Original subtitles

♪ MTV

Woman: SUPER! [CLAPS] Woman: MORE TO THE LEFT.

Narrator: DOGS ARE BORN WITH AN INCREDIBLE SENSE OF SMELL.

Woman: IS THERE SOMETHING THERE?

Narrator: THEY PUT THIS SUPER POWER TO WORK...

Woman: YES, GOOD GIRL.

Narrator: ...AS SCENT DETECTIVES...

Woman: LOOKING TO PICK UP THE SCENT...

Narrator: ...POLICING THE ENVIRONMENT...

Woman: GO CHECK HERE.

Narrator: ...AND SAVING ENDANGERED SPECIES.

Woman: GOOD DOG.

Narrator: THEY'RE EXPERTS... Woman: VERY GOOD.

Narrator: ...AT SNIFFING OUT TROUBLE.

Woman: GOOD GIRL.

Narrator: DOGS ARE SMART, LOYAL

AND EQUIPPED TO DO THINGS WE SIMPLY CAN'T.

THEIR POWERFUL SENSE OF SMELL,

THEIR STRENGTH AND STAMINA

AND THEIR UNLIMITED DESIRE TO PLAY...

Woman: GOOD BOY!

Narrator: ...HAS ENABLED US TO HARNESS THEIR NATURAL ABILITIES,

RESULTING IN AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF DOGS...

[GROWLING]

...WITH EXTRAORDINARY JOBS.

♪

ALBERTA PROVINCE, WESTERN CANADA.

A VAST AND BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE

DOMINATED BY SPECTACULAR MOUNTAINS, LAKES AND RIVERS.

BUT CANADA'S AQUATIC HABITATS

ARE UNDER THREAT FROM AN INVASION.

A NON-NATIVE SPECIES

IS COLONIZING NORTH AMERICA'S LAKES,

WREAKING ECOLOGICAL HAVOC.

ZEBRA MUSSELS.

THEY DON'T BELONG HERE, AND SINCE THEY ARRIVED IN THE 1980s,

THEY'VE BEEN SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE.

INVASIVE MUSSELS ARE CROWDING OUT THE NATIVE SPECIES,

CAUSING SOME INDIGENOUS MUSSEL POPULATIONS TO DECLINE

UP TO 90% OVER 10 YEARS.

MUSSELS ARE FILTER FEEDERS, SIFTING ALGAE FROM THE WATER.

THAT'S NORMALLY A GOOD THING.

BUT A VAST ARMY OF HUNGRY ZEBRA MUSSELS

CAN FILTER AN ENTIRE LAKE EVERY FEW DAYS,

STRIPPING IT OF NUTRIENTS AND STARVING ITS FISH...

POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM.

ON THE FRONTIER TO STOP THEIR ADVANCE INTO ALBERTA, CANADA,

IS THIS TEAM OF SPECIALIST SNIFFER DOGS.

CINDY SAWCHUK COORDINATES

THE AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PROGRAM.

Cindy: ALL THREE DOGS HAVE VERY DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

SEUSS IS A GERMAN SHEPHERD, AND IF HE COULD SPEAK,

I FEEL LIKE SEUSS WOULD SAY,

"YOU GUYS HIRED ME TO DO A JOB, GET OUT OF MY WAY, I GOT THIS.

I'M GOING TO GIVE THIS 110% EVERY TIME."

DIESEL, THE SMALLEST, BUT HE'S OUR LEADER.

HE JUST LOVES TO SHOW OFF WITH ACROBATICS.

SO THIS GUY IS NICKNAMED THE PROFESSOR

BECAUSE HE'S SUPER METHODICAL

AND REALLY DETAILED WITH THE WAY HE SEARCHES.

IT'S LIKE HE HAS TO THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING

BEFORE HE MAKES A REALLY GOOD DECISION.

Narrator: HIS REAL NAME'S HILO.

HE'S A FOUR-YEAR-OLD LABRADOR MIX

WITH A NOSE FOR UNWANTED VISITORS.

TOGETHER, THE INVASIVE SPECIES TEAM PROTECTS ALBERTA'S WATERS

BY SNIFFING OUT THE ZEBRA MUSSELS.

TODAY, THE TEAM WILL BE SEARCHING FOR ZEBRA MUSSELS

AT A BOAT INSPECTION STATION ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.

Cindy: ARE THEY GONNA STAY UP? OH, THERE WE GO.

Narrator: THE MOST COMMON WAY FOR MUSSELS TO ENTER A NEW AREA

IS AS HITCHHIKERS CLINGING TO THE HULLS OF BOATS

BEING MOVED FROM ONE LAKE TO ANOTHER.

Cindy: WE HAVE WATERCRAFT INSPECTION STATIONS

AT EVERY MAJOR ROAD COMING INTO ALBERTA.

WE'RE THE FRONTLINE FOR PREVENTION.

Narrator: THE MUSSELS ARE TYPICALLY

JUST HALF AN INCH LONG,

WHICH MAKES THEM HARD TO SEE.

Cindy: SO THESE ARE ZEBRA MUSSELS.

YOU CAN SEE THESE LITTLE THREADS

ARE WHAT THE MUSSELS USE TO ATTACH.

THEY CAN BE REALLY TINY.

WE'VE SEEN THEM THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF RICE.

WE DON'T TEND TO SEE GIANT MUSSELS ALL OVER THE BOAT

THAT ARE REALLY OBVIOUS.

WE TEND TO SEE THE REALLY SMALL ONES,

AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HAVE CANINES

AS PART OF THE INSPECTIONS TEAM.

Narrator: BEFORE HE GETS TO WORK,

HILO MUST PUT ON SPECIAL BOOTS

TO PREVENT HIM FROM SCRATCHING THE EXPENSIVE BOATS.

Cindy: SO WE'RE GOING TO BRING YOU AROUND TO THE FRONT, HILO.

Narrator: THOUSANDS OF PLEASURE BOATS HOP

BETWEEN CANADA'S TWO MILLION LAKES EVERY DAY

BY TRUCK AND TRAILER.

Cindy: SO THIS IS HILO. HE'S GONNA INSPECT YOUR BOAT.

Narrator: OWNERS ARE SUPPOSED TO WASH AND DRY THEIR BOATS

TO DECONTAMINATE THEM BEFORE MOVING THEM.

Cindy: GOOD CHECKING, MISTER.

Narrator: BUT NOT EVERYBODY DOES.

Cindy: CAN YOU CHECK UP HERE?

RIGHT NOW HILO IS IN WORK MODE.

WHILE WE PERCEIVE THE LANDSCAPE VISUALLY,

OUR DOGS PERCEIVE THEM WITH THEIR NOSES,

SO HE'S LOOKING TO PICK UP THE SCENT OF THE ZEBRA MUSSEL

THAT COULD BE ATTACHED.

IF HE FINDS IT,

HE'LL TELL ME HE'S FOUND IT BY SITTING,

AND WE CALL THAT A PASSIVE ALERT.

GOOD BOY, COME ON OVER HERE.

Narrator: HILO CAN SMELL THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN A NATIVE MUSSEL AND AN INVASIVE ONE.

Cindy: OH, GOOD JOB, MISTER, VERY GOOD SEARCHING,

WE'RE ALMOST FINISHED THIS BOAT, MR. PROFESSOR.

Narrator: ANY BOAT THAT'S BEEN IN INFESTED WATER

COULD HARBOR A MUSSEL.

Cindy: VERY GOOD.

JUST CHECK YOUR NOSE IN THERE.

VERY GOOD. CHECK RIGHT HERE.

CHECK HERE, NICE!

CHECK, CHECK.

Narrator: THE DOGS WORK QUICKLY AROUND THE BOATS,

BUT SO FAR THERE'S NO SIGN OF ANY ILLICIT MOLLUSKS.

[SHIP HORN BLOWS]

ZEBRA MUSSELS ARE FRESHWATER MUSSELS

NATIVE TO EASTERN EUROPE.

THEY FIRST ARRIVED IN NORTH AMERICA IN THE LATE 1980s

AS UNWITTING STOWAWAYS IN COMMERCIAL SHIPS

TRAVELING THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES.

SINCE THEN THE MUSSELS HAVE SPREAD RAPIDLY.

THEY'RE NOW IN 750 LAKES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.

THE MUSSELS AREN'T JUST CREATING AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER.

THEY'RE ALSO CAUSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE.

THEY CLING TO ANY HARD SURFACE UNDER THE WATER,

CLOGGING PIPES AND VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

OVER TIME, THIS CAUSES SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE

AND SIGNIFICANT COST TO THE ECONOMY.

Cindy: SO YOU CAN SEE THESE ARE ALL ZEBRA MUSSELS

ATTACHED TO EACH OTHER.

IN ONTARIO, WE KNOW THAT THEY SPEND

ALMOST $93 MILLION ANNUALLY,

AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO ERADICATE THEM,

THAT'S THE COST THEY SPEND JUST IN MAINTAINING THEIR STRUCTURES

THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THESE MUSSELS.

IN ALBERTA, WE HAVE THE LARGEST IRRIGATION DISTRICT IN CANADA.

WE HAVE 8,000 KILOMETERS OF PIPES AND CANALS.

MANY OF THESE PIPES ARE BURIED TO PROVIDE WATER FOR IRRIGATION

FOR THE FARMERS, FOR INDUSTRY,

FOR DRINKING WATER, FOR RECREATION PURPOSES.

SHOULD THESE MUSSELS BECOME ATTACHED

IN THESE PIPES AND CANALS,

IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY DEVASTATING FOR ALBERTA.

Narrator: SHORELINE CHECKS ARE THE QUICKEST WAY TO FIND OUT

IF A LAKE OR WATERWAY HAS BEEN INVADED.

THAT'S WHY TODAY, HILO AND THE TEAM HAVE TRAVELED

BEYOND ALBERTA'S BORDER TO LAKE WINNIPEG

TO PRACTICE FINDING THE CULPRITS.

THIS SECTION OF BEACH ONLY HAS A SPRINKLING OF ZEBRA MUSSELS.

A TRAINING SEARCH WILL PUT THE DOGS' SCENT DETECTION SKILLS

TO THE TEST.

Deborah: WE'RE GONNA ACT LIKE THIS IS A SUSPECT LAKE,

SO YOU'RE PREPARING FOR THE REAL THING

WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO HEAD OUT WITH YOUR DOGS AND...

Narrator: DEBORAH WOOLLETT

IS FROM WORKING DOGS FOR CONSERVATION,

THE ORGANIZATION THAT TRAINED THIS CANINE TRIO

TO DISTINGUISH THE SCENT OF A ZEBRA MUSSEL

FROM ANY NATIVE SPECIES THROUGH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING.

Cindy: LET'S GO, BUDDY! YEAH!

Deborah: THIS WAY.

WE WORK IN A VERY DETAILED WAY,

THEY'RE REALLY THOROUGHLY SEARCHING WITH THEIR NOSE,

THEIR NOSE IS CLOSE TO THE GROUND.

THEY'RE TAKING A LOT OF SNIFFS AS THEY COVER A PATCH OF AREA.

THE DOGS ARE REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO.

COMPARED TO HUMANS THEY HAVE

AN EXTREMELY POWERFUL SENSE OF SMELL.

Narrator: FINDING A TINY MUSSEL

CAMOUFLAGED ON A VAST PEBBLE BEACH

IS MISSION IMPOSSIBLE FOR A HUMAN...

Cindy: GOOD BOY!

Narrator: ...BUT NOT FOR A DOG NICKNAMED "THE PROFESSOR."

Cindy: GOOD SEARCHING.

WHEN THEY'RE SEARCHING SHORELINES,

THEY'RE NOT PICKING UP THESE MUSSELS FROM A GREAT DISTANCE.

THEIR NOSE HAS TO BE VIRTUALLY RIGHT ON THEM.

WHOOPS!

Narrator: HILO'S GOT SOMETHING!

Cindy: OH, I SEE IT!

GOOD BOY! GOOD BOY!

WELL DONE.

YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS ONE, IT'S HIDDEN RIGHT IN THE ROCKS.

GOOD BOY!

SO, THIS IS WHAT HE ALERTED ON.

THEY'RE ATTACHED TO THIS LITTLE ROCK.

THEY DON'T EVEN ACTUALLY HAVE ANY TISSUE

OR MUSSEL MATTER INSIDE IT.

HE'S JUST DETECTING THE SHELL, SO THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

WHAT A FINE BOY!

OH, WHAT A FINE BOY!

Narrator: LIKE ALL WORKING DOGS, HILO LOVES A REWARD.

Cindy: THERE WE GO!

THEIR PAYCHECK IS THIS SPECIAL BALL

THAT THEY ONLY GET TO PLAY WITH WHEN THEY FIND THE MUSSEL,

SO IT'S A REALLY BIG PARTY FOR THEM.

IT'S A BIG PARTY FOR ALL OF US!

WHAT A FINE BOY.

MY GOOD DOGGY!

[PANTING]

Narrator: BACK IN ALBERTA, CINDY IS ALWAYS LOOKING

FOR FUN WAYS TO MOTIVATE THE ENERGETIC TEAM

AND KEEP THEIR SKILLS SHARP FOR SUCH IMPORTANT WORK.

Cindy: YOU READY?

LET'S GO FIND IT.

Narrator: SHE'S HIDDEN A ZEBRA MUSSEL

IN ONE OF THESE BOXES.

Cindy: LET'S GO FIND IT!

Narrator: IF THE PROFESSOR FINDS IT,

HE'LL GET A POP-UP REWARD.

Cindy: YAY! GOOD BOY!

WHAT A FINE BOY!

[LAUGHING]

GOOD BOY.

♪

Narrator: IT'S THE PERFECT GAME FOR DIESEL

TO SHOW WHY HIS NICKNAME IS "THE ACROBAT."

♪

[BEEP BEEP]

♪

AT THE BOAT INSPECTION STATION, THE DOGS ARE BACK ON DUTY.

WHILE THEY SEARCH FOR MUSSELS,

HILO AND THE TEAM ALSO HELP TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO BOATERS.

Cindy: THE DOGS MAKE GREAT AMBASSADORS

AND ARE REALLY GOOD TOOLS

FOR THE PUBLIC EDUCATION ASPECT OF OUR PROGRAM

BECAUSE THEY'RE BIG, THEY'RE FURRY.

PEOPLE FEEL A CONNECTION

WHEN THEY SEE THE DOGS WORKING AT THE INSPECTION STATION.

GOOD WORK.

'CAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY WE'LL BE SUCCESSFUL

IS IF EVERY MEMBER OF THE BOATING PUBLIC DOES THEIR PART.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN TRULY ELIMINATE THE THREAT.

Narrator: IN 2018, THE INSPECTION TEAMS

CHECKED 32,000 BOATS COMING INTO ALBERTA.

Cindy: COME ON, THIS WAY.

Narrator: 15 WERE CONTAMINATED WITH INVASIVE MUSSELS

AND PREVENTED FROM ENTERING THE WATERWAYS.

Cindy: WE'RE ALMOST FINISHED THIS BOAT, MR. PROFESSOR.

GOOD JOB, BUDDY.

GOOD JOB.

Narrator: TODAY THE TEAM FINDS NOTHING,

WHICH IS A GOOD RESULT FOR EVERYONE.

Cindy: IT'S BEEN A REALLY BUSY SUNDAY,

AND IT'S A GREAT JOB WE'RE DOING OUT HERE, I'M REALLY PROUD.

MISTER, WHAT A FINE JOB THAT WAS!

Narrator: THANKS IN PART TO THESE CANINE DETECTIVES,

ALBERTA'S WATERWAYS ARE SAFE... AT LEAST FOR NOW.

A DOG'S SENSE OF SMELL CAN HELP US FIND INVASIVE SPECIES

AND PREVENT DEVASTATING DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Cindy: CAN YOU CHECK UP HERE?

Narrator: THEIR UNIQUE SENSORY SKILLS

CAN ALSO UNCOVER RARE, HIDDEN TREASURES.

♪

THE STATE OF WASHINGTON,

WHERE, BURIED DEEP IN THE UNDERGROWTH,

LIES A CULINARY DELICACY WORTH MORE THAN GOLD ITSELF.

♪

TRUFFLES.

THE TRUFFLE IS AN AROMATIC FRUITING FUNGUS

THAT GROWS AT THE ROOT OF TREES.

ITS DISTINCTIVE FLAVOR IS HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM

IN CORDON BLEU CUISINE ACROSS THE WORLD.

BUT THEY'RE SO RARE, THEY CAN SELL

FOR UP TO A STAGGERING $3,000 PER POUND.

THEY'RE EXPENSIVE

BECAUSE THEY'RE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO FIND.

[DOG BARKS]

UNLESS, THAT IS, YOU'RE LOLO,

A SIX-YEAR-OLD LAGOTTO ROMAGNOLO,

AN ANCIENT ITALIAN BREED.

SHE'S TRAINED BY HER OWNER ALANA McGEE

AS A TRUFFLE DETECTIVE.

Alana: WE GOT INTO TRUFFLE HUNTING,

I LIVED IN ITALY FOR A SHORT TIME

WHEN I WAS IN UNIVERSITY, AT COLLEGE,

AND KIND OF LEARNED ABOUT IT THERE,

AND THEN I WORKED IN SOME OTHER JOBS,

AND THEN I MOVED BACK TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

AND I LEARNED THAT WE HAD TRUFFLES HERE,

AND THEN WE JUST STARTED GOING OUT.

Narrator: THE LAGOTTO ROMAGNOLO WAS ORIGINALLY BRED

TO HUNT WATERFOWL - IN 7th- - CENTURY ITALY

BUT WAS LATER REFOCUSED

TO SNIFF OUT THE ITALIAN FOOD FAVORITE.

PRIME TRUFFLE SEASON IN WASHINGTON

IS FROM NOVEMBER THROUGH MARCH.

RIGHT NOW IT'S MIDSUMMER,

BUT THE OWNER OF A LOCAL ITALIAN RESTAURANT

HAS PUT IN A SPECIAL REQUEST.

SO LOLO AND ALANA ARE HEADING OUT TO PRIVATE WOODS

50 MILES NORTH OF SEATTLE.

Alana: OH, I'M COMING, LO, HOLD ON.

Narrator: THEY'VE UNEARTHED TRUFFLES HERE BEFORE.

BUT CAN LOLO FIND SOME PRE-SEASON TREASURE?

Alana: OH, YEAH.

Narrator: LOLO CAN'T CONTAIN HER EXCITEMENT.

Alana: YEAH. [DOG WHINING]

OH, OH, OK!

OK! OK! OK.

SHE'LL START SCREAMING AT YOU

BECAUSE SHE'S LIKE READY TO GO HUNTING

AND YOU'RE NOT DOING IT FAST ENOUGH,

SO SHE'S KIND OF A WORKHORSE THAT WAY,

AND SHE REALLY, REALLY LIKES IT.

[BARKING]

Narrator: LOLO'S SKILLS ARE ABOUT TO BE PUT TO THE TEST.

Alana: TELL ME IF YOU FIND SOMETHING, LO.

Narrator: HUNTING IN THE HEIGHT OF A WARM SUMMER DAY

BRINGS ADDED COMPLICATIONS.

Alana: WHEN IT'S HOT LIKE THIS, WHAT HAPPENS IS THE TRUFFLE

IS LIKE RIGHT HERE AND GIVING OFF ODOR,

BUT THAT ODOR DISSIPATES AND RISES REALLY FAST WITH THE HEAT,

SO IT MAKES IT REALLY HARD

FOR THE DOGS TO FIND IT AND LOCATE IT.

♪

Narrator: LOLO SIMPLY FOLLOWS HER NOSE IN RANDOM PATTERNS

UNTIL SHE LOCKS ON TO A SCENT.

Alana: IS SOMETHING THERE? WHERE IS IT?

♪

IN TERMS OF TRAINING THE DOGS,

YOU CAN TRAIN DIFFERENT DOGS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

LOLO, IN PARTICULAR, JUST REALLY LIKES THE ACT OF SEARCHING,

SO COMING OUT HERE AND DOING THIS

IS ONE OF HER FAVORITE GAMES TO PLAY.

Narrator: IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE LOLO'S ENTHUSIASM

HAS HER HOT ON THE TRAIL.

Alana: LOLO, IS THERE SOMETHING HERE?

CAN YOU SHOW ME?

WHEN THERE ACTUALLY ARE TRUFFLES SOMEWHERE,

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SMELL IT IN THE SOIL.

THE OTHER THING IS THIS.

OH, THANK YOU!

[LAUGHING]

JEEZ. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS...

SHE CAN MOVE A LOT OF EARTH.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS THIS TIME OF YEAR,

TRUFFLES ARE...

[LAUGHS]

THIS TIME OF YEAR, TRUFFLES ARE JUST STARTING TO GROW AS WELL.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENS

IS THE MYCELIUM THAT'S IN THE SOIL

WILL ALSO GIVE OFF SOME OF THE SAME AROMAS

THAT ACTUAL RIPE TRUFFLES DO,

SO SOMETIMES DOGS WILL DO WHAT WE CALL, UM,

THEY'LL DIG OR THEY'LL INDICATE,

BUT THERE'S NOT ACTUALLY ANYTHING THERE.

AND THEY'RE NOT WRONG, BECAUSE WE'VE TAUGHT THEM

TO FIND THOSE MOLECULES THAT ARE COMING OFF THE TRUFFLES,

IT'S JUST THERE'S NOT AN ACTUAL FRUIT BODY.

♪

Narrator: LOLO'S NOT GIVING UP

AND CONTINUES HER SEARCH FOR THE HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER PRIZE.

♪

Alana: CHECK DOWN HERE.

Narrator: SHE'S MORE THAN A MATCH

FOR THE TRADITIONAL TRUFFLE HUNTERS OF THE PAST--

[OINKING]

FEMALE PIGS.

[OINKING]

SOWS ARE ATTRACTED BY A PHEROMONE

PRODUCED BY THE TRUFFLE CALLED ANDROSTENONE.

THIS MUSK-LIKE SUBSTANCE IS ALSO PRESENT

IN THE SALIVA OF MALE PIGS,

MAKING THE TRUFFLE SCENT IRRESISTIBLE.

♪

BUT PIGS BEING PIGS MEANS THAT THE TRUFFLE

IS OFTEN DEVOURED BEFORE IT CAN BE COLLECTED.

[OINKING]

PIGS ALSO TEND TO DESTROY THE HABITAT

THAT THE TRUFFLES NEED TO GROW.

Alana: PIGS GENERALLY, WHEN THEY FIND IT,

WILL ROOT AROUND IN THE SOIL,

AND IT CAUSES A LOT OF DESTRUCTION.

WE'RE VERY CONSCIOUS WHEN WE GO TRUFFLE HUNTING.

IT SHOULD NEVER LOOK LIKE WE'VE BEEN THERE.

YOU KNOW, BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE LAND

IS REALLY KIND OF PARAMOUNT FOR US.

♪

Alana: HI, WE'RE COMING.

Narrator: LOLO IS ON A TREASURE HUNT WITH RICH REWARDS.

THIS TIME SHE FINALLY HITS THE JACKPOT.

Alana: OH, WOW, YOU DID FIND IT.

GOOD GIRL! GOOD GIRL.

THE BEST WAY TO TELL WHERE A TRUFFLE IS,

'CAUSE THEY'RE SO HARD TO SEE,

IS IF THE DOG TOUCHES... [BARK]

OH, YEAH, YOU...

Narrator: LOLO IS TRAINED TO TOUCH THE TRUFFLE

BUT NOT PICK IT UP.

Alana: GOOD GIRL.

Narrator: SHE'S REWARDED WITH PIECES OF CHICKEN.

Alana: SO, LOLO HAS FOUND ONE OF OUR NATIVE BLACK TRUFFLES.

SHE'S VERY EXCITED.

AND IT SMELLS NICE, SO THIS IS NOT BAD.

Narrator: AT LEAST A FEW GUESTS AT THE ITALIAN RESTAURANT

WILL BE DINING IN STYLE TONIGHT.

Alana: ONE MORE TIME. [BARKS]

HOLD. [BARKING]

GOOD GIRL!

THAT WAS VERY GOOD.

Narrator: THERE'S SUCH A HIGH DEMAND FOR TRUFFLES

THAT ALANA IS KEEPING

THE LAGOTTO TRUFFLE HUNTING TRADITION ALIVE

BY TRAINING A NEW GENERATION.

♪

SEATTLE RESIDENT ELAINE IS HOPING

- HER 12- - WEEK-OLD PUPPY, DOLCE,

CAN ALSO BECOME A TRUFFLE HUNTER.

Alana: SO, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TODAY WITH DOLCE HERE

IS WE'VE PUT LITTLE PIECES OF FRESH TRUFFLE

INSIDE ALL OF THESE LITTLE TINS,

AND WE'RE GONNA DO BASIC IMPRINTING.

SO, SHOWING THE TRUFFLE TO DOLCE,

REWARDING HER FOR THAT.

IT'S A GAME TO THE DOG.

OK, SO...

YES! GOOD PUPPY.

AND THEN REMEMBER YOU TRY TO REWARD IT.

YES!

RIGHT, AS CLOSE TO THE TARGET AS WE CAN.

YES! GOOD.

GOOD, NOW, REMEMBER, GET YOUR TREAT OUT FOR HER.

YEAH, TRY THAT AGAIN.

♪

SO DO IT AGAIN.

YES. GOOD. SO DO IT ONE MORE TIME.

Elaine: OK.

Narrator: SCENT TRAINING IS A CHALLENGING YET FUN ACTIVITY

FOR A PUPPY.

Alana: LOOK AT THAT TAIL GO!

SO NOW TRY PUTTING IT JUST LIKE A COUPLE OF INCHES FROM HER

OR A COUPLE OF FEET.

YEAH, PUT IT DOWN ON THE GROUND.

YES! GOOD PUPPY. VERY GOOD!

YES, GOOD PUPPY.

Narrator: DOLCE IMMEDIATELY UNDERSTANDS

THAT LOCATING THE SCENT MEANS A REWARD.

ALANA MOVES THE TINS FURTHER AWAY.

Alana: SO, THE WAY THIS WORKS, LET'S GO, "SEARCH,"

AND SO WHAT YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN HELP HER OUT AT THIS STAGE.

YOU FOUND THE ONES IN THE BASKET.

YOU DID. GOOD GIRL.

WOW!

Narrator: DOLCE HAS CLEARLY GOT THIS ONE IN THE BAG.

Alana: GOOD GIRL. OK, COME ON.

Elaine: SHE SAID WHY WOULD I LOOK FOR THOSE

WHEN THERE'S A WHOLE BASKET OF THEM?

Narrator: ELAINE IS DELIGHTED

WITH DOLCE'S TRUFFLE-HUNTING PROGRESS.

Elaine: WELL, IT'S AN ADVENTURE.

IT'S SOMETHING NEW IN MY LIFE I NEVER EVEN KNEW HAPPENED,

AND I GET TO DO IT, AND IT'S GOOD FOR HER.

SHE'S BRED TO DO THIS,

AND I GET TO GO IN THE FORESTS,

AND PROBABLY I'M GONNA MAKE A GAJILLION DOLLARS

'CAUSE I'M GONNA BE A TRUFFLE BARON...ESS! [LAUGHS]

Alana: COME HERE! [KISSES]

THEY SMELL GOOD.

THEY SMELL REALLY GOOD.

YOU SMELL IT FROM HERE?

YES. GOOD PUPPY!

Narrator: BACK IN THE FOREST,

LOLO IS PROVING HER IMPECCABLE CREDENTIALS

AS THE TOP TRUFFLE DETECTIVE.

Alana: WOW, YOU DID FIND IT.

THAT IS THE TINIEST.

GOOD GIRL.

Narrator: DESPITE THE HEAT

MAKING THE ODOR DIFFICULT TO DETECT,

LOLO IS ON A ROLL.

Alana: THIS IS A VERY SMALL ONE.

LOLO IS EXCEPTIONAL AT THIS JOB.

SHE LOVES TRUFFLE HUNTING,

SO THIS IS REALLY LIKE HER FAVORITE, HER FAVORITE GAME

PRETTY MUCH EVER.

CAN YOU SHOW ME WHERE IT IS?

OH, YES, YOU FOUND IT. CAN YOU SHOW ME?

YES, GOOD GIRL.

Narrator: BACK AT HOME, LOLO'S ATTENTION NOW FOCUSES

ON HER OWN DISH OF THE DAY.

Alana: SIT.

[BARKING]

SHE'S KIND OF THE PRINCESS OF OUR HOUSEHOLD.

[BARK]

SHE'S LIKE, WHY ARE YOU NOT GIVING IT TO ME?

SO, DINNER PROMPTLY AT FIVE,

AND IF YOU'RE NOT ON TOP OF IT, SHE'LL BE VERY VOCAL ABOUT IT.

Narrator: LOLO'S ACUTE SENSE OF SMELL

MAKES HER A TOP TRUFFLE DETECTIVE.

Alana: OH, YOU DID FIND IT!

Narrator: IN AFRICA, THOSE SAME SCENTING SKILLS

ARE HELPING OTHER CANINE DETECTIVES

FIND AN EVEN RARER TARGET.

SOUTH AFRICA.

IN THE FAR SOUTH,

THE WESTERN CAPE IS THE LAST REFUGE

OF THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED GEOMETRIC TORTOISE.

AGRICULTURAL GROWTH AND RELENTLESS WILDFIRES

ARE DEVASTATING THEIR UNIQUE HABITAT.

IN 20 YEARS THE GEOMETRIC TORTOISE POPULATION

HAS DECLINED BY A STAGGERING 80%.

CONSERVATIONISTS FEAR THERE ARE JUST 800 LEFT IN THE WORLD

AND THEY'RE ALL IN THIS ONE SMALL REGION.

TODAY AN URGENT CONSERVATION SCHEME IS UNDERWAY

TO RESCUE ANY SURVIVING GEOMETRIC TORTOISES

AND RELOCATE THEM TO SAFER AREAS.

CHARGED WITH SNIFFING OUT THESE RARE REPTILES...

Vicki: BRINNY!

Narrator: ...ARE THE WORLD'S FIRST

GEOMETRIC TORTOISE DETECTION DOGS.

Vicki: GOOD GIRLS.

Narrator: BRIN AND JAMIE BELONG TO ECOLOGIST VICKI HUDSON

FROM CAPE NATURE.

Vicki: GOOD GIRLS! GOOD GIRLS!

BRIN AND JAMIE ARE BOTH BELGIAN MALINOIS;

BRIN'S GOING ON 7, AND JAMIE'S GOING ON 4.

THE BREED IS BRED SPECIFICALLY FOR WORKING.

SO BOTH OF THEM FROM THEIR ANCESTRY

HAVE BEEN BRED TO USE THEIR NOSES,

WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT

FOR THE TYPE OF WORK THAT I WANT TO DO.

Narrator: VICKI HAS BEEN LEADING THE BATTLE TO SAVE

THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED TORTOISES FOR FIVE YEARS.

TODAY SHE'S HEADING OUT WITH BRIN AND JAMIE

TO SEARCH AN AREA UNDER THREAT FROM FARMING.

IT'S 75 MILES NORTH OF CAPE TOWN.

ON THE WAY, SHE FIRST NEEDS TO STOP OFF

AT A NEWLY PROTECTED GEOMETRIC TORTOISE RESERVE.

IF THE ONES ALREADY LIVING HERE ARE HEALTHY,

ANY RESCUED TORTOISES WILL ALSO BE BROUGHT HERE.

Vicki: JUMP DOWN. GOOD GIRL, JAMIE.

Narrator: SEARCHING IN THE HEAT IS EXHAUSTING

EVEN FOR THE DOGS...

[BARKING] Vicki: BRIN!

Narrator: ...SO BRIN AND JAMIE WORK INDIVIDUALLY

TO KEEP UP THEIR ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM.

[BARK]

YOUNG JAMIE IS UP FIRST.

SHE'S WEARING A GPS TRACKER TO RECORD HER MOVEMENT.

Vicki: THERE'S A LOT OF TORTOISE FOODS HERE.

YOU CAN SEE LOVELY SOFT HERBACEOUS VEGETATION,

LEAVES AND FLOWERS.

VERY NICE FOOD FOR TORTOISES.

♪

Narrator: IT'S NOT HARD TO SEE

HOW THESE TORTOISES GOT THEIR NAME.

THEIR GEOMETRIC SHELL PATTERNS ARE UNIQUE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL.

BUT IT'S WHAT'S INSIDE THE SHELL

THAT THESE DOGS ARE TRAINED TO SCENT.

THE TORTOISES HAVE A DISTINCT SMELL.

JAMIE HAS MORE THAN 220 MILLION SCENT CELLS IN HER NOSE,

COMPARED TO A RELATIVELY MODEST 5 MILLION FOR A HUMAN.

[BARKING]

AND JAMIE SOON DETECTS THE FIRST GEOMETRIC TORTOISE OF THE DAY.

[BARKING]

Vicki: GOOD DOG.

Narrator: VICKI RECORDS A GPS LOCATION

FOR EVERY TORTOISE FOUND

AND THEN GIVES IT A UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION NOTCH

ON ITS SHELL.

Vicki: THIS IS BASICALLY LIKE FILING YOUR NAILS,

IT'S A PRETTY STANDARD FILE,

AND THE SCUTES, IT'S GOT NO FEELING,

IT'S LIKE A RHINO HORN OR YOUR NAILS.

IT'S THE SAME TYPE OF SUBSTANCE.

♪

Narrator: JAMIE'S SUCCESS EARNS HER A BREAK...

AND BRIN TAKES OVER THE SEARCH.

THE MALINOIS IS A BREED

THAT NEEDS TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE WITH ITS OWNER,

BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY.

BRIN IS DRIVEN BY THE THOUGHT OF HER BALL REWARD,

AND SHE SOON SNIFFS OUT ANOTHER GEOMETRIC TORTOISE.

Vicki: GOOD DOG!

GOOD! GOOD GIRL, BRINNY.

YES, SO CLEVER.

DROP. DROP.

GOOD.

IT'S A LITTLE MALE,

YOU CAN SEE IT'S GOT A CONCAVE PLASTRON

AND ALSO A THICKER TAIL AT THE BACK.

HE IS IN GOOD SHAPE,

HE HASN'T GOT ANY MAJOR DEFECTS ON HIS SHELL.

Narrator: FINDING HEALTHY GEOMETRICS

PROVES THIS IS AN IDEAL LOCATION

FOR RELOCATING ADDITIONAL TORTOISES.

BUT SEARCHING HERE COMES WITH POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS

FOR THE DOGS--

BLOOD-SUCKING, DISEASE-CARRYING TICKS.

Vicki: ALREADY I CAN SEE, HERE'S ONE.

YEAH, GOOD GIRL, GOOD GIRL.

Narrator: VICKI MAKES SURE THE DOGS

GET A THOROUGH EXAMINATION AFTER EACH AND EVERY SEARCH.

Vicki: YEAH, THAT HURT.

THEY CAN CARRY BILIARY,

WHICH IS A BACTERIAL DISEASE FOR THE DOGS,

SO YOU REALLY DO WANT TO GET THEM OFF,

APART FROM THE FACT THAT THEY ALSO ANNOY THE DOGS

AND THEY CAN MAKE NASTY SORES.

I ALSO CHECK BETWEEN HER PADS FOR THORNS,

ANYTHING LIKE THAT,

BECAUSE IF SHE'S GOT ANYTHING WRONG WITH HER FEET,

SHE CAN'T WORK.

OH, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

[WHISPERING]

CHEST AREA.

Narrator: UNFAZED, BRIN SEEMS TO RATHER ENJOY THE ATTENTION.

Vicki: GOOD GIRL, HUH? AND YOUR FACE?

Narrator: SATISFIED THAT THIS IS A SAFE AREA

IN WHICH TO RELEASE MORE GEOMETRIC TORTOISES,

VICKI HEADS BACK TO THE OFFICE

TO DOWNLOAD THE GPS DATA FROM THE DOGS' COLLARS.

THIS SHOWS HOW MUCH GROUND THE DOGS COVERED

DURING THEIR SEARCH AND WHERE THE TORTOISES WERE FOUND.

Vicki: HERE YOU CAN SEE MY TRACK, THE DOG TRACK,

AS WELL AS THE POINTS OF THE FINDS.

Narrator: NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION.

[SHEEP BLEATING]

A LOCAL SHEEP FARMER AND VINEYARD OWNER

HAS GEOMETRICS ON HIS LAND THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE.

Vicki: THERE'S A DROUGHT AND COMPETITION

BETWEEN THE FARMER'S SHEEP AND THE GEOMETRIC TORTOISE.

Narrator: THE GEOMETRICS STARVE

AS THE SHEEP EAT WHAT LITTLE VEGETATION GROWS.

BRIN IS SOON ON THE SCENT OF SOMETHING.

Vicki: HAVE YOU GOT SOMETHING?

SUPER! [CLAPS]

SUPER!

IT'S A VERY NICE SIZED SUB-ADULT GEOMETRIC TORTOISE.

GOOD GIRL.

Narrator: WITHIN THE HOUR...

Vicki: WE'VE FOUND ONE HERE.

Narrator: ...BRIN LOCATES THREE MORE.

VICKI WILL RELOCATE ALL OF THEM TO THE PROTECTED RESERVE.

♪

Vicki: JUST GOING TO LEAVE HIM OVER THERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF COVER FOR HIM.

THERE'S A LOT OF FOOD FOR HIM, SO HE SHOULD BE FINE HERE.

Narrator: WHEN IT COMES TO CONSERVATION,

NO ENDANGERED SPECIES IS TOO SMALL...

OR TOO LARGE

FOR CANINE DETECTIVES TRAINED TO FOLLOW THEIR NOSES.

THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS,

AN ARCHIPELAGO IN THE PUGET SOUND

OFF THE COAST OF WASHINGTON.

A RENOWNED MATING AND RECREATIONAL GROUND

FOR THE MAJESTIC ORCA,

ALSO KNOWN AS THE KILLER WHALE.

FOR DECADES, ORCAS HAVE CONGREGATED HERE

TO FEED AND NURSE THEIR YOUNG.

THREE FAMILY GROUPS, OR PODS, ARE RESIDENT IN THESE WATERS.

BUT THE NUMBER OF WHALES IN THE RESIDENT PODS

HAS DRAMATICALLY DECLINED,

FROM A PEAK IN THE MID-NINETIES OF ALMOST 100 INDIVIDUALS

TO JUST 75 IN EARLY 2019.

♪

A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS IS WORKING

TO FIND OUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE WHALES.

THE ANSWER LIES IN FINDING AN ELUSIVE PIECE OF EVIDENCE.

[CAMERA CLICKING]

- WHALE SCAT-- - OR FECES--

A PUNGENT, OILY LIQUID THAT FLOATS TO THE OCEAN'S SURFACE.

DNA EXTRACTION FROM THE SCAT

CAN BE USED TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUAL WHALES,

CHECK ON THEIR DIET AND MONITOR THEIR HEALTH.

THIS REVEALS VITAL CLUES AS TO THE CAUSE OF THEIR DECLINE

AND HELPS IDENTIFY WAYS TO SAVE THEM.

BUT IT'S HARD TO SPOT THE SCAT FLOATING ON THE SURFACE

OVER SUCH A WIDE AREA.

THAT'S WHERE DIO COMES IN, WITH HIS EXTRAORDINARY NOSE.

HE CAN SMELL WHALE SCAT IN THE WATER

AND GUIDE SCIENTISTS TO IT.

DIO IS TRAINED BY CONSERVATIONIST COLLETTE YEE.

Collette: DIO COMES FROM THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY,

AND HE'S A AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG,

OR BLUE HEELER MIX OF SOME SORT.

Narrator: THE AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG,

ALSO KNOWN AS A BLUE HEELER, IS A MIX

OF THE COLLIE HERDING BREED AND THE FERAL DINGO,

A WILD DOG THAT ROAMS THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK.

Collette: CHECK OVER HERE.

Narrator: THE CATTLE DOG IS INTELLIGENT, ENERGETIC

AND HAS GREAT ENDURANCE.

Collette: [LAUGHS] YOU'RE JUST RELENTLESS!

DIO IS REALLY DRIVEN,

AND THAT'S HOW WE SELECT, ACTUALLY, ALL OF OUR DOGS.

WE LOOK FOR DOGS WITH A LOT OF ENERGY

AND A REALLY HIGH BALL DRIVE

TO GET THAT REWARD AT THE END OF THE DAY.

GIMME THAT.

GIVE IT A REST. I KNOW.

[LAUGHS]

Narrator: IT'S MIDSUMMER,

TRADITIONALLY A TIME THAT ORCAS COME INSHORE TO FEED,

GIVING DIO THE CHANCE TO PUT HIS SCENTING SKILLS TO WORK.

JOINING DIO AND COLLETTE IN THE SEARCH

IS DR. DEBORAH GILES...

Deborah: HI, BUD.

Narrator: ...DIRECTOR AT THE CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH.

Deborah: RUMORS OF WHALES.

Narrator: THE RESEARCH TEAM HAS A NETWORK OF LOCAL CONTACTS

WHO ALERT THEM TO WHALE SIGHTINGS.

WHALE SCAT DISSIPATES

WITHIN MINUTES OF REACHING THE OCEAN SURFACE.

IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME.

DIO KEEPS HIS NOSE OUT IN FRONT.

Deborah: SOMETIMES THE WHALES ARE TOO FAR AWAY FOR US.

BUT IF THEY'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,

THEN WE'LL JUST KIND OF BE ON MORE PREPARED STANDBY.

Narrator: WEATHER CONDITIONS NEED TO BE PERFECT

FOR DIO TO SNIFF OUT THE ORCA SCAT.

Collette: YOU HAVE KIND OF A SMALL WINDOW

OF IDEAL CONDITIONS,

WHERE TOO MUCH WIND,

THE WATER WILL BE TOO ROUGH AND WE CAN'T WORK,

OR NOT ENOUGH WIND, THE ODOR CAN'T GET TO THE DOG,

SO THIS IS THE NICE MIDDLE GROUND THAT WE LOOK FOR.

Narrator: IF DIO IS SUCCESSFUL TODAY,

THE WHALE SCAT WILL BE ANALYZED BY DR. SAMUEL WASSER.

Sam: IT ALLOWS US TO GET A TEMPORAL SEQUENCE

OF SAMPLES FROM THESE WHALES

SO THAT WE CAN SEE, YES, IT'S A KILLER WHALE,

IN FACT IT'S A FEMALE, AND WE SEE, AH, SHE'S PREGNANT.

Narrator: ONE OF THE RESIDENT WHALE PODS

HIT THE HEADLINES IN 2018

WHEN A NEW MOTHER CARRIED HER DEAD CALF FOR 17 DAYS,

REFUSING TO LET IT GO.

FEMALE KILLER WHALES GIVE BIRTH TO A SINGLE CALF

ONLY ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS.

SINCE 2015, NO CALVES IN THE SOUTHERN RESIDENT POPULATION

HAVE SURVIVED TO ADULTHOOD.

IT'S A SITUATION THAT SAM AND HIS COLLEAGUES

ARE JUST BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND.

Sam: THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX PROBLEM.

THIS POPULATION IS CRASHING.

AND THE PRESSURES FACING THESE WHALES

ARE LARGELY LACK OF SALMON, AND ESPECIALLY CHINOOK SALMON.

Narrator: CHINOOK SALMON HAVE BEEN OVERFISHED

TO THE POINT THAT THEY'VE BEEN PLACED

ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST.

WITH SALMON STOCKS SO DEPLETED,

THE ORCAS HERE ARE QUITE SIMPLY STARVING TO DEATH.

BUT A LACK OF FOOD ISN'T THE ONLY ISSUE.

MAN-MADE CHEMICALS

AND THE PERSISTENT TOXIC POLLUTION OF THE OCEANS

ADDS TO THEIR HEALTH PROBLEMS.

Sam: WE CAN SEE THAT THE FEMALES

UNDER THE MOST NUTRITIONAL STRESS

HAVE THE HIGHEST TOXINS IN THEIR SCAT,

AND WHEN THEY'RE UNDER LOW STRESS,

THEY DON'T HAVE AS MUCH TOXINS IN THEIR SCAT.

Narrator: WITH THEIR NUTRITION

AND THEIR ABILITY TO REPRODUCE COMPROMISED,

IT'S LITTLE WONDER THAT THE RESIDENT ORCAS

ARE HEADING TOWARDS EXTINCTION.

Collette: HE'S NOT PICKING UP ANYTHING.

Narrator: AND IT EXPLAINS WHY DIO AND THE RESEARCH TEAM

ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY SPOTTING ANY OF THE THREE RESIDENT PODS.

Deborah: WHEN I FIRST STARTED STUDYING THESE WHALES IN 2005,

WE HAD WHALES ALMOST EVERY DAY,

AND WE OFTEN HAD MEMBERS OF ALL THREE PODS EVERY DAY,

AND THEN 2013 MARKED THE YEAR

THAT THE WHALES WERE IN THE INLAND WATERS

LESS THAN HALF THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY NORMALLY ARE.

Narrator: DIO IS SNIFFING WITH HIS NOSE INTO THE WIND,

BUT HE'S NOT PICKING UP ANY SCENT TODAY.

WHENEVER HE WORKS, HE NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT,

BUT REWARDING DIO WITHOUT FINDING SCAT

WOULD UNDERMINE HIS TRAINING, SO DEBORAH HAS A PLAN.

Deborah: COLLETTE KEEPS EXTRA SAMPLES IN HER FREEZER.

WE JUST PUT IT IN THIS FANCY BOWL THAT COLLETTE MADE,

AND THIS FLOAT ALLOWS US TO A] SEE IT FROM REALLY FAR AWAY,

BUT MOSTLY JUST KEEP IT A LITTLE BIT,

A LITTLE BIT MORE STABLE ON THE WATER,

SO THIS ONE BEING FROM THIS YEAR

IS PROBABLY STILL PRETTY ODOROUS.

YEP.

Collette: YEAH, IT'S A GLAMOROUS JOB.

[LAUGHING]

Deborah: WE'LL GO AHEAD AND POUR THE WHOLE THING IN.

OOH, YEAH, IT'S A STINKY ONE.

AND PUT IT IN THE WATER.

AND THEN WE'LL DRIVE AWAY FROM IT

SO THAT I CAN END UP BEING DOWNWIND OF IT.

♪

Narrator: AFTER A FRUSTRATING SEARCH SO FAR, DIO NOW PERKS UP.

Collette: WHEN HE'S STARTING TO PICK UP ON AN ODOR,

WE WILL START TO SEE HIM BECOME MORE ALERT.

HE'LL STICK HIS HEAD UP IN THE AIR, LICK HIS LIPS,

HE'LL SORT OF ALMOST LIKE TASTE THE ODOR.

Narrator: COLLETTE CAN'T SEE THE SAMPLE FLOAT

UNTIL THEY'RE CLOSER TO IT,

BUT DIO CAN PICK UP THE SCENT OF WHALE SCAT

FROM UP TO A MILE AWAY.

BUT WILL HE GUIDE COLLETTE BACK TO THE SAMPLE?

DIO'S SCENTING IS ALMOST IMPERCEPTIBLE

TO THE UNTRAINED EYE,

BUT COLLETTE IS AN EXPERT

AT READING DIO'S SUBTLE DETECTION SIGNALS.

♪

Collette: I'M ACTUALLY GONNA BE PRETTY QUIET

AND JUST WATCHING HIM AND WAITING FOR HIM

TO GIVE ME A SIGNAL.

YOU NEED TO COME MORE TO THE LEFT.

Collette: JUST SORT OF LITTLE CUES

THAT HE DOES WITH HIS BODY.

HOW MUCH TENSION HE'S PUTTING ON THE LEASH,

HOW RIGID HIS BODY BECOMES, WHAT HIS EARS ARE DOING,

WHAT HIS MOUTH, WHAT HIS NOSE, WHAT HIS EYES ARE DOING.

♪

Narrator: COLLETTE RELAYS DIRECTIONS

FOR DEBORAH TO STEER THE BOAT.

Collette: RIGHT THERE. Deborah: OH, YEAH, I SEE IT.

♪

Narrator: DIO HAS LOCKED ON TO THE ORCA SCENT WITH EASE.

Collette: YOU'RE GOOD, KEEP COMING FORWARD.

Deborah: GOOD BOY, WOO!

HE DROPPED IT OVER THE...

YEAH! GOOD JOB.

ATTA BOY!

Narrator: THE MISSION IS A SUCCESS FOR DIO,

BUT IT'S DISAPPOINTING FOR DEBORAH AND COLLETTE.

THEIR FAILED SEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

THE LACK OF ORCAS NOW FREQUENTING THESE WATERS.

IF THE ORCA DECLINE IS TO BE REVERSED,

GREATER ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO PROTECT THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

DIO'S WHALE SCAT SCENTING ABILITY

IS VITAL TO CONTINUING THE INVALUABLE RESEARCH.

Collette: IT'S ALMOST LIKE PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE ME

WHEN I TELL THEM THAT WE HAVE A DOG THAT CAN FIND ORCA SCAT,

AND DOING THIS WITH THE DOG IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

WE WOULDN'T REALLY BE ABLE

TO HAVE THIS NON-INVASIVE SURVEY METHOD WITHOUT USING THE DOG,

SO THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

Narrator: IT'S JUST ONE MORE EXAMPLE

OF HUMANS RELYING ON MAN'S BEST FRIEND.

♪

ACROSS THE WORLD,

DOGS ARE SAVING ANIMALS FROM EXTINCTION...

UNEARTHING HIDDEN GEMS...

AND PREVENTING ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER.

THESE DOG SCENTING DETECTIVES

ARE AMONG THE MANY DOGS WITH EXTRAORDINARY JOBS.

♪