UK Trains First Sniffer Dog to Detect Tree-Killing Pathogens

Ivor, a spanador, achieves high accuracy in identifying Phytophthora ramorum, a deadly tree disease, in a groundbreaking biosecurity initiative.

Ivor, a six-year-old cocker spaniel-labrador cross, is the first UK-trained detection dog for plant diseases, focusing on Phytophthora ramorum.
The pathogen, a fungal-like organism, poses a significant threat to over 150 plant species, including larch and sweet chestnut trees vital to UK forestry.
Led by Forest Research and Canine Assisted Pest Eradication, Ivor achieved an 89% success rate in detecting the disease in trials across various environments.
The initiative is part of the UK government's broader biosecurity strategy to combat the rising threat of pests and diseases driven by climate change and global trade.
Future plans include training dogs to detect other harmful pests, such as the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, to further protect British woodlands.