Tasmania’s little penguin colonies are in need of protection from dog attacks

Penguin colonies around Tasmania are under threat by dog attacks, with one dog capable of killing up to 60 birds a night, says Birdlife Tasmania convener Eric Woehler.

BIRDLIFE Tasmania convener Eric Woehler says dog attacks are one of the most significant threats to little penguins in the state, with one dog capable of killing up to 60 birds a night.

“Tasmania is the stronghold for the species, we are supposed to hold half of the world’s population of little penguins,” Dr Woehler told the Sunday Tasmanian .

“Worst case scenario, a single dog could kill 40 to 60 birds a night, this is why there’s such an urgency to address the issue of dogs around penguin colonies.”

After a meeting with the Friends of Low Head Penguin Colony group yesterday, Dr Woehler and Masters student Jacqui Glencross began a mapping survey of the colony to establish baselines for future actions.

TALKING POINT: PENGUINS ARE IN NEED OF PROTECTION

The field work in Northern Tasmania is expected to be completed by summer.

Dr Woehler said the mapping survey would identify little penguin population levels and provide a better understanding about the impact dogs and other pressures are having on their colonies.

Birdlife Tasmania convener Eric Woehler says dog attacks are one of the most significant threats to little penguins in the state. Picture: SUPPLIED

Friends of Low Head Penguin Colony group member Bruce George said one of the aims of the mapping exercise was to find out how far the penguin habitat extended.

“There was a penguin near Bicheno that was found nearly a kilometre inland recently, so our next step will be to canvass people to find out just how far away from their normal habitat some penguins will go,” Mr George said.

The community came together to discuss the issue at a forum in George Town in March organised by Tasmanian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.

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Earlier that month, dogs were suspected of killing 14 little penguins at Low Head.

It was the third fatal attack on penguins in the area in nine months.

In October last year, almost 60 birds died due to a dog attack in the Low Head Conservation Area. A dozen were killed in a probable dog attack in the same location in June of that year.

Mr Whish-Wilson yesterday said he hoped the mapping survey could serve as a good model for other communities around the state that have also suffered “devastating but preventable” attacks on fairy penguin colonies’.

“After hundreds of deaths in recent years to dogs and other pests this work is a critical first step,” he said.

The State Government announced earlier this month it will review the Dog Control Act to consider appropriate penalties to ensure owners exercise greater control over dogs to protect little penguins.