Dogs protect penguins on Australian island
Sheepdogs have proved such perfect guardians for a colony of penguins on a small island off the south coast of Australia that conservationists are suggesting canines can be recruited to safeguard other endangered animals
The project uses Maremmas, a breed of sheepdog from Italy that bond with flocks and protects them from predators, The Earth Times reports.
“We are now starting to see some great results,” said Middle Island Maremma Project manager Ian Fitzgibbons. “We have had our best penguin count since we began in 2006 with over 80 birds counted in one night and I think we have about 26 chicks on the island too.”
The numbers of penguins had fallen from 5,000 to just 100 before the Maremmas were recruited.
Fitzgibbon said the project had sparked interest around the globe.
The Maremma idea was suggested by a concerned community member, Alan ‘Swampy’ Marsh, a local free range chicken farmer who has successfully used the Maremma breed to protect his chickens from fox predation.
(Photo courtesy of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment)
Posted by jwoestendiek January 7th, 2009 under Muttsblog.
Tags: animals, australia, australian island, birds, dogs, endangered, environment, fairy penguins, flock, maremmas, penguin, predators, protection
