The critically endangered earless dragon, *Tympanocryptis pinguicolla*, presumed lost for 50 years, has been rediscovered in western Melbourne, Australia. This remarkable find was made possible by the exceptional skills of two detection dogs, Daisy and Kip, who located 13 of these tiny reptiles in previously unknown burrows.
Rediscovery: The earless dragon, one of Australia's most endangered reptiles, was rediscovered after 50 years of no sightings.
Detection Dogs: Daisy and Kip, trained by Zoos Victoria, successfully located 13 individual dragons.
Habitat Loss: The dragon's near extinction is attributed to the destruction of its natural habitat, with only 0.5% of suitable grasslands remaining.
Unique Skills: Daisy, a Lagotto Romagnolo, and Kip, a Kelpie mix, were chosen for their gentle behavior and experience in detecting threatened species.
Training: The dogs underwent nearly 80 days of training to detect the dragons, proving more effective than traditional methods.
The discovery offers a second chance for the species, with ongoing efforts to ensure its survival. Two additional dogs, Sugar and Moss, have been trained to detect dragon droppings to help monitor the population.