Wildlife authorities investigate deaths of at least 18 penguins at Ulverstone

Wildlife authorities are investigating the deaths of at least 18 penguins found in Tasmania’s North-West.

At least 18 little penguin carcasses have been discovered at Ulverstone.

WILDLIFE authorities are investigating the deaths of at least 18 penguins found in Tasmania’s North-West.

The little penguin carcasses were discovered at Ulverstone by a local resident this morning and Parks and Wildlife officers attended the scene a short time later.

The officers are still at the scene, collecting the carcasses for investigation and assessing the site.

PWS officer state compliance co-ordinator Michael Spaulding said the penguins were found near a burrow in bushland along a coastal strip.

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“The bush is dense so we wouldn’t be surprised if more carcasses were located in the upcoming days,” Mr Spaulding said.

He said little penguins were a fully protected species, and the deaths were clearly not of natural causes.

“We are following a few lines of inquiry but at this stage there’s no definite answers as to how they have been killed,” he said.

“At this stage we can’t rule out any manner of death.”

A little penguin.

Veterinary pathologists examining the penguins will try to determine possible causes of death.

“If anyone in the public has any information in relation to how the deaths may have occurred, Parks and Wildlife would like to hear from them,” Mr Spaulding said.

Members of the public are urged to report any injured or dead penguins near the site but not to interfere with them as investigations continue.

Anyone with any information can call the PWS compliance number on 0488184847.