When huge bushfires hit Australia in 2019 and 2020, a special hero helped save koalas. His name is Bear, and he's a dog.
After 10 years of work, the 11-year-old dog has retired. His efforts were so important that people are already looking for his replacement.
About 10 years ago, Bear joined IFAW and the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Detection Dogs for Conservation. He was trained to find koalas and other wildlife that needed help.
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Start Your News DetoxBear was one of the first dogs in Australia trained to sniff out live koalas. When he found one, he would drop to the ground at the base of the tree. His reward for all this hard work was playing with his ball.
Romane Cristescu, a conservation ecologist and associate professor, was one of Bear's handlers. She said Bear was a huge part of their lives and a tireless ambassador for koalas.
Photo courtesy of University of the Sunshine Coast/Detection Dogs for Conservation
Cristescu noted that Bear "melted hearts all around the world." He helped start important talks about climate change and how it affects koalas and other species.
Bear's Impact and Legacy
Thousands of koalas were hurt by the Black Summer fires. Bear helped rescue over 100 koalas from the burned areas, getting them veterinary care.
Josey Sharrad, IFAW head of programs, said they didn't know what Bear could do until he went beyond all expectations. She called him a "true hero."
Photo courtesy of University of the Sunshine Coast/Detection Dogs for Conservation
Sharrad explained that Bear wasn't meant to be a regular pet. He had too much energy and needed a job. His high energy and love for his ball made him perfect for detection work. He went from chewing walls in an apartment to saving Australia's most famous animal.
Now that Bear is retired, conservation groups are looking for his successor. They are working with the Detection Dogs for Conservation team and a French canine expert.
Photo courtesy of University of the Sunshine Coast/Detection Dogs for Conservation
Other dogs on the team, Maya, Baxter, and Billie-Jean, also help. But many of them are trained to find droppings, not injured koalas. So, Bear's replacement needs to be a perfect match.
Sharrad told The Guardian that these dogs "can smell what we can't see." The new dog will likely be medium-sized, under two years old, and able to move through thick bush.
Photo courtesy of University of the Sunshine Coast/Detection Dogs for Conservation
This new dog will work like Bear, sniffing alongside drones and people, especially after fires, floods, and cyclones. Sharrad said Bear found his purpose and always surprised them with his "koality skills." His legacy will live on through the next generation of detection dogs.
While his canine friends continue their work, Bear is at home with his human handler, playing fetch.
Photo courtesy of @bearthekoaladog/Instagram
Cristescu said Bear's joyful and goofy personality brought light to difficult times. She added that they are grateful to have had Bear as a companion in their lives and in the fight for koala conservation.
