Odour detection dogs key to eradicating browser ants from NT

Highly-specialised odour detection dogs will play an integral role in eradicating invasive ants from the Territory and preserving biosecurity.

Agribusiness and Fisheries Minister Mark Monaghan alongside Top End Conservation Dogs representative Bronwyn Mullins and an odour detection dog at Berrimah Farm. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Highly-trained dogs are set to bring home the Territory’s efforts to completely eradicate an invasive crazy ant.

After an eight-year program to remove browsing ants – and their threat to the Territory’s biosecurity – from 23 sites across the Top End, just one remains.

The National Browsing Ant Eradication Program’s NT Manager Chris Collins said odour detection dogs were key to sealing the deal.

National Browsing Ant Eradication Program NT Manager Chris Collins. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“It’s very important for us to have these dogs available to us in the Northern Territory – we have a number of surveillance methods that we use for these camps and none of our methods are 100 per cent,” Mr Collins said.

“These dogs help us get very close to the 100 per cent detection rate that we need to prove freedom once we’ve eradicated them.”

Browsing ants are small and black, and behave erratically when approached. They appear to be ‘browsing’ when undisturbed. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Agribusiness and Fisheries Minister Mark Monaghan said the invasive ants were known to eat and displace native ant species and other insects.

Mr Monaghan said they were first detected in Darwin Port in 2015.

“The biosecurity here in the Territory is really important to our economy, and we have to be very, very careful about what that looks like and how we protect our farms and our farmers and produce across the country,” Mr Monaghan said.

Newly-minted Agribusiness and Fisheries Minister Mark Monaghan. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Monaghan said he was “really excited” to work with dogs to detect the exotic ants.

“When exotic pests are identified, as they inevitably will be, we must act vigilantly to eradicate those threats as quickly as possible.

“Training odour detection dogs and having them readily available to assist with pest detection surveillance activities just makes sense.

“This program protects our industries and our environment. The Territory Labor government will continue to invest in biosecurity innovation to help ensure their future is protected.”