The koalas population in Australia is in danger of extinction, after some devastating bushfires have recently hit the country. While hundreds of tireless firefighters and volunteers are desperately trying to stop the catastrophic events, an unexpected help came from a four-legged hero.

Bear, a Border Collie-Koolie cross is the only dog in the world able to find koalas find the help of his nose. Wearing sock to protect his paws, the dog has been deployed in the affected areas in New South Wales and Queensland. He is helping the firefighters to rescue the helpless koalas.

The Border Collie is being hailed as a hero, after the International Fund for Animal Welfare, an Australian animal charity shared some photos with the brave dog in action. “Unfortunately no signs of koalas were found, but we are hopeful that survivors will be found in nearby areas,” the group wrote in a Facebook post.

Bear has a heartbreaking life story. His owner abandoned him, because he didn’t like to play. Fortunately, he was rescued and brought to the Sunshine Coast University, where he was trained to find koalas.

“Now, more than ever, saving individual koalas is critical,” Josey Sharrad, campaigner at International Fund for Animal Welfare told the Brisbane Times. “With such an intense start to the bushfire season, it will be many weeks and months before some of these fires are out. All the while, wildlife will continue to need to be rescued and treated, and might remain in care for some time.”

Meantime, a lot of heartbreaking footages of rescued koalas are circulating on social media.

h/t: unilad