A dog or a pack is thought to have caused the deaths of the world's smallest penguins, which nest on Australia's Phillip Island. The owner of any dog found responsible could face fines of up to $3,000.
By Agence France-PresseThu, May 10 2012 at 3:15 AM EST
MELBOURNE — Environmental officers in Australia were investigating the
death of 27 penguins on May 9, deaths they believe were killed by a dog
or a pack of dogs, ironically at Cat Bay.
The protected Little Penguins were found mauled on May 8 in the Phillip Island Nature Park in Victoria state, a popular tourist attraction.
"Department of Sustainability and Wildlife
officers are investigating the cause of death, however preliminary
observations of the injuries are consistent with a dog attack," a
department spokesman said.
The Little Penguin, also known as the Fairy Penguin, is the world's
smallest penguin species and the only one permanently found in
Australia.
Phillip Island is home to one of the world's largest colonies, and every night hundreds of the birds swim ashore and make their way to their homes in the nature reserve.
Known as the Penguin Parade, the spectacle attracts thousands of people each year.
The owner of any dog found responsible for attacking a penguin could face fines of up to Aus$3,000 ($3,000).
