US researchers have suggested that specially trained dogs can be used to find wide-ranging species that are often threatened, sepecially cheetah in a region of Western Zambia.
Team of researchers are using specially-trained detection dogs to determine the numbers and distribution of cheetah in a region of Western Zambia.
The research, appeared in the journal of Zoology, represents the first demonstration of this strategy for wide-ranging species that are often threatened.
While traditional survey methods failed to detect any cheetah, using dogs specially trained to locate cheetah presence throughout the survey area.
The researchers estimated a density of 5.9 to 6.6 cheetah per 1000km2.
"With the alarming global decline of cheetah, we need new methods to be able to monitor and evaluate the remaining populations, many of which are in very remote ecosystems where traditional survey methods are challenging at best," said lead author Dr. Matthew Becker.
"With this study, detection dogs once again demonstrate they are a powerful conservation tool and an important ally for threatened African carnivores like cheetah," Becke.