Calls mount for Granite Island night-time closure to protect vulnerable little penguins colony
Little penguins should be protected by a night-time closure at Granite Island, some advocates say, but the local mayor says that may be overkill and impede business in Victor Harbor.
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Calls are mounting for Granite Island to be closed at night to protect its little penguins – but the local mayor believes the measure may be overkill and place business interests at risk.
Graham Philp, chairman of advocacy group Save Granite Island’s Penguins, says the island should be closed after 9pm during the vulnerable colony’s breeding season, which stretches from about July to November.
It follows previous calls by Flinders University academic and penguin ecologist Diane Colombelli-Negrel to close the Victor Harbor island at night to protect the species.
Mr Philp, the former mayor, says although the last count found penguin numbers were on the rise, it followed a steep drop over the past two decades.
He said action was needed to help ensure the penguins kept returning to Granite Island despite threats such as dogs, and people and shining torches in penguins’ eyes, which temporarily blinded them.
“Because they’re so low in numbers, every one that breeds is valuable and we want to make sure that we get the maximum number returning,” Mr Philp said.
Mr Philp also wants the island’s former penguin centre, which closed about four years ago, to reopen.
It could be used as a breeding and rehabilitation centre for the species, he said.
The latest census in September found 44 little penguins nesting on Granite Island, up from 28 in 2017. In 2001, there were more than 1000 in the area.
Save Granite Island’s Penguins has also raised about $17,000 to allocate towards research into ways to protect the species.
Mayor Moira Jenkins said the State Government was responsible for managing the island’s national park.
“If there are ratbags around that want to poke at penguin holes they would get across there anyway – closing the island is not going to make a difference to them,” Dr Jenkins said.
“It would just stop genuine people that want to go over there and fish at night.
“I think closing the island takes away a lot of people’s joy in going over there for a lot good reasons.”
It would also inhibit Oceanic Victor, Dr Jenkins said, which recently opened a cafe on the site and hopes to eventually revive the island’s old restaurant.
Dr Jenkins backed the idea of reopening the penguin centre – potentially in a partnership between Flinders University and the State Government – which could be used to help educate people about the birds’ plight.
Oceanic Victor manages the island’s little penguin tours, but owner Mick Dyer said he would prefer to see better signage – potentially electronic signs – installed to educate people about the birds’ vulnerability.
“It’s an easy thing to say, ‘Close it at night’, but at the end of the day it’s a national park,” Mr Dyer said.
“It’s easier said than done. With that comes security.”
Oceanic Victor’s lease over part of the island includes the former penguin centre, and Mr Dyer was keen for it to eventually be opened as a marine education centre.
Jason Higham, the Environment Department’s manager of conservation and threatened species, said closing the island because of the poor behaviour of “a few individuals” would penalise legitimate visitors.
The Government was baiting rats to reduce their predation on young birds, and regular patrols responded to anti-social or illegal behaviour. Revegetation work was also taking place, along with the installation of penguin nest boxes.
michelle.etheridge@news.com.au