Scientists turn to unlikely helpers in quest for plant that's almost impossible to find: 'Demonstrates the potential to replicate this method'
Conservationists faced a daunting challenge in the dense undergrowth of Australia's central coast — locating the elusive Wyong sun orchid (Thelymitra adorata). However, they enlisted the help of three dogs to make a breakthrough.
The Wyong sun orchid typically blooms from September to November, with the flowers opening on warm, sunny days. This short blooming window makes finding the orchids difficult, but not impossible, thanks to the efforts of the Central Coast Council and the New South Wales government's Saving our Species program.
In collaboration with On The Scent and The Good Dog, they successfully trained three talented spaniels named Paddy, Sully, and Vera to detect orchid tubers without relying on visible plants or floral scents.
Conservationists have used scent-detection dogs in other efforts. Yet, this was the first time they've trained them to locate the critically endangered Wyong sun orchid. Unlike other plants that are easy to spot above ground, this particular species spends most of its life dormant beneath the soil.
With their keen sense of smell, the trio helped the council monitor the rare orchid population and locate new orchid habitats in a minimally invasive way. Not only that, but they opened up a way for detecting other species in the future.
Senior regional biodiversity conservation officer for the Saving our Species program Paul Hillier stated, "If successful, this method may enable a year-round survey window, give greater certainty of survey results, and assist in planning conservation actions, such as targeting areas for controlled burns."
Though easy to overlook, the Wyong sun orchid plays a vital role in its ecosystem. Like other orchids, it has a specialized relationship with local fungi and pollinators.
If a species like this orchid disappears, it could trigger a ripple effect by weakening the entire system's stability. Protecting endangered species isn't just about saving something beautiful — it's about maintaining the balance of nature itself.
Dogs like Paddy, Sully, and Vera are like ecological detectives on a mission, sniffing out plants humans would otherwise miss. With their help, conservation teams have located orchid populations without disrupting delicate habitats.
Their work is now transforming how experts approach species location and protection, allowing year-round monitoring that was once limited to a very short time period. The goal now is to expand this method to other elusive species, proving that a sharp canine nose may be just as powerful — if not more charming — than high-tech tools.
Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species?
Definitely
Depends on the animal
No way
Just let people do it for free
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Detection dogs like Paddy, Sully, and Vera could revolutionize how conservationists monitor threatened species.
"The project not only enhances Council's ability to manage and protect threatened orchid habitats but also demonstrates the potential to replicate this method for other cryptic species in the future," said Paul Hillier.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man 'hit the jackpot' with rare find in Aussie bush after 86 years
A native plant thought to be extinct for over 86 years has been rediscovered, and the Aussie scientists who stumbled upon it during a rare bloom admit they were "super lucky" to be in the right place at the right time. The "elusive bush-pea" had long lived up to its name until Robert T Miller, an experienced botanist, was out on field work recently with colleagues west of Wollongong in New South Wales. They were searching through the "swampy habitat" in the Upper Nepean State Conservation Area as part of the state government's Saving our Species (SoS) program when he spotted a flower in bloom. "That one plant being in flower caught Rob's eye," Simon Lee from SOS told Yahoo News. "It was super lucky. We went back a couple of weeks later to collect a bunch of seed and the plant was no longer in flower, so it was pretty hard to find." Robert sensed he had "hit the jackpot" when he made the discovery, and when the plant was confirmed as the elusive bush-pea, the scientists were "jumping in joy" as the first and last time it was recorded was back in 1938. Since the rediscovery in October, 222 of the plants have been located and 790 seeds collected in the area — situated less than 50 kilometres from where the first ever discovery was made. "We're obviously very excited... it just shows the significance of conservation programs and the efforts across the country that lead to these really remarkable discoveries," Simon said. "I was really grateful to be out there with Rob at the time and it shows the importance of these areas, and what they can hold." Incredible discovery centimetres from train tracks leaves Aussie stunned Air crew makes exciting 'once-in-a-lifetime' discovery in outback Council workers make incredible discovery on roadside The elusive bush-pea (scientific name pultenaea elusa) is a small plant with branches up to 50 centimetres long, and it is easily overlooked among the grass swamp-like habitat where it grows. There are now extensive efforts into re-establishing the "rare" plant which is currently listed as critically endangered in the state. A Project Officer from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services, Alison Foster, said authorities are "committed to zero extinctions of plants and animals" and conservation programs like the SoS helps them meet this target. "Being able to quickly respond to this find with more field surveys enabled us to collect seed to help secure the future of this elusive plant," Foster said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Remarkable find in shadow of Australia's tallest mountain
A record-breaking population of some of the world's smallest and rarest marsupials was discovered in a rugged national park. Walking across the boulder fields of the Snow Ridge Hill site in search of possums during the recent expedition was hard going. Source: Justine Hauser An expedition across some of Australia's most rugged boulder fields has resulted in a remarkable discovery. Under the shadow of the nation's tallest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, researchers have documented a record number of some of the world's smallest and rarest marsupials. Mountain pygmy possums are thought to have dropped from 1,000 to 700 as a result of two crippling blows that affected the species' habitat and main food source. The first was the scorching of their stronghold in the Kosciuszko National Park during the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires, and the second was the sudden demise of the once-plentiful bogong moth. So when an expedition led by veteran scientist Dr Linda Broome discovered 107 possums at a single site, she was left feeling elated. 'It is heartening to see mountain pygmy-possum numbers thriving again,' she said. Pictures supplied to Yahoo News from the most recent survey, and the 2023 expedition, highlight the fragile environment, up in the clouds where the possums live. Weighing between 30 and 40 grams, and smaller than two human fingers, to the untrained eye, they are easy to miss. Pictures from the 2023 expedition highlight the rough conditions researchers encountered during the possum population surveys. Source: Justine Hauser The tiny possums are difficult for the untrained eye to spot. Source: Alex Pike Broome is approaching the end of her career after dedicating almost half her working life to studying mountain pygmy possums. While the discovery is great news for the species, it comes with a warning that the fight to save them is "far from over". ADVERTISEMENT "We will continue our work to support these possums and strengthen their population, ensuring these iconic marsupials have the best chance of long-term survival," she said. What's helped populations of mountain pygmy possums grow? Broome is a threatened species officer with the NSW Department of Environment. Her pygmy possum count was completed with support from national parks staff and volunteers. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe welcomed news of the recent count. 'It's wonderful to see the population of mountain pygmy possums showing signs of recovery thanks to important conservation work,' she said. ADVERTISEMENT Supplying the possums with a hand-baked alternative food called 'bogong bickies' is believed to be a key reason for the healthy population. The project was developed by Saving Our Species, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and local kids from Berridale Public School, Cooma Public School, Adaminaby Public School and Jindabyne Central School. Remarkably, the combined population at its two main habitats is now estimated to be 940. But as the weather cools, a new man-made problem threatens to hamper the species' recovery at another site. Fresh warnings have been issued for snowboarders to stay out of a closed habitat at Blue Cow, where numbers are still low. Snowboarders are being urged to stay away from fields where possum populations are still recovering. Source: Dr Broome Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Scientists turn to unlikely helpers in quest for plant that's almost impossible to find: 'Demonstrates the potential to replicate this method'
Conservationists faced a daunting challenge in the dense undergrowth of Australia's central coast — locating the elusive Wyong sun orchid (Thelymitra adorata). However, they enlisted the help of three dogs to make a breakthrough. The Wyong sun orchid typically blooms from September to November, with the flowers opening on warm, sunny days. This short blooming window makes finding the orchids difficult, but not impossible, thanks to the efforts of the Central Coast Council and the New South Wales government's Saving our Species program. In collaboration with On The Scent and The Good Dog, they successfully trained three talented spaniels named Paddy, Sully, and Vera to detect orchid tubers without relying on visible plants or floral scents. Conservationists have used scent-detection dogs in other efforts. Yet, this was the first time they've trained them to locate the critically endangered Wyong sun orchid. Unlike other plants that are easy to spot above ground, this particular species spends most of its life dormant beneath the soil. With their keen sense of smell, the trio helped the council monitor the rare orchid population and locate new orchid habitats in a minimally invasive way. Not only that, but they opened up a way for detecting other species in the future. Senior regional biodiversity conservation officer for the Saving our Species program Paul Hillier stated, "If successful, this method may enable a year-round survey window, give greater certainty of survey results, and assist in planning conservation actions, such as targeting areas for controlled burns." Though easy to overlook, the Wyong sun orchid plays a vital role in its ecosystem. Like other orchids, it has a specialized relationship with local fungi and pollinators. If a species like this orchid disappears, it could trigger a ripple effect by weakening the entire system's stability. Protecting endangered species isn't just about saving something beautiful — it's about maintaining the balance of nature itself. Dogs like Paddy, Sully, and Vera are like ecological detectives on a mission, sniffing out plants humans would otherwise miss. With their help, conservation teams have located orchid populations without disrupting delicate habitats. Their work is now transforming how experts approach species location and protection, allowing year-round monitoring that was once limited to a very short time period. The goal now is to expand this method to other elusive species, proving that a sharp canine nose may be just as powerful — if not more charming — than high-tech tools. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Detection dogs like Paddy, Sully, and Vera could revolutionize how conservationists monitor threatened species. "The project not only enhances Council's ability to manage and protect threatened orchid habitats but also demonstrates the potential to replicate this method for other cryptic species in the future," said Paul Hillier. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
