Dog That Saved 100 Koalas During Australia’s Bush Fires Awarded

In the years 2019–2020, an fearless 6-year-old dog assisted in the rescue of over 100 injured koalas from Australian bushfires.

Bear, an Australian Koolie, has now been recognized as a hero by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Bear was trained at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Detection Dogs for Conservation team, where the former rescue dog was taught to use his superior sense of smell to find wounded koalas amongst the ashes.

Bear received “additional pats and extra play” after being awarded via video during the IFAW Animal Action Awards event in London’s House of Lords, according to USC Research Fellow Dr. Romane Cristescu, who leads the team.

Bear’s keen sense of smell, along with his eagerness to play, made him perfect for research initiatives like identifying the aroma of koala fur in the bush, she added.

Bear was “a glimmer of hope,” according to IFAW, as he scoured burned habitat to assist the USC/IFAW team and their allies in rescuing over 100 koalas.

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Source: My Modern Met