraging remarkable skills of specially trained detection dogs to aid in conservation efforts. Aimee’s journey began in the mid-90s, when she became intrigued by advancements in DNA analysis from scat that opened new possibilities for tracking and monitoring wildlife. In 2000, she and the other co-founders formalized their vision and established WD4C. Since then, Aimee has been at the forefront of the growing field of conservation dogs, deploying dogs to help protect wildlife and ecosystems around the world.
Paul Bunker, originally from Lincolnshire, England, UK, has an impressive background in dog training and a distinguished military career. He started as a dog trainer with his father and later joined the Royal Army Veterinary Corps for the British Army. After 22 years of service, he was invited to the US to set up an off-leash detection program for the Department of Defense, primarily to support missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following his military tenure, Paul continued to be involved in the canine training community by managing programs for the Marine Corps and conducting research and development in canine detection for the Office of Naval Research. Eventually, he founded his own company, Chiron K9, specializing in detection dog training and consultancy.
Laos was Paul’s first experience of Asia, and he found it full of surprises. His prior knowledge of the continent was limited to the internet and movies, but as soon as he arrived in October 2022, he knew he was in for an adventure. Paul and Aimee spent nearly a month in Laos, working with our Lao team and getting familiar with the challenging yet beautiful terrain. Paul notes that one of the most remarkable aspects of the journey were the genuine friendliness and helpfulness of the local people. They always looked out for one another, and him, leaving a welcoming and lasting impression on him.
Aimee was surprised by the unexpected presence of tourism in Laos, particularly in Vientiane, where many tourists from many countries were apparent. She was delighted to find that the local food, especially sticky rice, brought her comfort and joy, reminding her of the familiar tastes of Thai and Vietnamese cuisines.
The main mission of Working Dogs for Conservation and Chiron K9 with the Saola Foundation is to train scent detection dogs, and dog handlers, for the Saola search. Dogs are known for their incredible ability to learn and comprehend scents. They can put together a comprehensive scent picture during searches, which often surprises their trainers. However, this can also be a challenge, as dogs build context and understanding based only on what they experience. If not properly trained, monitored, and supported they can veer ‘off mission’ from the objective at hand.
Paul and Aimee traveling through the Annamites with the Saola Foundation team along rivers and difficult terrain. Photos: Souksamlan Laladeth / Saola Foundation
Over the years, advancements in our understanding of how animals learn and in dog training techniques have led to significant improvements in the capacity of trained detection dogs. Conservation efforts have pushed the boundaries of this training, and even Aimee and Paul have been amazed at what these dogs can do. For instance, in one recent project, scent detection dogs showcased their ability to distinguish between oil spills of varying ages. They were able to disregard naturally occurring tar balls on the beach and only alert when they detected fresher spilled oils.
The Saola Foundation’s search for Saola program presents some new challenges for scent detection dogs. One significant obstacle is the lack of Saola dung to use for training. Typically, dogs are trained using the scent of the target animal, associated with a positive reinforcement like toys or treats. However, with no Saola dung available, WD4C and Chiron K9 are using dung from similar types of animals, supplied by zoos that are partners with the Saola Foundation.
The rugged and remote environment of the Lao forest poses additional challenges. In addition, our Lao team of dog handlers are all new to this type of work. Aimee and Paul and some of their staff will provide continual support, supervision and mentoring to our team throughout the Saola search.
Discover Aimee and Paul’s firsthand insights into Laos, uncover the challenges they’ve encountered, explore innovative solutions, and delve into the cutting-edge technology aiding Saola conservation in their exclusive Q&A interview. Unlock the captivating full conversation by clicking on the link:
https://youtu.be/x4dY00B7Dbc
We thank Working Dogs for Conservation and Chiron K9 for the wonderful expertise, partnership, and time to have a conversation with us!
You can find out more about Working Dogs for Conservation here: https://wd4c.org/
You can follow Chiron K9 and find out more about them here: https://www.instagram.com/chironk9
