News that scientists at the University of Stirling have enlisted the help of a Springer spaniel in the fight to save the bee population of the UK has raised a number of eyebrows. So how can a dog save the bee population of the UK and does it really matter?
The bee population of the UK has been falling for the last decade as their ever dwindling natural habitat and pesticides used on the land push them nearer and nearer to extinction. Of the 22 species seen in the UK seven are at serious risk with three possibly about to disappear forever by the end of 2008. Some people may not be aware that bees play a vital role in the pollination of crops in the eco system and their demise could have serious consequences for the food chain.
However, Toby the Springer spaniel has come to the rescue and scientists are now able to locate bee nests, which can be up to 1 metre underground, and monitor changes in the future. The specially trained dog has been known to sniff out up to nine nests an hour and he may well be the answer to the long term decline of the humble bumble bee. |
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