Last updated on September 25, 2019
Dogs are trained to track many, many things. Drugs, guns, prey — but turtles? That is the case for Koda, an Australian shepherd mix.
Koda has been specifically trained to track and find eastern box turtles, which are a locally rare species in Massachusetts due to habitat loss. After a year of training, Koda got to test her her abilities in Franklin Park in late August — and succeeded quite well!
One of her trainers went out to find turtles to make sure that Koda could find some live species, five in total, and Koda found all of them, and also one that her trainer hadn’t found.
“Koda will be an invaluable team member as she will assist us in more quickly and accurately locating these turtles that we are working so hard to protect,” said Christine, one of her trainers.
When Koda is not out in Franklin Park, she’s a frequent zoo visitor, going on walks through the zoo several days a week in between her training and play sessions. If you’re at the zoo keep an eye out for her in her bright “Turtle Dog” vest!
Click here to learn more about Koda.
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