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A dog has been bravely saving koala bears from the bushfires in Australia.

The Border Collie-Koolie cross, named Bear, has a unique talent for identifying koala faeces and fur using his sense of smell.

He has been sent to burnt-out areas in the Northern Rivers region wearing socks to cover his paws, and has been taught to sit still to alert his handler Rianna when the injured animals are nearby.

Photos of Bear in action were shared by mcharity IFAW in a post saying: "Unfortunately no koalas were found, but we are hopeful that survivors will be found in nearby areas".

He was trained to rescue koalas at Sunshine Coast University, after being abandoned by his owners because he has obsessive compulsive disorder.

IFAW campaigner Joey Sharrad said: "Now, more than ever, saving individual koalas is critical.

"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. The road to recovery will be long."

Australia Wildfires: November 2019 - In pictures 30 show all Australia Wildfires: November 2019 - In pictures 1/30 An Air-crane water bombing helicopter drops water on a bushfire in Harrington Reuters 2/30 A fire and rescue team inspect the damage around Torrington in Glen Innes, Australia Getty Images 3/30 Flames from an out of control bushfire seen from a nearby residential area in Harrington AFP via Getty Images 4/30 A large bushfire burning 20,000 hectares in the Wollemi National Park near Lithgow AFP via Getty Images 5/30 Andrew Mackenzie is pictured while surveying the damage around his home due to the Gulf Road fire that tore through the small community of Torrington. By chance his home was spared, though his neighbours house burnt to the ground Getty Images 6/30 Fire Fighters inspect burnt vintage motor bikes in Torrington, Australia Getty Images 7/30 Aerial video of the Bills Crossing Crowdy fire in Harrington NSW Rural Fire Service via Reuters 8/30 Damage caused by bushfire is seen at resident Brian Williams' resort at Lake Cooroibah Road in Noosa Shire, Queensland, Australia AP 9/30 Bushfires taken from a plane in over north eastern New South Wales AFP via Getty Images 10/30 A fire bombing helicopter works to contain a bushfire along Old Bar road in Old Bar, New South Wales Reuters 11/30 Smoke haze as a result of bushfires blankets central Brisbane, Queensland Reuters 12/30 Smoke from a large bushfire is seen outside Wytaliba, near Glen Innes Reuters 13/30 Smoke from a large bushfire is seen from a roadblock outside Wytaliba, near Glen Innes Reuters 14/30 Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison talks to locals in Taree, New South Wales Reuters 15/30 Scott Morrison comforts 85-year-old evacuee Owen Whala Reuters 16/30 Trees are burned black after a bushfire in Old Bar, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images 17/30 A vintage Jaguar car sits in ruins after a bushfire destroyed a property in Old Bar AFP via Getty Images 18/30 A vintage Jaguar car sits in ruins after a bushfire destroyed a property in Old Bar AFP via Getty Images 19/30 A firefighter on property protection watches the progress of bushfires in Old Bar, New South Wales Reuters 20/30 A fire bombing helicopter works to contain a bushfire along Old Bar road in Old Bar Reuters 21/30 Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images 22/30 Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree AFP via Getty Images 23/30 Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree AFP via Getty Images 24/30 Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree AFP via Getty Images 25/30 A fire rages in Bobin, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images 26/30 A fire rages in Bobin AFP via Getty Images 27/30 The remains of a property destroyed by fire is seen in Bobin AFP via Getty Images 28/30 The remains of a property destroyed by fire is seen in Bobin AFP via Getty Images 29/30 The remains of a property destroyed by fire is seen in Bobin AFP via Getty Images 30/30 AAP/PA Images 1/30 An Air-crane water bombing helicopter drops water on a bushfire in Harrington Reuters 2/30 A fire and rescue team inspect the damage around Torrington in Glen Innes, Australia Getty Images 3/30 Flames from an out of control bushfire seen from a nearby residential area in Harrington AFP via Getty Images 4/30 A large bushfire burning 20,000 hectares in the Wollemi National Park near Lithgow AFP via Getty Images 5/30 Andrew Mackenzie is pictured while surveying the damage around his home due to the Gulf Road fire that tore through the small community of Torrington. By chance his home was spared, though his neighbours house burnt to the ground Getty Images 6/30 Fire Fighters inspect burnt vintage motor bikes in Torrington, Australia Getty Images 7/30 Aerial video of the Bills Crossing Crowdy fire in Harrington NSW Rural Fire Service via Reuters 8/30 Damage caused by bushfire is seen at resident Brian Williams' resort at Lake Cooroibah Road in Noosa Shire, Queensland, Australia AP 9/30 Bushfires taken from a plane in over north eastern New South Wales AFP via Getty Images 10/30 A fire bombing helicopter works to contain a bushfire along Old Bar road in Old Bar, New South Wales Reuters 11/30 Smoke haze as a result of bushfires blankets central Brisbane, Queensland Reuters 12/30 Smoke from a large bushfire is seen outside Wytaliba, near Glen Innes Reuters 13/30 Smoke from a large bushfire is seen from a roadblock outside Wytaliba, near Glen Innes Reuters 14/30 Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison talks to locals in Taree, New South Wales Reuters 15/30 Scott Morrison comforts 85-year-old evacuee Owen Whala Reuters 16/30 Trees are burned black after a bushfire in Old Bar, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images 17/30 A vintage Jaguar car sits in ruins after a bushfire destroyed a property in Old Bar AFP via Getty Images 18/30 A vintage Jaguar car sits in ruins after a bushfire destroyed a property in Old Bar AFP via Getty Images 19/30 A firefighter on property protection watches the progress of bushfires in Old Bar, New South Wales Reuters 20/30 A fire bombing helicopter works to contain a bushfire along Old Bar road in Old Bar Reuters 21/30 Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images 22/30 Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree AFP via Getty Images 23/30 Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree AFP via Getty Images 24/30 Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree AFP via Getty Images 25/30 A fire rages in Bobin, 350km north of Sydney AFP via Getty Images 26/30 A fire rages in Bobin AFP via Getty Images 27/30 The remains of a property destroyed by fire is seen in Bobin AFP via Getty Images 28/30 The remains of a property destroyed by fire is seen in Bobin AFP via Getty Images 29/30 The remains of a property destroyed by fire is seen in Bobin AFP via Getty Images 30/30 AAP/PA Images

Wildfires have spread across New South Wales, Queensland and the Sunshine Coast over the past few weeks, causing at least three deaths and the destruction of 150 homes.

Ros Irwin, President of Friends of the Koala, said: "The fires in the Northern Rivers have been so extensive that we fear hundreds of koalas may have been lost.

"We are on call and expect to receive more sick and injured koalas in the coming days and weeks. Every animal coming in, even before the fires, was dehydrated and malnourished due to the drought.

"We are standing by with specially-trained volunteers ready to go in and are working alongside the Rural Fire Service, National Parks and Forestry Corporation who have all been wonderfully supportive.”