Sheep She dogs guarding guard wildlife
They’re cute, they’re fluffy and they’re here to save a critically endangered marsupial from extinction.
IN LATE 2017, highly trained canine bodyguards will be deployed in field trials, tasked with protecting the eastern barred bandicoot from predation by feral cats and foxes. Zoos Victoria began training a squad of eight Maremma sheepdogs in 2015. After two years, the first guardian dogs will soon be stationed on the frontlines of bandicoot conservation.
The eastern barred bandicoot is extinct in the wild on mainland Australia. A population of roughly
1200 bandicoots survives in the zoo’s captive breeding program and across three Victorian sanctuaries (see our fundraiser on page 36).
Maremma sheepdogs have been used in Italy for centuries to safeguard livestock. In Australia, a program on Middle Island, off south-western Victoria, has trained Maremma dogs to protect little penguins from predation. But no-one has tried introducing Maremma dogs to native mammals.
“Bandicoots are small, shy and nocturnal,” says reproductive biologist Dr Marissa Parrott. “They’re a pretty hard species for the dogs to bond to. So we are going to bond the dogs to sheep, and habituate them to the bandicoots. By having the sheep, dogs and bandicoots all living in the same space, we hope that the dogs will protect the whole area.”
At Werribee Open Range Zoo, 32km south-west of Melbourne, the bandicoots and puppies-in-training interact through perspex screens, followed by controlled introductions to build up their relationship. Later this year, field trials will commence at three sites across Victoria. A low stock fence will keep the sheep and dogs in, and the bandicoots, dogs and predator species will be closely monitored.
Maremma sheepdogs are ideal for conservation work because they can bond with a variety of animals and have been bred to keep predators away. “They bark quite a lot,” says Marissa. “The sight and smell of them scares off cats and foxes.” But she adds that they don’t make good pets, because they are working dogs with particular needs.
Zoos Victoria is optimistic about the future of the Guardian Dog initiative. If successful, they envisage having a ‘Fighting Extinction’ Guardian Dog squad, says Marissa, for use with a range of small mammals, including potoroos and rock-wallabies.