- A six-year-old black Labrador from the Scottish Highlands, named Sgiath, has been named Animal of the Year by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
- The former mountain rescue dog is the first in the world trained to detect an invasive marine species commonly known as sea vomit.
- Marine ecologist Dr Texa Sim trained Sgiath to rapidly detect the organism's scent, providing a faster and cost-effective alternative to laboratory testing.
- Early detection by conservation dogs offers a vital tool to combat the spread of invasive marine species, which is accelerated by warming sea temperatures, IWAF said.
- Sgiath received her award at a ceremony in London on Thursday in recognition of her pioneering contribution to marine conservation science.
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