Parthenium weed detector dogs
Two specialist sniffer dogs flown in from NSW have confirmed the Weed Management Branch’s parthenium weed eradication program is working.
Springer Spaniels Dash and Connor, along with handler Steve Dalleywater, arrived in Darwin on Monday 12 May after making the long trip from Port Macquarie in NSW.
The dogs are trained to sniff out parthenium weed, which is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and environmental and economic impacts.
Parthenium weed is toxic to cattle, and meat from livestock that eat the weed can be tainted.
It has a serious impact on the pastoral industry, costing farmers and graziers in Queensland more than $22 million a year in reduced production and increased management costs.
It also causes severe allergic reactions such as dermatitis, hay fever, and asthma in some people following contact with the plant or its pollen.
The Weed Management Branch has been working to eradicate parthenium weed since it was first detected in the Katherine Region in 2018.
Ongoing surveillance with assistance from the landowner, has stopped the spread of the weed in the NT, with site inspections carried out every 14 days.
While no parthenium weed plants have been found in the area since 11 May 2023, the Weed Management Branch called in the sniffer dogs to determine whether the weed is present on the property or not, and thereby determine whether the eradication program is on track.
After arriving in Darwin, Steve Dalleywater and the dogs were met by Shelley Inglis and Jenny Petursson from the Weed Management Branch, before catching up with the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment Joshua Burgoyne at Parliament House as well as local media.
Shelley Inglis was interviewed by the ABC about parthenium weed and the audio can be found here NT Country Hour - ABC listen starting around the 50:50 mark.
Following the warm Darwin welcome, Steve and the dogs travelled down the Stuart Highway for a day on site to sniff out parthenium weed plant matter.
The good news is that no parthenium weeds were found on the property and Steve, Connor and Dash returned to NSW after their successful three-day mission.
This was the first time parthenium weed detector dogs have been used in the NT.
