His ancestors were trained to hunt lions, holding them at bay until someone with a gun stepped up to fire the killer shot.
But Ted the Rhodesian Ridgeback has a less brutal, more environmentally friendly task to perform.
The 11-month-old dog is being trained at his home near Fittleworth, to track bumble bees as part of a project by a conservation group and Scotland’s Stirling University.
Ted – who cost £950 and sports the pedigree name of Edward Blacktail – sniffs out the bumble bee nests to help the species survive in a battle against pesticides and intensive farming methods.
Owner Graham Roberts, who runs a wildlife gardening business said: “Ted has a vital role to play because bumble bees are a cornerstone of nature and we are in danger of losing them.
“There are 24 species of bumble bee and they are so important in pollenating things that we take for granted, like broad beans, raspberries and marrows.
Full story see Midhurst and Petworth Observer May 17
Comments