Volunteers have begun a count of little penguins on
Granite Island off South Australia's Victor Harbor, but say they fear
the total number may have further declined.
Conservationists expect a new census of the penguins to show the population is on the brink of being wiped out.About 60 volunteers have counted penguin burrows on the popular tourist site today, with work to continue next week.
There were about 1,600 penguins there a decade ago but last year's census found just 146.
The cause of the decline remains unknown, with recent efforts to solve the mystery including the introduction of camera surveillance and micro-chipping.
Ecologist Annelise Wiebkin says the penguins have several natural predators.
"Some of the causes may be from terrestrial predators such as cats, foxes on the mainland, even dogs, rats, possibly also seals. Seals are a natural predator of little penguins. Habitat degradation may be causing them not to breed in certain areas," she said.
Conservationist Natalie Gilbert says it has not yet been proven that an increase in the number of New Zealand fur seals is behind the decline.
"Some colonies in South Australia have got seals close by - lots of them - and are doing fine. Others don't seem to have as many and seem to be suffering a lot more," she said.
In July, the local Natural Resources Management Board announced it would install nesting boxes and plant native trees to try to stop the decline.
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