Unfortunately, the bushfires that ravaged Australia also had a devastating impact on the country’s wildlife. Many animals were either severely injured or perished in the blaze, with wild koalas being particularly vulnerable. Shockingly, an estimated 60,000 koalas lost their lives during this crisis. However, there were also many heroic efforts made by volunteers and firefighters to save these precious creatures, including the remarkable actions of one very special pup.
Allow us to introduce you to Bear, a heroic dog who played a vital role in saving the lives of more than 100 koalas during the Blacksummer bushfires in Australia. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of volunteers like Bear and his human companions, countless animals were spared from meeting a tragic fate amidst the chaos of the bushfires.
Ourpets reached out to the owner of Bear and conducted an interview to gather more information. We inquired about whether Bear had received specialized training to detect Koalas. The answer was affirmative, as the University of the Sunshine Coast and the International Fund for Animal Welfare collaborated to train detection dogs for conservation purposes. This required a significant amount of patience and perseverance, but the effort paid off. Dogs are excellent allies in conservation efforts, as their sense of smell is highly effective in locating and collecting data on endangered species. This significantly reduces the amount of time and effort required to conduct such surveys. Ultimately, everyone benefits – rescues are valuable, and as Bear demonstrated, where there’s a will, there’s always a way.
We were curious about how the idea for Bear’s Instagram profile originated. According to the team, since everyone is online nowadays, they already had Instagram accounts for their detection dog squad. But after the bushfires, folks were eager to learn more about Bear. So, they started utilizing social media platforms such as Facebook to spread information about their work with wildlife rescue organizations, research and daily life with IFAW. We also wanted to know more about Bear’s personality, given that he’s such an incredible dog.
“That was crazy! It definitely made us nervous since we had never experienced anything like it before… But who doesn’t love a dog with a unique story? We hope that by sharing Bear’s story, we can bring some happiness in the midst of the devastating bushfires.” Bear seems like quite the character, and we couldn’t help but wonder if his owner had any amusing tales to tell.
We had to ask what Bear’s owner loved most about him and the answer was his unique character. At times, he may seem a bit scatterbrained like Sid from Ice Age, but when he focuses, you can practically see the gears turning behind those eyes. One of his managers even nicknamed him “Dobby White Walker,” referencing the elf from Harry Potter and the eerie white walkers from Game of Thrones. Bear is the only dog in Australia trained to locate koalas by detecting their fur and feces. His hard work and dedication were recognized when he received the Special Recognition Award from the International Foundation for Animal Welfare in the UK, as well as a gold medal for his incredible feats.
Bear is not only adorable but also has the opportunity to wear these delightful shoes that help shield his paws as he explores the regions affected by the fires. As a result of his tireless efforts, numerous koalas were rescued, and he was rewarded with additional attention and playtime for being such a good boy.
