Meet Olivia – our conservation dog now working on Boa Vista

With their exceptional sense of smell, our conservation dogs Kelo and Karetta have been guarding the nesting beaches of Boa Vista (Cape Verde) for years, helping to protect the endangered loggerhead turtle.

Our new conservation dog Olivia has just arrived – fresh from her intensive training with dog trainer Marcel Maierhofer in Germany. On Boa Vista, Olivia will now accompany the experienced dogs Kelo and Karetta to further develop her skills in real-life fieldwork and help ensure the turtle nesting beaches remain well protected in the future.

It’s already clear that Kelo, now eight years old, will be retiring in the coming years – and Olivia is set to follow in his footsteps.

So far, Olivia’s training has focused on the basics. This included:

• Obedience and everyday routines
• Socialisation with people and other dogs
• Handling unfamiliar and high-stress situations
• Getting used to her travel crate for the journey to Boa Vista

The Dog and Drone Team with conservation dogs in training

Olivia’s first training sessions on Boa Vista are now preparing her for the responsibilities ahead. In the future, she will accompany our teams on patrols along the beaches – especially at night, when poachers are most active.

Why Olivia’s Role as a Conservation Dog Is So Important:

• Airport security: Olivia helps detect turtle meat hidden in luggage at the airport – before it leaves the island.
• Mantrailing: With her sharp sense of smell, Olivia can pick up and follow human scent trails to help identify poachers.
• Support for the team: She strengthens our local ranger teams during night patrols – and her presence alone acts as a deterrent to poachers.

With Olivia’s support, we are reinforcing sea turtle protection on Boa Vista and making an important contribution to the conservation of the endangered loggerhead turtle. Her work shows how modern conservation methods can play a key role in reducing threats to this vulnerable species.