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Cute To The Rescue: Guardian Puppies Could Save A Species From Extinction

Cute To The Rescue: Guardian Puppies To Save A Species

Oh my golly -- these little puppies have a big job to do.

The fluffy Maremma pups aren't four months old yet but they've been recruited into a guardian dog program to protect endangered bandicoots in Victoria.

And by the looks of this video, they're stoked to start their training with big dogs Banjo and Mackinnon at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

The Zoos Victoria program is designed to protect the little, mouse-like Eastern Barred Bandicoot from cats and foxes and help bring the species back from the brink of extinction.

The dogs hang out with bandicoots and start to think of their territory as their own, then when a fox or cat approaches, they defend their patch, keeping the defenceless bandicoots safe.

Guardian Dog Project coordinator Dave Williams said they were hoping the dogs would make a breakthrough in species protection that humans couldn't do alone.

“The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is our local, amazing species that was once widespread across Victoria.

"The Guardian Dog Trial could mark a breakthrough in our future bandicoot bodyguards,” Williams said.

It's the same breed of dog that has successfully guarded penguins in Victoria for years, and yes, they're cute in that project too.

Maremma Puppy

A new Maremma puppy has arrived in the Victorian beachside town of Warrnambool, where it will be trained up to protect a colony of penguins that live on the nearby Middle Island.The current dogs, Eudy and Tula will soon be retired after a decade of living on the island and protecting the penguins from fox attack. The foxes used to run across at low tide, and had decimated the population down to a handful of penguins. Now, thanks to the protection of these fluffy white dogs, the penguins number into their hundreds.Bridget Judd and Emily Bissland

Posted by ABC Open on Thursday, February 18, 2016
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