All
43 penguin deaths reported to Parks and Wildlife in the past 12 months
have taken place in Tasmania’s North-West, according to figures obtained
from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and
Environment.
Some 29 penguins were killed in the Sulphur Creek area alone,14 Little Penguin deaths were reported in Stanley on Sunday.
The number of Penguin deaths may be much higher as not all deaths are reported, a spokesperson for DPIPWE said. “[There] may be incidents around the state that don’t get reported to us.”
Out of the 43 deaths reported all but nine were believed to be caused by dog attacks.
Two people were charged following the deaths of nine penguins killed at Sulphur Creek in January.
The death of 14 Little Penguins in Stanley led Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson to call for Snipers to be deployed to protect them.
Anna Wind is the Coastal Coordinator at Cradle Coast NRM, she liaises with 40 different coastal care groups in the North-West, many of which work in Penguin habitats. Ms Wind says that rather than deploying snipers, education is the key to stopping attacks. “Education is a much better way to go.”
“Education is really the key and increasing community understanding of the impacts dogs and cats can have on wildlife needs to continue. Dogs not under control are a real threat to Little Penguins onshore. Little Penguins nest in burrows, among rocks on the beach or in coastal vegetation and are vulnerable to domestic pets.” She says pets are just one of the top five killers of the protected Little Penguins.
Dogs, cats, habitat clearing, entanglement and pollution at sea along with natural predation all pose threats to the birds. “Not all penguin deaths are because of dogs. There are a large percentage of chicks that don’t survive in the first year because of natural selection, and penguins can die at sea.”
She says the North-West coast is the strong-hold for Little Penguins but the wildlife is increasingly threatened by urbanisation.
“We need to work harder with the community to relay information about wildlife on their doorstops and ways they can protect wildlife. Every impact on the colony reduces the breeding numbers for the next generation.”
Attacks:
Friends of Burnie Penguins co-ordinator Perviz Marker and Cradle Coast
NRM Coastal Co-ordinator Anna Wind at the Burnie Penguin Interpretation
Centre. Picture: Phillip Biggs.
The number of Penguin deaths may be much higher as not all deaths are reported, a spokesperson for DPIPWE said. “[There] may be incidents around the state that don’t get reported to us.”
Out of the 43 deaths reported all but nine were believed to be caused by dog attacks.
Two people were charged following the deaths of nine penguins killed at Sulphur Creek in January.
The death of 14 Little Penguins in Stanley led Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson to call for Snipers to be deployed to protect them.
Anna Wind is the Coastal Coordinator at Cradle Coast NRM, she liaises with 40 different coastal care groups in the North-West, many of which work in Penguin habitats. Ms Wind says that rather than deploying snipers, education is the key to stopping attacks. “Education is a much better way to go.”
“Education is really the key and increasing community understanding of the impacts dogs and cats can have on wildlife needs to continue. Dogs not under control are a real threat to Little Penguins onshore. Little Penguins nest in burrows, among rocks on the beach or in coastal vegetation and are vulnerable to domestic pets.” She says pets are just one of the top five killers of the protected Little Penguins.
Dogs, cats, habitat clearing, entanglement and pollution at sea along with natural predation all pose threats to the birds. “Not all penguin deaths are because of dogs. There are a large percentage of chicks that don’t survive in the first year because of natural selection, and penguins can die at sea.”
She says the North-West coast is the strong-hold for Little Penguins but the wildlife is increasingly threatened by urbanisation.
“We need to work harder with the community to relay information about wildlife on their doorstops and ways they can protect wildlife. Every impact on the colony reduces the breeding numbers for the next generation.”
- Burnie and Lillico are the two designated penguin viewing areas in the north of the state, together they receive more than 12,000 visitors every year.
- Contact Parks and Wildlife or Cradle Coast NRM on 6433 8400.
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