SYDNEY—The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has named Oaka, an Australian koolie, as the successor to Bear, a detection dog credited with rescuing more than 100 koalas from bushfires. Oaka was selected from dozens of applications.
Bear retired in March after a decade of service. He was among the first dogs in Australia trained to detect the scent of koala fur, a skill critical for rescuers locating marsupial survivors in wildfire-affected areas.
Bear's efforts were particularly vital during the Black Summer wildfires, which raged across Australia's eastern seaboard from late 2019 to early 2020. Those fires destroyed millions of hectares, thousands of homes, and blanketed cities in smoke.
IFAW launched a national and international search for Bear's replacement. Applications came from across Australia and the United States.
Josey Sharrad, IFAW's Oceania head of programs, said the organization did not expect to find another dog like Bear. "He was truly one of a kind," Sharrad said, adding that Oaka showed the same spark as Bear, who demonstrated the potential of a rescue dog given a second chance.
Like Bear, Oaka was initially considered difficult by her former family. A local rescue group identified her potential and submitted her application to IFAW. Oaka successfully passed initial tests for the role.
Frederic Chappee, IFAW's director of canine units, said Oaka is exceptionally suited to the work. Chappee noted that Bear became an icon globally, and he expects Oaka to fill that role.
Australia's fire services have warned that the upcoming Southern Hemisphere summer could bring more intense blazes. El Niño conditions are already present, raising concerns for native wildlife.
Given the anticipated severe fire conditions, Oaka's training will be accelerated. Sharrad emphasized the critical need for a highly skilled koala detection dog to help protect Australia's koala population.
IFAW aims to deploy Oaka into the field quickly, ensuring support for koalas during a challenging summer ahead.
