North Head Little Penguin deaths: Gun hunt on for rogue fox that killed two endangered animals
Officials armed with guns are hunting a rogue fox that killed two endangered penguins living in a colony close to the heart of Sydney.
Manly
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Authorities have armed themselves with guns to hunt a rogue fox which has killed two critically endangered penguins on Sydney’s North Head.
The pair of Little Penguins were found dead earlier this week near Store Beach, close to the historic Quarantine Station.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) officers have also installed extra traps and cameras at key nesting sites in an effort find or kill the fox.
Poison baits design to attract foxes will also be used.
And special volunteer Penguin Wardens will also increase their patrols throughout the penguin colony, which is declared a “critical habitat”.by the NSW Government
It is understood there could be as few as just 28 breeding pairs left around North Head and Manly with a scarcity of food, increased human activity, dogs, cats, foxes and residential development to blame.
In 2015 a fox killed 27 penguins at Collins Flat. Cats have also been named as penguin killers.
The endangered population is the only known breeding colony on the NSW mainland, according to NPWS. To help boost numbers NPWS staff have installed a number of nesting boxes for the penguins at North Head.
A NPWS spokesman told the Manly Daily on Friday that the two penguin carcasses were taken to Taronga Zoo for a necropsy — the examination of dead animals to work out the cause of death.
“But it is believed the cause was fox predation,” the spokesman said.
“Following the deaths NPWS has enacted an emergency response plan that will see increased fox control measures to boost the existing significant actions already in place.
“This includes a ground shooting operation that commenced (Thursday) evening.
“Additional cameras and fox traps have also been deployed, expanding the extensive network of cameras and traps already in place right across North Head.
Existing 1080 fox bait stations will be replenished more frequently.
Penguins Wardens will increase their patrols and be on high alert for the fox.”
Last year the Council wrote to Manly State MP James Griffin and Environment Minister Matt Kean seeking additional legislative protections for penguins at Manly, including the extension of the Area of Outstanding Biodiversity Value (AOBV), formerly known as critical habitat.
Mr Griffin raised the matter in a State Parliament notice of motion on September 25.
The Department of Primary Industry and Environment is currently drafting the process for nominating a new or additional AOBV.
The council is in the process of developing a new Northern Beaches Local Environment Plan and Development Control Plan, which will include measures to help protect the penguins.
Mayor Michael Regan said: “This is a precious colony, much loved by our community. Each loss is a devastating hit to the colony’s survival in Manly.
“I urge the state government to consider our call for an expansion to the protection area so we have done everything we can to ensure the long term survival of the colony.”