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The tau project

Got turtle nests?
This dog's nose knows!

Meet "Tauzer", the CK-9 we're training to sniff out sea turtle nests:

Tau
Tau is a rescued Australian cattle dog mix whose name means, “evening, dusk, twilight” in Australia's Kaurna language.  Athena, Tau’s trainer with the Ohio Disaster Search Dogs, has introduced him to many different experiences in Ohio and other east coast locations to give him a broad background in multiple situations before he got to Maui.  
 
By training Tau to discover sea turtle nests by scent (using nest contents plus cloacal fluid samples from nesting sea turtles, obtained via scientific collection permits) this will help conservationists closely monitor and protect them.  Tauzer is a true "CK-9" (the "C" stands for Conservation)! 

​That is our goal: to help hawksbill (“honu’ea") and green sea turtles (“honu”) survive.


Follow along on Tauzer's adventures:
http://TurtlesAreUnique.blogspot.com


2017 - 2022 Project Update: 
Tauzer has made it to Maui (on August 24th, 2017)!  He's getting accustomed to his action-packed Maui beach lifestyle, jumping into our conservation activities, exploring Maui Nui, and meeting many new friends...  
​
We truly appreciate the samples from Florida and the extra training from Pepe Peruyero!
Tauzer in Maui

Tauzer Meets "Hope"!


SUMMER 2016 Project Update:
Cheryl & Tauzer accepted a job offer with the Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Protection Project (the project Cheryl worked on during her college summer breaks) during the 2016 nesting season.  It was a record-breaking season with 411 loggerhead nests on this small island.  We are very grateful for this ideal opportunity that provided the perfect training scenarios for Tauzer so he will be ready to try to find nests in Hawai'i in 2017. 
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

OH Disaster Search Dogs
FFW & SCDNR logos


See more photos & videos on Instagram!

Tauzer got some media attention in SC:  
http://www.wjcl.com/article/sea-turtle-sniffing-dog-helps-discover-nests/978310
&

http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/untamed-lowcountry/article90715682.html

This is one of the first nesting sea turtles that Tauzer met:


One of the 39 nests that we saved before Hurricane Hermine arrived:


Contact Us to Join The Tau Team!

Cohico
Cohica has joined The Tau Team by featuring us in their eco-travel business!  "As an online magazine and sustainable travel resource, Cohica offers visitors inspiring stories, creative itineraries, and helpful travel tips to more than 60 destinations worldwide.  By partnering with industry leaders and showcasing the most innovative and socially responsible hotels, restaurants, and activities around the world, our goal is to make sustainable travel easy and accessible for all."  ~Megan & Ryan

choice
Choose between these two HI Islands & Hawksbill designs on many different shirt styles and color choices, and Cohica will kindly donate $4 for each shirt you purchase:
Hawksbill Cohica
cohico

MAHALO NUI LOA!

Hatchling in footprint


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  • Home
  • SEA TURTLES
    • Hawksbills & Greens
    • All About Hawksbills
    • Survival Threats
    • HI Hawksbill Publications
  • Photo-ID
    • Hawksbill Photo-ID
  • Meet the Hawksbills
    • Data Summary
    • NWHI Hawksbills
    • Ni'ihau Hawksbills
    • Kaua'i Hawksbills
    • O'ahu Hawksbills
    • Moloka'i Hawksbills
    • Lana'i Hawksbills
    • Maui & Molokini Hawksbills 1-50
    • Maui Hawksbills 51-100+
    • Kaho'olawe Hawksbills
    • Hawai'i Island Hawksbills
  • Save the Turtles
    • Stranding Network
    • The Tau Project
  • Contact
    • About
    • Support