Dead penguins found at beaches on NSW’s south coast, animal organisations urge more discoveries to be reported

Six headless penguins have been discovered in mysterious circumstances on beaches in the state’s south coast, with residents urged to report any further sightings to authorities. Warning: Graphic content.

Tragically were six dead penguins on August 16 that were found headless at Barlings Beach.

Six headless penguins have been discovered in mysterious circumstances on beaches in the state’s south coast, with residents urged to report any further sightings to authorities.

The non-profit South Coast Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue organisation has been notified of three significant wildlife deaths in just three days across the shoreline.

First, there were six dead penguins on Wednesday that were found headless after being scavenged at Barlings Beach, near Tomakin; then, Thursday there were eight silver gulls, better known as seagulls, at Surf Beach, Batemans Bay four of which had died, with the remaining unwell.

Committee member Penny Beaver said the four surviving birds were doing well.

Unfortunately, two white-faced herons were found at Surf Beach on Friday and had been heavily scavenged.

Map of the animal deaths found across the coast.

There have been three discoveries in just three days.

She said the incidents were “unusual”, and the dead birds had been sent to the Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, based at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, for testing to determine what caused the spate of incidents or if they were linked.

“They might not even be connected, but that is where the registry will have more answers after running diagnostics,” she said.

“That is why it is super important that people let us know because if we can pick the bodies up before they are scavenged or too decomposed, the registry can perform better diagnostics to see what happened.

“It’s a process of elimination, sometimes it can be an external factor, but sometimes it can be a lack of prey resources.”

The little penguins in the region are not listed as endangered, however there is an endangered colony in Manly.

For more information on the Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue South Coast Branch or to report a sighting, click here.

The Australian Registry of Wildlife Health has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Dead penguins found at beaches on NSW’s south coast, animal organisations urge more discoveries to be reported