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Detection dog helps in search for bushfire victims
Detection dog Bear is helping to find Koalas affected by the devastating bushfires in Australia.

Bear is trained to detect live koalas through the sent of their fur

A detection dog called Bear has been helping to locate and rescue koalas affected by the deadly bushfires in Australia.

Bear is part of a team at the Detection Dogs for Conservation Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast and is trained to find live koalas through the sent of their fur.


In recent days, Bear has been helping the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) sniff-out koalas in the Northern Rivers region. The team searched an Indigenous Protected Area, Ngunya Jargoon, thought to be home to some 20-40 koalas.

Before the fire, the 1000-hectare of woodlands, rainforest and eucalypts provided a refuge for the iconic species affected by nearby development. Now, according to the IFAW, the area is a ‘blackened, smouldering crematorium’. 


With up to 30km winds, the conditions were against Bear and made it difficult for him to identify the exact location of the koalas. He did, however, indicate their presence at various sites, meaning there are still live koalas in the area.


IFAW supports a veterinary nurse at rehabilitation organisation, Friends of the Koala, who provides critical onsite treatment and care to sick, injured and orphaned koalas. IFAW is also providing the team with fire safety equipment and veterinary supplies to help manage the influx of koalas requiring treatment for burns, smoke inhalation and dehydration.

IFAW’s wildlife campaigner, Josey 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 may remain in care for some time. The road to recovery will be long."

Ros Irwin, President of Friends of the Koala, added: “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."

Image (C) IFAW.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.