Maremmas

A local chicken farmer, Swampy Marsh, suggested Maremma guardian dogs could be used to protect the penguins. Swampy had successfully used Maremmas to help protect his free range chickens.
In a world-first, Maremma dogs were trained and placed on Middle Island to protect the penguins from foxes during the breeding season. The project has been a huge success using guardian dogs for conservation and raising community support and awareness of the environment.

Middle Island has been closed to the public since 2006 to protect penguin burrows from human trampling which can harm penguins, penguin chicks and eggs. The closure of the island has contributed to the increase in penguin colony size. over summer each year, people can book a place on the Penguin Protectors Warrnambool and experience the project firsthand.

For more information, please visit http://www.warrnamboolpenguins.com.au/education.

The Maremma guardian dogs spend time on Middle Island during the penguin breeding season and the Maremma education dogs spend time at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, helping to educate people about environmental conservation.

The education dogs will be onsite at Flagstaff Hill this month, with the exception of the dates below*:

Friday 29th March
Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st March
Monday 1st April
Saturday 6th and 7th April
Saturday 13th and Saturday 14th April
Saturday 20th and 21st April
Thursday 25th April
Sunday 28th April
Thursday 2nd May
Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th May
Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May

*subject to change without notice