Australia’s most famous koala-sniffing dog has hung up his little red boots, and now the search is on for his successor.

After a decade helping rescue koalas from bushfires and other disasters, 11-year-old detection dog Bear retired in March.

His exit left conservationists scrambling to find a new recruit capable of plugging gaps left by human spotters and infrared detection technologies.

The ideal candidate will be energetic, obsessed with fetching balls and have absolutely zero interest in chasing wildlife.