Unleashed dogs a danger to penguins, council told

By RYAN EVANS - Taranaki Daily News

Last updated 05:00 19/05/2010

ANDY JACKSON

A Frozen Dead Blue Penguin was displayed at a New Plymouth District Council Meeting yesterday.

The frozen corpse of a little blue penguin was presented to district councillors last night during a plea for tighter, not looser, dog control bylaws.
A proposed revamp of dog control areas could have a serious effect on the endangered penguins and other coastal wildlife, the New Plymouth District Council's policy committee was warned.
The council is considering changes allowing dogs to go unleashed at Bell Block Beach, Tongaporutu Domain and Oakura River/Corbett Park, as part of a 10-year review of its bylaws.
But Mark Meyburg, who is studying little blue penguins in Taranaki, said there had been concerns for a number of years about their shrinking numbers and allowing unleashed dogs on beaches would not help.
"Beaches like Oakura, that used to have significant numbers of penguins nesting 10 years ago now rarely see penguins," he said. "This decline is largely due to the increased number of dogs roaming the beach."
Mr Meyburg cited three recent examples of unleashed dogs harassing little blues, including a dog owner sending a fox terrier into a cave at Wai-iti Beach to "dispatch" two penguins in January, and displayed a frozen penguin corpse from Tongaporutu.
The council has previously said one of the reasons it is considering revamping its leash control areas is the soon to be opened walkway extension.
Mr Meyburg said the extended walkway will introduce dogs to a relatively untouched piece of coast.
"It is not only nesting penguins but other shorebirds that would be affected by relaxed dog controls in this area.
"I strongly suggest that rather than loosen the dog control by laws the council takes measures to increase the protection and preservation of not only little blue penguins but other shore birds on our coast."
His concerns were echoed by Anne Scott of the Nga Motu Marine Reserve Society.
"We are deeply concerned about the detrimental effects of uncontrolled dogs on coastal wildlife," she said.
"Bridging the Waiwhakaiho River for pedestrians brings thousands of walkers and their dogs into an area previously undisturbed and used by endangered shorebirds and penguins for nesting and sheltering at night.
"There are precious few penguins and shorebirds left on the Taranaki coast and we ask this committee to take this 10-year opportunity to give the remainder a better chance of survival."
But the committee disagreed.
At this stage, the proposed bylaws are being approved only for public consultation.

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