Japan’s Environment Ministry is launching a new initiative to train detection dogs capable of identifying invasive fire ants, marking a proactive step in the country’s ongoing efforts to control the spread of the species.
Under the plan, a trial training program will be conducted to evaluate the dogs’ ability to locate fire ant nests and prevent their spread through ports and cargo areas. The move comes as Japan continues to strengthen its biosecurity measures following recent detections of fire ants at several entry points across the country.
The detection dogs will be trained to recognize the unique scent of fire ants and their colonies, allowing for faster and more precise identification compared to current manual inspection methods. If successful, the program could lead to wider deployment of detection teams at major ports and logistics hubs.
Officials say the initiative is part of a broader strategy to protect Japan’s ecosystems, agriculture, and public health from the environmental and economic damage caused by invasive species.
The Environment Ministry aims to complete the trial phase within the fiscal year, after which the results will determine the feasibility of full-scale implementation nationwide.
Originally written by:The Yomiuri Shimbun
Link to the article: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/science-nature/environment/20251105-290928/
