Dog that hunts invasive 'sea vomit' honoured as animal of the year
Summary
A dog named Sgiath from the Scottish Highlands has been named animal of the year for helping find an invasive marine species called the carpet sea squirt, also known as "sea vomit." Sgiath’s ability to smell and locate this harmful organism helps protect native wildlife and coastal industries.Key Facts
- Sgiath is a black labrador trained by marine ecologist Dr Texa Sim to detect carpet sea squirt by scent.
- The carpet sea squirt, Didemnum vexillum, is an invasive species that harms native marine wildlife and coastal businesses.
- This sea squirt is hard to spot as it looks like slime on seaweed or underwater structures.
- Sgiath was originally trained as a mountain rescue dog before taking on marine conservation work.
- Carpet sea squirt came from Japan and first appeared in the UK in 2008, spreading along many coastal areas.
- The sea squirt grows quickly in warmer water, raising concerns about further spread due to climate change.
- Invasive species like the carpet sea squirt cause millions of pounds in damage and cleanup costs annually in Europe.
- Sgiath alerts her owner quietly when she finds the sea squirt so they can study and remove it effectively.
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