Koala Habitat Protection with Detection Dogs - Australia
In Australia, detection dogs are koalas’ best friendMeet Oaka, the rescue dog training to save koalas
Meet Oaka, the rescue dog training to save koalas
September 30, 2026
It has been six months since our beloved Bear, the koala detection dog, hung up his famous red booties, swapping traipsing through the Aussie bush for lazy beach walks in retirement.
His powerful nose, boundless energy and hyper-focus were game-changers when it came to searching for koala survivors after devastating bushfires. He located over 100 koalas in the wake of Black Summer, most of which we would never have found without him.
IFAW's Josey Sharrad and Frederic Chappee with Oaka, who is being trained as a potential new koala detection dog. Photo: Suzanne Pearson / © IFAW
Bear was one of a kind, a true trailblazer, and his retirement at 11 years old left a huge gap—and a pair of very big boots to fill. The race was on to find the next one-of-a-kind pup to continue his legacy.
When we put out the call for new recruits in May, we really weren't sure we could find a dog to follow in his famous pawprints and continue his lifesaving work. It takes a very special combination of qualities to become a koala detection dog, including high play drive, zero prey drive, and dogged determination.
We were also looking specifically for a rescue dog, to give one a new lease on life and a forever home alongside the job.
We received over 50 applications from all over Australia—even one from South Carolina in the US. We tested 13 awesome dogs, putting them through their paces with our partners at Innovation for Conservation and our international dog trainer, Frédéric Chappée.
But one dog stood out from the rest. Meet Oaka.
Oaka is a two-year-old koolie with a strikingly similar background to Bear. She was a bit too much for her family to handle and was surrendered to our friends at DM Rescue in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. Local dog trainer Avery Keller immediately spotted Oaka's pawtential and got in touch with us, driving five hours to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland to bring her in for testing.
Oaka passed her initial tests with flying colours, and we were all blown away by her. We couldn't believe our luck. It was like striking gold twice.
Now officially adopted, Oaka has joined the team as Australia's newest koala detection dog in training, working with dog trainer Russell Miller in collaboration with Frédéric Chappée.
We're fast-tracking her training because we know how critical it is to get a highly skilled koala detection dog back in the field. With El Niño already here and a tough summer on the horizon in Australia, our koalas will need all the help they can get.
To keep her healthy, Oaka is being fuelled by fresh dog food company Lyka.
Oaka has a big journey ahead of her, from mastering the basics, to her first real search and rescue. We’ll be sharing her progress every step of the way.
Her training, equipment and veterinary care all come at a cost, and your support helps us get her into the field faster, ready to carry on Bear's legacy and give koalas the best chance of survival.
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