Some very good dogs are helping protect our tortoises by sniffing out what human eyes can’t quite spot!
Western Cape, South Africa (25 February 2026) – South Africa isn’t just famous for the Big Five. Did you know that our country is also the tortoise capital of the world?
We’re home to 13 tortoise species – most of which are found nowhere else on Earth. That means the responsibility to protect them sits squarely with us. Particularly, with organisations like the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), which work toward conserving threatened species and ecosystems.
And at the dedicated Geometric Tortoise Reserve, that responsibility is being taken very seriously…with the help of some very good dogs!
The annual tortoise survey has been conducted at the reserve, and the EWT’s Conservation Canine Unit has led the pack!
These highly trained detection dogs are better known for tracking poachers or sniffing out wildlife contraband. However, their snouts have also helped protect something much smaller. Tiny, critically endangered tortoises!
Surveying tortoises can be quite a challenge. Geometric tortoises are small, beautifully patterned and masters of camouflage. They blend in perfectly with their habitat of dense vegetation and fynbos. Human eyes can spend hours scanning and still miss them.
That’s where the EWT’s four-pawed field assistants lead the pack. During each deployment, the Conservation Canine Unit has helped survey up to 160 hectares at a time using scent detection. In fact, these doggies were responsible for spotting 58.3% of all live tortoise finds during the recent survey.
More than half of the tortoises found were located by dogs! That increased survey efficiency by 2.5 times. That doesn’t just make the work faster; it makes the data more accurate.
Accurate population numbers help conservationists understand whether a species is declining, stable, or recovering. It shapes habitat management plans, and it guides where resources should be directed. When you’re dealing with a critically endangered species like the geometric tortoise, every individual counts.
“Better data means better protection for a Critically Endangered species.” shares the EWT.
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