Make sure your best friend is "penguin-friendly"!
Other initiatives to protect Little Penguins that the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment is supporting include: Establishment of the Tasmanian Penguin Advisory Group (TPAG) to provide expert advice to DPIPWE, regarding conservation and management of Little Penguins in Tasmania. The group comprises penguin and coastal habitat experts, including representatives from BirdLife Tasmania, CSIRO, the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, the Derwent Estuary Program, as well as a community-based Little Penguin scientist, and staff from the Parks and Wildlife Service and DPIPWE’s Marine Conservation Program. The appointment of DPIPWE wildlife biologist, Dr. David Pemberton, to work with relevant councils to promote the changes to the Dog Control Act, as well as working with Parks and Wildlife centres, Wildcare groups, tour operators and other interested groups on their implementation. David can be contacted on 0439 558 215 or via email atDavid.Pemberton@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
Little Penguin disturbed during moulting by dogs at Sulphur Creek. (Photo credit: Anna Wind)
Ongoing dog attacks on Little Penguins have highlighted the need for increased education and awareness of penguins breeding along our coastline and the need for more innovative thinking about what we can do to stop dogs attacking penguins. Recent dog attacks have triggered Councils, community groups, State Government and the Cradle Coast Authority to work together to find practical solutions to address the issue. The Tasmanian Government recently made changes to the Dog Control Act to give greater protection to sensitive wildlife, with new penalties for the owners of dogs that attack Little Penguins in a designated "sensitive area", and increased penalties for dog attacks anywhere they occur.
p. 6
