Thursday, July 17, 2014

What's in a name?





A little Australian Cattle Dog with a Big Heart.  At not quite a year old this little guy is excited to have made the cut to train to be a conservation detection dog. 
  
Tau, a name chosen for it's South Australian, Aboriginal decent and means “evening, dusk, twilight” in the Kaurna language.

What will Tau be detecting?


Tau will be looking for endangered sea turtle nests in Maui, Hawaii.  He will be partnered with Cheryl King, a marine biologist who works with the Hawaii Wildlife Fund.

For more information on these magnificent reptiles go to:

http://wildhawaii.org/marinelife/turtles.html


and to Cheryl's site with more shots and information on these beautiful creatures:

www.sandy-c-maui.com

Why the Honu Hound?


The Hawaiian Honu represents the varieties of green sea turtles native to the Hawaiian Islands.  The Honu is believed to be an aumakua, or guardian spirit, and also is considered a sign of good luck.  The Honu is the last remaining reptile indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands, and is viewed as a symbol of endurance and longevity.  





Check back soon to see how Tau is progressing on his exciting journey!