Three dogs in New Zealand are being expertly trained to find the nesting burrows of the Fiji Petrel.
A grant from the Critical Ecoystem Partnership Fund (www.cepf.org) has enabled NFMV to commission New Zealand’s leading wildlife dog trainer, Steve Sawyer of Ecoworks Ltd., to train two specifically to find the nesting burrows of the Fiji Petrel on Gau Island.
Steve has selected three labrador cross dogs and their training has commenced. Two are bitches while Bob (top photo) is the only dog.
In February 2011, NFMVs Fiji Petrel Project Officer, Eleazar O’Conner will travel to New Zealand to become acquainted with the dogs and to work with them under Steve’s watchful eye on a burrow searching job for a NZ Petrel. Then in June Steve will bring two of the dogs and work with them on Gau Island for a month. After which the dogs will remain in Fiji. It is now a race against time to find the nesting burrows of the Fiji Petrel and protect these from rats, feral cats and pigs.
Nukuloa villager, Qalo Moce will be trained to become the second dog handler and with Eleazar O’Conner will be responsible for their welfare on Gau Island.
Dogs are now used extensively in New Zealand for conservation work and now play an enormous role in the conservation of such Critically Endangered species as the Kiwi, the Kakapo and the Taiko petrel. Steve is regarded as the top wildlife dog trainer in New Zealand.