Bear the hero rescue dog searches for koalas in burnt remains of Aussie fires

A dog called Bear is helping find injured and orphaned koalas in the burnt-out remains of forests in Australia. 

The devastating fires that have ravaged parts of Queensland and New South Wales have destroyed the habitats of koala bears. 

Bear the dog is unique in being the only canine in the world who can smell koala fur and faeces. He has joined Queensland Fire and Emergency Services - QFES, Queensland Koala Crusaders, and Wildcare Australia Inc. at an area, now declared safe, a post on the IFAW Facebook page said. 

Bear wears socks on his feet to protect them from the heat as he searches for Australia's iconic koalas. 

Bear the hero rescue dog searches for koalas in burnt remains of Aussie fires
Photo credit: Facebook/IFAW

The Border Collie-Koolie cross has a backstory of his own, having been abandoned because he does not like to play. 

He was found in a pound and rescued by Sunshine Coast University and was trained to find koalas. 

IFAW said in the post they were hopefull Bear would find koalas who had survived the fires. 

The region has seen some of the worst forest fires in its history with over 300 homes destroyed and at least six people killed.