Dogs are often regarded as a human being’s friend – and there is good reason for this.
Besides providing unbounded love, companionship and loyalty, dogs are known for their unyielding support and their ability to ease apprehension.
Many specially trained canines dutifully work for enforcement agencies tasked with apprehending criminals and sniffing out narcotics.
Canines are also used in search-and rescue operations in the aftermath of earthquakes and avalanches.
Some canines are now trained to sniff out diseased trees that are at risk of falling. This is unprecedented and opens up new horizons in the ways these creatures help humanity.
During or after a heavy downpour, trees lashed by ferocious winds may coming crashing down. Even in fine weather, a branch of a diseased tree may unexpectedly fall and injure passers-by and damage vehicles.
The human eye may not be able to detect diseased trees. But canines, with their God-given sense of smell are able to sniff out diseased trees.
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Taiwan is perhaps the only country in the world that uses the canines’ keen sense of smell to detect ailing trees.
An essential aspect when selecting dogs for the job is that they must have the strength and penchant for munching.
Taiwan has now deployed sniffer dogs to inhale trees infected with brown root rot disease, which threatens the safety of people and property.
From 2019 to 2023, around 3,800 trees in Taipei were found to be stricken with the disease. To enhance detection efficiency, trainers teach dogs to identify the disease by scent. And what a fantastic job these canines have been doing!
Park officers in Taiwan also use trained dogs to help them detect infected trees. So skilled are these dogs that in less than 10 seconds they are able to sniff out and detect sick trees. Of course, they are rewarded by their trainers for their efforts.
Some parks in Taiwan have over a thousand trees, so it takes about three days to finish studying the health of these trees. This tedious task is made much easier with the help of sniffer dogs who work tirelessly to the detect diseased trees.
Taiwan’s Public Works Department has faith in the dogs’ ability to identify disease-ridden trees before the malady becomes widespread in the park and results in the trees toppling or being uprooted.
In Malaysia, arborists or ‘tree doctors’ are responsible the maintenance of trees. These specialists check on the health of trees, conduct risk appraisals and record tree inventories in urban areas and public spaces. Arborists are also responsibility for monitoring endangered tree species.
Tools such as resistographs are used to pinpoint tree decay and to assess tree health.
Tree doctors also work alongside housing developers and landscape architects. They are supposed to preserve and integrate the right trees into urban planning, thereby ensuring sustainable development.
But it is a challenging job for Malaysia’s tree doctors given the shortage of personnel.
In 2024, Malaysia had only around 150 certified arborists compared with Singapore’s 600. Still, they strive to do a good job with passion and enthusiasm.
Despite these challenges, the profession is gaining popularity among the younger generation. Hopefully, environmental concerns and the preservation of our ecosystem will attract more to the profession.
Perhaps Malaysia can learn from Taiwan on how to train canines to check on tree health. Due to the shortage of tree doctors, the authorities in Malaysia are often unaware of the number of diseased trees around us. These infected trees pose a danger to people and property.
Not long ago, my neighbour showed me a tree in front of his house that was infested with termites and sought my assistance.
I was appalled to see so many termites on the tree.
Immediately, I informed Kuala Lumpur City Hall and city hall workers soon arrived to cut down the tree. Luckily, the tree had not yet fallen and damaged cars or injured any passing residents. A close shave!
People in Malaysia must do everything possible to protect our ecosystem and mitigate against the adverse effects of climate change and rising temperatures. We can reduce these damaging effects by planting more trees.
That makes the health of these trees of prime importance to present and future generations. That is why we need to deploy more arborists and enlist sniffer dogs to detect and replace diseased trees more effectively.
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